For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.
Parallel translations
- WEB For they all would have made us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done.” But now, strengthen my hands.
- KJV For 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.
- NKJV For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
- NASB For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, “They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, God, strengthen my hands.
- NLT They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.
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
Recognizing the enemies' aim to frighten and weaken the workers, Nehemiah prays for God to strengthen his hands. He turns the attack into an occasion for prayer.
Overview
Nehemiah discerns that the whole campaign sought to discourage and halt the work through fear. Rather than despair, he lifts a brief, pointed prayer for strength. This instinct to meet intimidation with dependence on God characterizes Nehemiah throughout, showing that the Lord is the true source of perseverance in His work.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Ps 138:3On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.
- Heb 12:12Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.
- Isa 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
- Eph 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
- Phil 4:13I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- 1 Pet 5:10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.
- 1 Sam 30:6And David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of every man grieved for his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.
- Neh 4:10–14Meanwhile, the people of Judah said: “The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.”
- Eph 3:16I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
- 2 Cor 12:9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
- Jer 38:4Then the officials said to the king, “This man ought to die, for he is discouraging the warriors who remain in this city, as well as all the people, by speaking such words to them; this man is not seeking the well-being of these people, but their ruin.”
- 2 Chr 15:7But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”
- Isa 35:3–4Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
- Ps 71:1In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.
- Neh 6:14O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who tried to intimidate me.
- Ezra 4:1–24When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,
- Ps 56:3When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.
- 2 Chr 32:18Then the Assyrians called out loudly in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them in order to capture the city.
- Ps 68:35O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!
- Zech 10:12I will strengthen them in the LORD, and in His name they will walk,” declares the LORD.
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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 6:9 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
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