The Meaning of Nehemiah 4:20 Explained

Nehemiah 4:20

KJV: In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.

YLT: in the place that ye hear the voice of the trumpet thither ye are gathered unto us; our God doth fight for us.'

Darby: in what place ye hear the sound of the trumpet, thither shall ye assemble to us; our God will fight for us.

ASV: in what place soever ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us; our God will fight for us.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

In what place  [therefore] ye hear  the sound  of the trumpet,  resort  ye thither unto us: our God  shall fight  for us. 

What does Nehemiah 4:20 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 4:20 mean?

Place wherever you hear - the sound of the trumpet there rally to us Our God will fight for us
בִּמְק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת־ ק֣וֹל הַשּׁוֹפָ֔ר שָׁ֖מָּה תִּקָּבְצ֣וּ אֵלֵ֑ינוּ אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יִלָּ֥חֶם לָֽנוּ

בִּמְק֗וֹם  Place 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
אֲשֶׁ֤ר  wherever 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙  you  hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
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.
ק֣וֹל  the  sound 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
הַשּׁוֹפָ֔ר  of  the  trumpet 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֹׁופָר  
Sense: horn, ram’s horn.
תִּקָּבְצ֣וּ  rally 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: קָבַץ  
Sense: to gather, assemble.
אֵלֵ֑ינוּ  to  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ  Our  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יִלָּ֥חֶם  will  fight 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לָחַם 
Sense: to fight, do battle, make war.
לָֽנוּ  for  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural