Help QuickNav Adv. Options
ESV

ESV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

Copy
Copy Options
Strong's
Red Letter
Copy Options
Cite Print
The Blue Letter Bible
Aa
Return to Index

Today's Bible Reading :: Nehemiah 4 - 6 (ESV)

Nehemiah 4Listen to the passage

Nehemiah 5Listen to the passage

Nehemiah 6Listen to the passage

Nehemiah 4

Opposition to the Work

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:1

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:1 - [fn] Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:2

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:2 - And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves?[fn] Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:3

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:3 - Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:4

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:4 - Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:5

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:5 - Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:6

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:6 - So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:7

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:7 - [fn] But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:8

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:8 - And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:9

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:9 - And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:10

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:10 - In Judah it was said,[fn] “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:11

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:11 - And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:12

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:12 - At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.”[fn]

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:13

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:13 - So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:14

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:14 - And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

The Work Resumes

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:15

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:15 - When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:16

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:16 - From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:17

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:17 - who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:18

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:18 - And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:19

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:19 - And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:20

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:20 - In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:21

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:21 - So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:22

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:22 - I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 4:23

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:23 - So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.[fn]
ESV Footnotes
Ch 3:33 in Hebrew
Or Will they commit themselves to God?
Ch 4:1 in Hebrew
Hebrew Judah said
The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
Or his weapon when drinking

Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah Stops Oppression of the Poor

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:1

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:1 - Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:2

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:2 - For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:3

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:3 - There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:4

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:4 - And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:5

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:5 - Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:6

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:6 - I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:7

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:7 - I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:8

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:8 - and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:9

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:9 - So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:10

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:10 - Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:11

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:11 - Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:12

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:12 - Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:13

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:13 - I also shook out the fold[fn] of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

Nehemiah’s Generosity

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:14

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:14 - Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:15

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:15 - The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration[fn] forty shekels[fn] of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:16

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:16 - I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:17

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:17 - Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:18

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:18 - Now what was prepared at my expense[fn] for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 5:19

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 5:19 - Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
ESV Footnotes
Hebrew bosom
Compare Vulgate; Hebrew took from them for food and wine after
A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
Or prepared for me

Nehemiah 6

Conspiracy Against Nehemiah

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:1

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:1 - Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:2

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:2 - Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:3

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:3 - And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:4

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:4 - And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:5

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:5 - In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:6

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:6 - In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem[fn] also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:7

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:7 - And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:8

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:8 - Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:9

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:9 - For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God,[fn] strengthen my hands.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:10

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:10 - Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:11

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:11 - But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live?[fn] I will not go in.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:12

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:12 - And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:13

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:13 - For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:14

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:14 - Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.

The Wall Is Finished

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:15

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:15 - So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:16

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:16 - And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:17

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:17 - Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:18

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:18 - For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Neh 6:19

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 6:19 - Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.
See the ESV Preface
ESV Footnotes
Hebrew Gashmu
Hebrew lacks O God
Or would go into the temple to save his life
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

BLB Searches
Search the Bible
ESV
  [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
ESV
Let's Connect
Daily Devotionals

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan