CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Nehemiah 4:11 And our enemies said, "Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/nehemiah/4-11.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/16_Neh_04_11.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Nehemiah 4:11 - Discouragement Overcome" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And our enemies said, Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/nehemiah/4-11.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/nehemiah/4-11.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/nehemiah/">Nehemiah</a> > <a href="/nehemiah/4.htm">Chapter 4</a> > Verse 11</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad11.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/nehemiah/4-10.htm" title="Nehemiah 4:10">◄</a> Nehemiah 4:11 <a href="/nehemiah/4-12.htm" title="Nehemiah 4:12">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/nehemiah/4.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Also our enemies said, &#8220Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/nehemiah/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/nehemiah/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And our adversaries said, “They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/nehemiah/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And our enemies said, “They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them, and put a stop to the work.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Our enemies said, &#8220They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/nehemiah/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And our enemies said, “They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them, and put a stop to the work.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/nehemiah/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Our adversaries said, “They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them, and put a stop to the work.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/nehemiah/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Our enemies said, “They will not know or see us until we are among them, kill them and put a stop to the work.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/nehemiah/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />And our enemies said, “They won’t realize it until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/nehemiah/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />And our enemies said, &#8220They won&#8217t know or see anything until we&#8217re among them and can kill them and stop the work.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/nehemiah/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/nehemiah/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Our enemies were saying, "Before those Jews know what has happened, we will sneak up and kill them and put an end to their work." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/nehemiah/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/nehemiah/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Our enemies said, "Before they know what is happening or see a thing, we will be right in the middle of them. We'll kill them and bring the work to an end."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/nehemiah/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Our enemies thought we would not see them or know what was happening until they were already upon us, killing us and putting an end to our work. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/nehemiah/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Our enemies said, "Before they notice or see us, we'll penetrate their midst, kill them, and stop the work!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/nehemiah/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And our enemies said, ?Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/nehemiah/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Our adversaries also boasted, "Before they are aware or anticipate anything, we will come in among them and kill them, and we will bring this work to a halt!" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/nehemiah/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Our adversaries said, "They shall not know, neither see, until we come into their midst, and kill them, and cause the work to cease."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/nehemiah/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/nehemiah/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Our adversaries said, “They will not know or see, until we come in among them and kill them, and cause the work to cease.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/nehemiah/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And our adversaries say, “They do not know, nor see, until we come into their midst, and have slain them, and caused the work to cease.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/nehemiah/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And our adversaries say, 'They do not know, nor see, till that we come in to their midst, and have slain them, and caused the work to cease.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/nehemiah/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And our adversaries will say, They shall not know, and they shall not see, till that we shall come to their midst and kill them, and cause the work to cease.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/nehemiah/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And our enemies said: Let them not know, nor understand, till we come in the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/nehemiah/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And our enemies said: “Let them neither know, nor realize, until we arrive in their midst, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/nehemiah/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Our enemies thought, “Before they are aware of it or see us, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/nehemiah/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />And our enemies said, “They will not know or see anything before we come upon them and kill them and stop the work.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/nehemiah/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come and attack them and slay them and cause their work to cease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/nehemiah/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And those who hate us were saying: ‘They will not know and they will not see until we fall upon them and we will kill them and we will stop their work!’”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/nehemiah/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And 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.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/nehemiah/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And they that afflicted us said, They shall not know, and they shall not see, until we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/nehemiah/4-11.