The Meaning of Nehemiah 4:10 Explained

Nehemiah 4:10

KJV: And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

YLT: And Judah saith, 'The power of the burden-bearers hath become feeble, and the rubbish is abundant, and we are not able to build on the wall.'

Darby: And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens faileth, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build at the wall.

ASV: And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Judah  said,  The strength  of the bearers of burdens  is decayed,  and [there is] much  rubbish;  so that we are not able  to build  the wall. 

What does Nehemiah 4:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 4:1-12 - Braving Ridicule And Treachery
Suspicion, Nehemiah 2:12-20. Sanballat was probably a Moabite, a native of Horonaim; Tobiah had been a slave. There are many descendants of these two men in all our Christian communities today, hindering God's work. This heroic soul met their scorn and the depression of the people by unwavering faith and calm confidence in the good hand of God, Nehemiah 2:18. How small do our difficulties seem when brought into the sight of the God of heaven!
Reproach, Nehemiah 4:1-6. Whenever God's work revives, there is sure to be evil-speaking and reproach. It is a mistake to reply. Let us hand over our cause to God, and go on with His work. It matters very little what men say, as long as He is pleased. Had Nehemiah had the message of Christ he would not have prayed as in Nehemiah 2:5. Our Lord taught us to intercede for our enemies, Matthew 5:44. But let us emulate Nehemiah's zeal for the name of God, and let us remember that increased light means increased responsibility, Matthew 11:11.
Active opposition, Nehemiah 2:7-12. In time of hostility, our friends and allies are apt to grow discouraged and to advise the suspension of our work. "We are not able;" but faith looks to God alone and triumphantly holds on its way. [source]

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 4

1  While the enemies scoff, Nehemiah prays and continues the work
7  Understanding the wrath and secrets of the enemy, he sets a watch
13  He arms the laborers
19  and gives military precepts

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 4:10 mean?

And said Judah is failing the strength of the laborers and there [is] rubbish so much that we not are able to build the wall
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָ֗ה כָּשַׁל֙ כֹּ֣חַ הַסַּבָּ֔ל וְהֶעָפָ֖ר הַרְבֵּ֑ה וַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ לֹ֣א נוּכַ֔ל לִבְנ֖וֹת בַּחוֹמָֽה

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוּדָ֗ה  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
כָּשַׁל֙  is  failing 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּשַׁל  
Sense: to stumble, stagger, totter.
כֹּ֣חַ  the  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּחַ 
Sense: strength, power, might.
הַסַּבָּ֔ל  of  the  laborers 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סַבָּל  
Sense: burden-bearer.
וְהֶעָפָ֖ר  and  there  [is]  rubbish 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָפָר  
Sense: dry earth, dust, powder, ashes, earth, ground, mortar, rubbish.
הַרְבֵּ֑ה  so  much 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
וַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙  that  we 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common plural
Root: אֲנַחְנוּ  
Sense: we (first pers.
נוּכַ֔ל  are  able 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common plural
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
לִבְנ֖וֹת  to  build 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
בַּחוֹמָֽה  the  wall 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֹומָה  
Sense: wall.