Nehemiah 4:5
What does Nehemiah 4:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 4:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 4:5 means
Nehemiah’s prayer continues with strong words: he asks that the enemies’ sin not be covered or blotted out, because they have provoked God openly “before the builders.” The offense is not merely against the laborers; it is before God’s face, in the sight of His restoring work. Such language reflects Old Testament patterns of appealing to divine justice in the face of persistent hostility. This is not personal spite; it is zeal for God’s honor and the protection of a vulnerable remnant. Nehemiah entrusts judgment to God, confessing that unrepentant malice should not be dismissed as harmless banter, but addressed by the righteous Lord.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee; for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee; for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Let not their wrongdoing be covered or their sin washed away from before you: for they have made you angry before the builders.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and do not cover over their iniquity, and their sin from before Thee let not be blotted out, for they have provoked to anger--over-against those building.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thy face, because they have mocked thy builders.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee; for they have provoked the builders.
Context
This verse completes the prayer begun in verse 4. The focus stays on God’s righteousness and the public nature of the provocation. Right after this, verse 6 reports practical progress: the wall reaches half its height because “the people had a mind to work.” The flow teaches that prayer does not replace labor; it purifies and strengthens it. The scene will then widen (verses 7–8) as new coalitions of enemies form, answering the prayer with fresh pressure—and setting up the combined strategy of prayer and watchfulness in verse 9.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Timothy 4:14
Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord will render to him according to his works:
- Isaiah 43:25
I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake; and I will not remember thy sins.
- Isaiah 44:22
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
- Psalms 51:9
Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities.
- Psalms 59:5
Even thou, O Jehovah God of hosts, the God of Israel, Arise to visit all the nations: Be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. [Selah
- Jeremiah 18:23
Yet, Jehovah, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me; forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight; but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thou with them in the time of thine anger.
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