then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears, and bows.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore I set guards in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places. I set the people by family groups with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
- KJV Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
- BSB So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows.
- NKJV Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
- NLT So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.
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
Nehemiah stations the people by families at the exposed places along the wall, armed and ready. He turns vulnerability into organized defense.
Overview
Positioning workers in clans at the weakest points, Nehemiah strengthens both morale and security, since men fight more resolutely beside their own kin. His decisive, orderly response embodies wise leadership under threat. The arrangement reflects the principle that God often protects His people through ordinary means of preparation and unity.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Eph 6:11–20Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
- Neh 4:17–18Those who built the wall, and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with one of his hands did the work, and with the other held his weapon.
- Song 3:7–8Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage! Sixty mighty men are around it, of the mighty men of Israel.
- Ps 112:5It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment.
- 2 Chr 32:2–8When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that he was planning to fight against Jerusalem,
- Gen 32:13–20He stayed there that night, and took from that which he had with him, a present for Esau, his brother:
- 1 Cor 14:20Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
- Matt 10:16“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 4:13 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.