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Nehemiah 4:14

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Nehemiah 4:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
Nehemiah 4:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Nehemiah 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
12And it came to pass that, when the Jews that dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times from all places, Ye must return unto us.
13Therefore set I in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places, I set [there] the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
14And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
15And 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.
16And it came to pass from that time forth, that half of my servants wrought in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
17They all builded the wall and they that bare burdens laded themselves; every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other held his weapon;
← Nehemiah 4:13Nehemiah 4:15 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And I looked, etc.] Took a view of the people, and observed that they were in their proper place, and sufficiently armed, and also whether the enemy was coming: and rose up and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people; who were under their nobles and rulers, as their captains and commanders: be not ye afraid of them; of their enemies, their numbers, and their threats: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible; who is greater than they, and is to be feared and trusted in by his people, and is terrible even to the kings of the earth: and fight for your brethren, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses; intimating, that they were in danger of…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Looked - He looked up, engaged God for him, and put himself and his cause under the Divine protection. That was his way, and should be ours: all his cares, all his griefs, all his fears he spread before God. Great and terrible - You think your enemies are great and terrible. But what are they in comparison of God? Especially in opposition to him? Nehemiah 4:16”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:14 The strongest motivation for hope was Israel’s great and glorious God, who had delivered his people from mighty nations before (cp. 2 Chr 32:7-8; see Exod 14:13-14; Deut 8:1-3; 20:3; Josh 10:25). Another motivation was to protect their own families and properties.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Be ye not afraid, Num 14:9; Deu 1:21, Deu 1:29, Deu 1:30, Deu 20:3, Deu 20:4; Jos 1:9; Ch2 20:15-17, Ch2 32:7; Psa 27:1, Psa 46:11; Isa 41:10-14; Mat 10:28; Heb 13:6 remember: Psa 20:7, Psa 77:10-20, Psa 143:5; Isa 51:12, Isa 51:13, Isa 63:11-13 great: Neh 1:5; Deu 10:17; Job 37:22; Psa 65:5, Psa 66:3, Psa 66:5; Isa 64:1-3; Nah 1:2-7; Heb 12:20, Heb 12:21, Heb 12:28, Heb 12:29 fight: Sa2 10:12 Nehemiah 4:15”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“(4:8) "And I looked, and rose up, and said." These words can only mean: When I saw the people thus placed with their weapons, I went to them, and said to the nobles, etc., "Be not afraid of them (the enemies); remember the Lord, the great and the terrible," who will fight for you against your enemies ( Deu 3:22; Deu 20:3, and Deu 31:6), "and fight ye for your brethren, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses," whom the enemies would destroy. Nehemiah 4:15”
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Related study paths

Read Nehemiah 4 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification