Nehemiah 6:9
What does Nehemiah 6:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 6:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 6:9 means
Nehemiah explains the goal of their campaign: to frighten the builders so their hands would be weakened and the work left unfinished. He then prays, “But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands.” This shows his insight into the spiritual battle beneath political maneuvers. Fear is the enemy’s tool; strength from God is the answer. Nehemiah does not rely on rhetoric alone but seeks divine help to keep courage and steadiness. His brief prayer models how to meet intimidation: ask God for the very strength the enemy tries to drain.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For they were hoping to put fear in us, saying, Their hands will become feeble and give up the work so that it may not get done. But now, O God, make my hands strong.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for all of them are making us afraid, saying, `Their hands are too feeble for the work, and it is not done;' and now, strengthen Thou my hands.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For all these men thought to frighten us, thinking that our hands would cease from the work, and that we would leave off. Wherefore I strengthened my hands the more:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be slackened from the work, that it be not carried out. — Now therefore strengthen my hands!
Context
Following the denial of the false charges, this verse interprets the enemy strategy and records Nehemiah’s response in prayer. The reader sees that every external ploy aims to paralyze the work through fear. The next incident, starting in verse 10, will press this fear tactic further by couching it in religious language through a supposed prophecy that urges Nehemiah to save his life by retreating into the temple at night.
v.8Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
v.9This passage
v.10And I went unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 35:3
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
- 1 Peter 5:10
And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.
- Nehemiah 6:14
Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.
- Ezra 4:1
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple unto Jehovah, the God of Israel;
- Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
- 2 Chronicles 15:7
But be ye strong, and let not your hands be slack; for your work shall be rewarded.
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