Nehemiah 4:19
What does Nehemiah 4:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 4:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 4:19 means
Nehemiah addresses leaders and people, acknowledging the scale of the task and the distance between teams on the wall. He names the vulnerability plainly: separation increases risk. Clear-eyed realism is part of faithful leadership. By stating the problem, he prepares them to embrace the solution—swift rallying at the trumpet call. The verse dignifies the workers’ effort by recognizing its magnitude, while also reminding them they are not isolated; they are parts of one body under one plan. Honest assessment fosters unity and keeps fear from festering in silence.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another:
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I said to the great ones and the chiefs and the rest of the people, The work is great and widely spaced and we are far away from one another on the wall:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And I say unto the freemen, and unto the prefects, and unto the rest of the people, `The work is abundant, and large, and we are separated on the wall, far off one from another;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I said to the nobles, and to the magistrates, and to the rest of the common people: The work is great and wide, and we are separated on the wall one far from another:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and extended, and we are scattered upon the wall, one far from another:
Context
This verse introduces the rationale for the trumpet system described around it. After setting armed protocols (verses 16–18), Nehemiah now communicates openly about the logistical challenge. The following verse (20) gives the directive linked to the trumpet and centers the people’s confidence in God’s fight on their behalf. The flow reassures scattered workers that, despite distance, coordination and divine help stand ready, keeping morale high while danger persists.
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