The Meaning of Nehemiah 4:4 Explained

Nehemiah 4:4

KJV: Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

YLT: Hear, O our God, for we have been despised; and turn back their reproach on their own head, and give them for a spoil in a land of captivity;

Darby: Hear, our God, for we are despised, and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in a land of captivity!

ASV: Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Hear,  O our God;  for we are despised:  and turn  their reproach  upon their own head,  and give  them for a prey  in the land  of captivity: 

What does Nehemiah 4:4 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 4:4 mean?

Hear our God for we are despised and turn their reproach on their own heads and give them as plunder to a land of captivity
שְׁמַ֤ע אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ כִּֽי־ הָיִ֣ינוּ ! בוּזָ֔ה וְהָשֵׁ֥ב חֶרְפָּתָ֖ם אֶל־ רֹאשָׁ֑ם וּתְנֵ֥ם לְבִזָּ֖ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ שִׁבְיָֽה

שְׁמַ֤ע  Hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙  our  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
הָיִ֣ינוּ  we  are 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
! בוּזָ֔ה  despised 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: בּוּזָה  
Sense: contempt.
וְהָשֵׁ֥ב  and  turn 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
חֶרְפָּתָ֖ם  their  reproach 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: חֶרְפָּה  
Sense: reproach, scorn.
רֹאשָׁ֑ם  their  own  heads 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
וּתְנֵ֥ם  and  give  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לְבִזָּ֖ה  as  plunder 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בִּזָּה  
Sense: spoil, booty.
בְּאֶ֥רֶץ  to  a  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
שִׁבְיָֽה  of  captivity 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שִׁבְיָה  
Sense: captivity, captives.

What are the major concepts related to Nehemiah 4:4?

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