Nehemiah 4:17
◄  Nehemiah 4:17  ►
New International Version (©2011)
who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,

New Living Translation (©2007)
who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon.

English Standard Version (©2001)
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.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried the loads worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.

International Standard Version (©2012)
who worked on the wall. Those who carried building materials worked with one hand, carrying a spear in the other.

NET Bible (©2006)
who were rebuilding the wall. Those who were carrying loads did so by keeping one hand on the work and the other on their weapon.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
who were rebuilding the wall. The workers who were carrying loads did the work with one hand and held their weapons with the other,

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
They who built on the wall, and they that bore burdens, so burdened themselves, everyone with one of his hands worked in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

American King James Version
They which built on the wall, and they that bore burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands worked in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

American Standard Version
They 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;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Of them that built on the wall and that carried burdens, and that laded: with one of his hands he did the work, and with the other he held a sword.

Darby Bible Translation
They that built on the wall, and they that bore burdens, with those that loaded, wrought in the work with one hand, and with the other they held a weapon.

English Revised Version
They that 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;

Webster's Bible Translation
They who built on the wall, and they that bore burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

World English Bible
They all built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with one of his hands worked in the work, and with the other held his weapon;

Young's Literal Translation
The builders on the wall, and the bearers of the burden, those lading, each with one of his hands is working in the business, and one is laying hold of the missile.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:16-23 We must watch always against spiritual enemies, and not expect that our warfare will be over till our work is ended. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit, which we ought to have always at hand, and never to have to seek for it, either in our labours, or in our conflicts, as Christians. Every true Christian is both a labourer and a soldier, working with one hand, and fighting with the other. Good work is likely to go on with success, when those who labour in it, make a business of it. And Satan fears to assault the watchful Christian; or, if attacked, the Lord fights for him. Thus must we wait to the close of life, never putting off our armour till our work and warfare are ended; then we shall be welcomed to the rest and joy of our Lord.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 17. - And they which bare burdens, with those that laded. Rather, "both they which bare burdens, as they laded." The builders, or those engaged upon the work, are divided into two classes -

(1) actual builders, and

(2) those who carried the materials.

Of these, the latter did their work with one hand, while in their other hand they held a weapon; the former needed both hands for their employment, but even these wore swords in theft girdles.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

That laid the mortar and stones upon it, and timber where it was necessary:

and they that bore burdens; that carried the mortar, stones, and timber to the builders, and served them:

with those that laded; which prepared the above for them, and laid them on their shoulders:

everyone with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon; which is not to be understood strictly and literally, for without both hands they could not well perform either of the above works; but proverbially, signifying that they were intent on both working and fighting, and were ready and prepared to do the latter, as well as the former, having weapons lying by them, or girt about them, as is explained in the following verse.

Nehemiah 4:17 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Discouragement Overcome
…16And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants worked in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. 17They which built on the wall, and they that bore burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands worked in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. 18For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so built. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. …

Nehemiah 4:13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.
Nehemiah 4:16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah
Nehemiah 4:18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.
Psalm 149:6 May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands,