And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
Parallel translations
- WEB When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to nothing, all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.
- BSB When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall.
- NKJV And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.
- NASB Now when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.
- NLT When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall.
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
When the enemies learn their plot is exposed, God brings their scheme to nothing, and the people return to building. God's intervention defuses the danger.
Overview
The discovery of the plot, attributed to God who "brought their counsel to nothing," frustrates the attack before it begins. Nehemiah credits the Lord, not merely the watchmen, for the deliverance. The verse illustrates how God overrules the plans of the wicked (Psalm 33:10-11), freeing His people to resume their God-given work.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Rom 12:11Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
- 2 Sam 17:14And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.
- Isa 44:25That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
- Job 5:12–13He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
- Ps 33:10–11The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
- Lam 3:37–38Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
- Prov 21:30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
- 2 Sam 15:31And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
- Isa 8:10Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
- Mark 13:34For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
- 1 Th 4:11And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
- 1 Cor 3:19–20For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
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 4:15 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.