The Meaning of Nehemiah 4:15 Explained

Nehemiah 4:15

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.

YLT: And it cometh to pass, when our enemies have heard that it hath been known to us, and God doth frustrate their counsel, and we turn back, all of us, unto the wall, each unto his work;

Darby: And it came to pass that when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had defeated their counsel, we returned all of us to the wall, every one to his work.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Nehemiah 4:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 4:13-23 - The Triumph Of Courage And Devotion
The work of rebuilding the ruins of Zion is typical of our efforts as Christians to counteract the deterioration which is ever at work in our own hearts, in the professing Church, and in society. No one who attempts this work will escape hostility, covert or manifested. That is a suggestive attitude pictured here; the girded sword, the spear in one hand, and the trowel in the other. So they wrought, with ear intent for the trumpet sound, ready for any emergency, and yet sure that God would fight for them. All the people of God should make common cause against a common foe. We stand or fall together, Nehemiah 4:20. Our hands must be familiar with the sword against the attack of our spiritual enemies, and with the trowel to contribute our bit of work towards God's building. [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 4:15 mean?

And it came to pass when heard our enemies that it was known to us and [that] had brought to nothing God - their plot - that returned all of us to the wall everyone his work
וַיְהִ֞י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־ שָׁמְע֤וּ אוֹיְבֵ֙ינוּ֙ כִּי־ נ֣וֹדַֽע לָ֔נוּ וַיָּ֥פֶר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־ עֲצָתָ֑ם [ונשוב] (וַנָּ֤שָׁב) כֻּלָּ֙נוּ֙ אֶל־ הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה אִ֖ישׁ מְלַאכְתּֽוֹ

וַיְהִ֞י  And  it  came  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
שָׁמְע֤וּ  heard 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אוֹיְבֵ֙ינוּ֙  our  enemies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
כִּי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
נ֣וֹדַֽע  it  was  known 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
לָ֔נוּ  to  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
וַיָּ֥פֶר  and  [that]  had  brought  to  nothing 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּרַר 
Sense: to break, frustrate.
הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֲצָתָ֑ם  their  plot 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עֵצָה 
Sense: counsel, advice, purpose.
[ונשוב]  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common plural
(וַנָּ֤שָׁב)  that  returned 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common plural
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
כֻּלָּ֙נוּ֙  all  of  us 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה  the  wall 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֹומָה  
Sense: wall.
אִ֖ישׁ  everyone 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
מְלַאכְתּֽוֹ  his  work 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מְלָאכָה  
Sense: occupation, work, business.