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZsQrw7rBvgc?start=873" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/4.htm">Discouragement Overcome</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">10</span>Meanwhile, the people of Judah said: “The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.” <span class="reftext">11</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6862.htm" title="6862: ṣā·rê·nū (N-mpc:: 1cp) -- Narrow, a tight place, a pebble, an opponent. Or tsar; from tsarar; narrow; a tight place; also a pebble; an opponent.">And our enemies</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mə·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">said,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: ‘aḏ (Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">“Before</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3045.htm" title="3045: yê·ḏə·‘ū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- A primitive root; to know; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially.">they know</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: yir·’ū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">see</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">a thing,</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: nā·ḇō·w (V-Qal-Imperf-1cp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">we will come</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">into</a> <a href="/hebrew/8432.htm" title="8432: tō·w·ḵām (N-msc:: 3mp) -- Midst. From an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. the centre.">their midst,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2026.htm" title="2026: wa·hă·raḡ·nūm (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-1cp:: 3mp) -- To kill, slay. A primitive root; to smite with deadly intent.">kill them,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7673.htm" title="7673: wə·hiš·baṯ·nū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjPerf-1cp) -- To repose, desist from exertion. A primitive root; to repose, i.e. Desist from exertion; used in many implied relations.">and put an end</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4399.htm" title="4399: ham·mə·lā·ḵāh (Art:: N-fs) -- From the same as mal'ak; properly, deputyship, i.e. Ministry; generally, employment or work; also property.">to the work.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">12</span>At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/83-4.htm">Psalm 83:4</a></span><br />saying, “Come, let us erase them as a nation; may the name of Israel be remembered no more.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/15-9.htm">Exodus 15:9</a></span><br />The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/23-23.htm">1 Samuel 23:23</a></span><br />Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/19-10.htm">2 Kings 19:10-11</a></span><br />“Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. / Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries, devoting them to destruction. Will you then be spared?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/36-4.htm">Isaiah 36:4-5</a></span><br />The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours? / You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/11-19.htm">Jeremiah 11:19</a></span><br />For I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter; I did not know that they had plotted against me: “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be remembered no more.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/11-10.htm">Ezekiel 11:10-11</a></span><br />You will fall by the sword, and I will judge you even to the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. / The city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be the meat within it. I will judge you even to the borders of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/11-25.htm">Daniel 11:25</a></span><br />And with a large army he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South, who will mobilize a very large and powerful army but will not withstand the plots devised against him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/26-4.htm">Matthew 26:4</a></span><br />and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/14-1.htm">Mark 14:1</a></span><br />Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/22-2.htm">Luke 22:2</a></span><br />and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they feared the people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/11-53.htm">John 11:53</a></span><br />So from that day on they plotted to kill Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/23-12.htm">Acts 23:12-15</a></span><br />When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. / More than forty of them were involved in this plot. / They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/11-3.htm">Romans 11:3</a></span><br />“Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/16-9.htm">1 Corinthians 16:9</a></span><br />because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the middle among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.</p><p class="hdg">They shall not</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/20-29.htm">Judges 20:29</a></b></br> And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/17-2.htm">2 Samuel 17:2</a></b></br> And I will come upon him while he <i>is</i> weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that <i>are</i> with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/56-6.htm">Psalm 56:6</a></b></br> They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ezra/4-1.htm">Adversaries</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-8.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/ezra/6-12.htm">Caused</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-8.htm">Causing</a> <a href="/ezra/5-5.htm">Cease</a> <a href="/ezra/7-26.htm">Death</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-2.htm">End</a> <a href="/ezra/4-1.htm">Enemies</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/35-6.htm">Kill</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/32-4.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/nehemiah/2-20.htm">Right</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/28-9.htm">Slain</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/23-14.htm">Slay</a> <a href="/ezra/5-5.htm">Stop</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-10.htm">Work</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/nehemiah/9-27.htm">Adversaries</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-12.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-7.htm">Caused</a> <a href="/esther/1-17.htm">Causing</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-3.htm">Cease</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-26.htm">Death</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-31.htm">End</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-15.htm">Enemies</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-10.htm">Kill</a> <a href="/nehemiah/7-4.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-9.htm">Right</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-26.htm">Slain</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-10.htm">Slay</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-10.htm">Stop</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-15.htm">Work</a><div class="vheading2">Nehemiah 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/4-1.htm">While the enemies scoff, Nehemiah prays and continues the work</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/4-7.htm">Understanding the wrath and secrets of the enemy, he sets a watch</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/4-13.htm">He arms the laborers</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/4-19.htm">and gives military precepts</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/nehemiah/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/nehemiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/nehemiah/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>And our enemies said</b><br>This phrase highlights the opposition faced by Nehemiah and the Israelites from surrounding groups. Historically, these enemies included the Samaritans, Ammonites, Arabs, and Ashdodites, who were threatened by the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. This opposition is a recurring theme in the Bible, where God's people often face resistance from adversaries (e.g., <a href="/exodus/17-8.htm">Exodus 17:8-16</a>, <a href="/1_samuel/17.htm">1 Samuel 17</a>).<p><b>Before they know or see a thing</b><br>The enemies planned a surprise attack, indicating their intent to catch the Israelites off guard. This reflects the tactics of warfare in ancient times, where surprise and stealth were crucial. It also underscores the vigilance required by God's people, as seen in <a href="/1_peter/5-8.htm">1 Peter 5:8</a>, which warns believers to be alert against the devil's schemes.<p><b>we will come into their midst</b><br>The phrase suggests infiltration and a direct assault on the community. This tactic of entering the midst of the people is reminiscent of other biblical narratives where enemies sought to disrupt God's plans, such as the infiltration of spies in <a href="/joshua/2.htm">Joshua 2</a>. It also foreshadows the need for internal vigilance and unity among God's people.