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Nehemiah 6:9

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Nehemiah 6:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. But now, [O God], strengthen thou my hands.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. But now, [O God], strengthen thou my hands.
Nehemiah 6:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Nehemiah 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6wherein was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause thou art building the wall: and thou wouldest be their king, according to these words.
7And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
9For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. But now, [O God], strengthen thou my hands.
10And I went unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.
11And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.
12And I discerned, and, lo, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me: and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
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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
“For they all made us afraid, etc.] Or you all, as Aben Ezra interprets it; or all the Heathen nations, as Jarchi; this was the design of all those scandalous reports, to intimidate them, and with this they pleased themselves, as follows: their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done; this they hoped would be the effect of those reports sent to them: now, therefore, O God, strengthen my hands; and let them not have what they will, and hope for; according to Aben Ezra, these words are directed to Sanballat, that if he was a friend, as he pretended, that instead of weakening, he would strengthen his hands by a sincere reconciliation; so Vatablus; but they are an address to…”
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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
“Strengthen my hands - A good prayer, when we are entering on any particular services or conflicts in our Christian warfare. Nehemiah 6:10”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“For they: Neh 6:14, Neh 4:10-14; Ch2 32:18 Their hands: Ch2 15:7; Ezra 4:1-24; Isa 35:3, Isa 35:4; Jer 38:4; Heb 12:12 Now therefore: Sa1 30:6; Psa 56:3, Psa 71:1, Psa 68:35, Psa 138:3; Isa 41:10; Zac 10:12; Co2 12:9; Eph 3:16, Eph 6:10; Phi 4:13; Pe1 5:10 Nehemiah 6:10”
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Related study paths

Read Nehemiah 6 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification