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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
- 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 lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
- 2 Sam 17:14Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.
- Isa 44:25who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish;
- Job 5:12–13He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands can’t perform their enterprise.
- Ps 33:10–11Yahweh brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.
- Lam 3:37–38Who is he who says, and it comes to pass, when the Lord doesn’t command it?
- Prov 21:30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.
- 2 Sam 15:31Someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
- Isa 8:10Take counsel together, and it will be brought to nothing; speak the word, and it will not stand: for God is with us.”
- Mark 13:34“It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.
- 1 Th 4:11and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you;
- 1 Cor 3:19–20For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has taken the wise in their craftiness.”
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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.