The Meaning of Nehemiah 4:9 Explained

Nehemiah 4:9

KJV: Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

YLT: And we pray unto our God, and appoint a watch against them, by day and by night, because of them.

Darby: Then we prayed to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

ASV: But we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Nevertheless we made our prayer  unto our God,  and set  a watch  against them day  and night,  because  of them. 

What does Nehemiah 4:9 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 4:9 mean?

And nevertheless we made our prayer to our God and we set a watch against them day and night because of them
וַנִּתְפַּלֵּ֖ל אֶל־ אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וַנַּעֲמִ֨יד מִשְׁמָ֧ר עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם יוֹמָ֥ם וָלַ֖יְלָה מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם

וַנִּתְפַּלֵּ֖ל  And  nevertheless  we  made  our  prayer 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, first person common plural
Root: פָּלַל 
Sense: to intervene, interpose, pray.
אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ  our  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וַנַּעֲמִ֨יד  and  we  set 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, first person common plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
מִשְׁמָ֧ר  a  watch 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁמָר 
Sense: place of confinement, prison, guard, jail, guard post, watch, observance.
עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם  against  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
יוֹמָ֥ם  day 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יׄומָם  
Sense: by day, in the daytime subst.
וָלַ֖יְלָה  and  night 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.
מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם  because  of  them 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.