<p><b>kill them</b><br>The ultimate goal of the enemies was to destroy the Israelites physically. This reflects the severity of the threat and the lengths to which adversaries would go to stop God's work. It echoes the spiritual warfare theme found in <a href="/ephesians/6-12.htm">Ephesians 6:12</a>, where the struggle is not just physical but spiritual.<p><b>and put an end to the work</b><br>The enemies aimed to halt the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, which symbolized the restoration of the Jewish community and their covenant with God. This mirrors the broader biblical narrative of opposition to God's redemptive work, as seen in the attempts to thwart Jesus' mission (<a href="/matthew/2-16.htm">Matthew 2:16</a>, <a href="/john/11-53.htm">John 11:53</a>). The rebuilding of the walls can also be seen as a type of Christ, representing protection, salvation, and the establishment of God's kingdom.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/n/nehemiah.htm">Nehemiah</a></b><br>The central figure in the book, Nehemiah is a Jewish leader who is instrumental in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/e/enemies_of_judah.htm">Enemies of Judah</a></b><br>These are the adversaries of the Jewish people, including the Samaritans, Ammonites, Arabs, and Ashdodites, who oppose the rebuilding efforts.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where the rebuilding of the walls is taking place, symbolizing the restoration of the Jewish community and their faith.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_workers.htm">The Workers</a></b><br>The Jewish people who are actively engaged in the reconstruction of the city walls under Nehemiah's leadership.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_plot.htm">The Plot</a></b><br>The conspiracy by the enemies to attack and kill the workers to halt the rebuilding process.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/v/vigilance_in_the_face_of_opposition.htm">Vigilance in the Face of Opposition</a></b><br>Just as Nehemiah and the workers had to be alert to the threats around them, Christians today must remain vigilant against spiritual and worldly opposition.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_community_and_unity.htm">The Power of Community and Unity</a></b><br>The workers in Jerusalem were united in their purpose, demonstrating the strength found in community and shared goals.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_and_action.htm">Faith and Action</a></b><br>Nehemiah's response to the threat was both spiritual (prayer) and practical (setting guards), teaching us to balance faith with action.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_adversity.htm">God's Sovereignty in Adversity</a></b><br>Despite the enemies' plans, God's purpose for Jerusalem prevailed, reminding us of His ultimate control over our circumstances.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/perseverance_in_god's_work.htm">Perseverance in God's Work</a></b><br>The determination to continue rebuilding despite threats encourages believers to persevere in their God-given missions.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_nehemiah_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Nehemiah 4</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/archaeological_proof_of_nehemiah_4_11_plot.htm">Nehemiah 4:11: Are there any archaeological records to confirm a plot of secret attacks against the builders in Jerusalem at this time? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_god_for_the_living,_not_the_dead.htm">What does 'our joy may be full' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_nehemiah_rebuild_and_restore.htm">How did Nehemiah rebuild Jerusalem's walls and restore faith?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_a_kind_god_allow_suffering.htm">How can a compassionate God allow such severe suffering as described in Lamentations 1:5?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/nehemiah/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(11) <span class= "bld">They shall not know.</span>--As to the adversaries, their plan was evidently to watch and surprise, instead of making the threatened attack.<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/nehemiah/4-11.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">And our enemies</span><br /><span class="heb">צָרֵ֗ינוּ</span> <span class="translit">(ṣā·rê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6862.htm">Strong's 6862: </a> </span><span class="str2">Narrow, a tight place, a pebble, an opponent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">said,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mə·rū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Before</span><br /><span class="heb">עַ֛ד</span> <span class="translit">(‘aḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> </span><span class="str2">As far as, even to, up to, until, while</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they know</span><br /><span class="heb">יֵדְעוּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(yê·ḏə·‘ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3045.htm">Strong's 3045: </a> </span><span class="str2">To know</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[or]</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">see</span><br /><span class="heb">יִרְא֔וּ</span> <span class="translit">(yir·’ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[a thing],</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֤א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">we will come</span><br /><span class="heb">נָב֥וֹא</span> <span class="translit">(nā·ḇō·w)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">into</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their midst,</span><br /><span class="heb">תּוֹכָ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(tō·w·ḵām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8432.htm">Strong's 8432: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bisection, the centre</span><br /><br /><span class="word">kill them,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַהֲרַגְנ֑וּם</span> <span class="translit">(wa·hă·raḡ·nūm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2026.htm">Strong's 2026: </a> </span><span class="str2">To smite with deadly intent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and put an end</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהִשְׁבַּ֖תְנוּ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hiš·baṯ·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7673.htm">Strong's 7673: </a> </span><span class="str2">To repose, desist from exertion</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the work.”</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(ham·mə·lā·ḵāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4399.htm">Strong's 4399: </a> </span><span class="str2">Deputyship, ministry, employment, work, property</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/nehemiah/4-11.htm">Nehemiah 4:11 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/4-11.htm">Nehemiah 4:11 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/nehemiah/4-11.htm">Nehemiah 4:11 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/4-11.htm">Nehemiah 4:11 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/4-11.htm">Nehemiah 4:11 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/nehemiah/4-11.htm">Nehemiah 4:11 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/nehemiah/4-11.htm">Nehemiah 4:11 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/nehemiah/4-11.htm">Nehemiah 4:11 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/nehemiah/4-11.htm">Nehemiah 4:11 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/nehemiah/4-11.htm">Nehemiah 4:11 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/nehemiah/4-11.htm">OT History: Nehemiah 4:11 Our adversaries said They shall not know (Neh Ne) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/nehemiah/4-10.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Nehemiah 4:10"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 4:10" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/nehemiah/4-12.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Nehemiah 4:12"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 4:12" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>