So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, “From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us.”
Parallel translations
- WEB When the Jews who lived by them came, they said to us ten times from all places, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”
- KJV And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.
- BSB At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”
- NASB When the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, “They will come up against us from every place where you may turn,”
- NLT The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jews living near the enemies repeatedly warn that attacks could come from any direction. The threat presses in on every side.
Overview
Those dwelling among the surrounding peoples bring anxious, repeated reports of impending assault. The pressure is relentless and the danger seems to encircle the workers. This sets the stage for Nehemiah's organized defense, showing leadership that takes warnings seriously without succumbing to panic.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Gen 31:7Your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God didn’t allow him to hurt me.
- Num 14:22because all those men who have seen my glory, and my signs, which I worked in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tempted me these ten times, and have not listened to my voice;
- Gen 31:41These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.
- Job 19:3You have reproached me ten times. You aren’t ashamed that you attack me.
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Christ at the center
The rebuilt walls and renewed covenant community foreshadow the greater builder who gathers and secures a people for God, the one who declares 'I will build my church.'
How Nehemiah 4:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.