Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem. New Living Translation The merchants and tradesmen with a variety of wares camped outside Jerusalem once or twice. English Standard Version Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. Berean Standard Bible Once or twice, the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, Berean Literal Bible And they lodged—those who traded and those who sold all kinds of goods to sell—outside of Jerusalem once or twice. King James Bible So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. New King James Version Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. New American Standard Bible Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. NASB 1995 Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. NASB 1977 Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. Legacy Standard Bible Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. Amplified Bible So once or twice the merchants and sellers of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. Berean Annotated Bible Once or twice, the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem (city of peace), Christian Standard Bible Once or twice the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, Holman Christian Standard Bible Once or twice the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, American Standard Version So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Contemporary English Version Once or twice some merchants spent the night outside Jerusalem with their goods. English Revised Version So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. GOD'S WORD® Translation Once or twice merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem. Good News Translation Once or twice merchants who sold all kinds of goods spent Friday night outside the city walls. International Standard Version As a result, the merchants and sellers of all sorts of goods remained outside Jerusalem a couple of times. NET Bible The traders and sellers of all kinds of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem once or twice. New Heart English Bible So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside of Jerusalem once or twice. Webster's Bible Translation So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleOnce or twice, the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, World English Bible So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares camped outside of Jerusalem once or twice. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd they lodge—the merchants and sellers of all ware—at the outside of Jerusalem, once or twice, Berean Literal Bible And they lodged—those who traded and those who sold all kinds of goods to sell—outside of Jerusalem once or twice. Young's Literal Translation And they lodge -- the merchants and sellers of all ware -- at the outside of Jerusalem, once or twice, Smith's Literal Translation And the merchants and those selling every selling will lodge from without to Jerusalem once and twice. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSo the merchants, and they that sold all kinds of wares, stayed without Jerusalem once or twice. Catholic Public Domain Version And so the merchants and those who sold all kinds of items remained just outside of Jerusalem, once and again. New American Bible The merchants and sellers of various kinds of merchandise spent the night once or twice outside Jerusalem, New Revised Standard Version Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem once or twice. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo the merchants and the sellers of all kinds of merchandise lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Merchants and Buyers of selling lodged outside of Jerusalem a day or two. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Brenton Septuagint Translation So all the merchants lodged, and carried on traffic without Jerusalem once or twice. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Sabbath Restored…19When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem, just before the Sabbath, I ordered that the gates be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day. 20Once or twice, the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, 21but I warned them, “Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they did not return on the Sabbath.… Cross References Once or twice, Job 33:14 For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices. Job 40:5 I have spoken once, but I have no answer—twice, but I have nothing to add.” Psalm 62:11 God has spoken once; I have heard this twice: that power belongs to God, the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods Nehemiah 10:31 When the people of the land bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on a Sabbath or holy day. Every seventh year we will let the fields lie fallow and will cancel every debt. Amos 8:5 asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales. Revelation 18:11-13 And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo— / cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; / of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves. camped outside Jerusalem, Jeremiah 17:21-22 This is what the LORD says: Take heed for yourselves; do not carry a load or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. / You must not carry a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath day, but you must keep the Sabbath day holy, just as I commanded your forefathers. Ezekiel 46:1-3 “This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘The gate of the inner court that faces east must be kept shut during the six days of work, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened. / The prince is to enter from the outside through the portico of the gateway and stand by the gatepost, while the priests sacrifice his burnt offerings and peace offerings. He is to bow in worship at the threshold of the gate and then depart, but the gate must not be shut until evening. / On the Sabbaths and New Moons the people of the land are also to bow in worship before the LORD at the entrance to that gateway. Deuteronomy 23:12-14 You must have a place outside the camp to go and relieve yourself. / And you must have a digging tool in your equipment so that when you relieve yourself you can dig a hole and cover up your excrement. / For the LORD your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, lest He see anything unclean among you and turn away from you. Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. / Six days you shall labor and do all your work, / but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. … Deuteronomy 5:12-15 Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. / Six days you shall labor and do all your work, / but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox or donkey or any of your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do. … Isaiah 58:13-14 If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words, / then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. Ezekiel 20:12-24 I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. / Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they utterly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and put an end to them in the wilderness. / But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. … Matthew 12:1-8 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. / When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” / Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? … Mark 2:23-28 One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain as they walked along. / So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” / Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? … Luke 6:1-5 One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands, and eat them. / But some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” / Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? … Treasury of Scripture So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Jump to Previous Dealers Goods Jerusalem Kind Kinds Lodged Merchandise Merchants Night Night's Once Outside Rest Sellers Sorts Spent Traders Twice Ware WaresJump to Next Dealers Goods Jerusalem Kind Kinds Lodged Merchandise Merchants Night Night's Once Outside Rest Sellers Sorts Spent Traders Twice Ware WaresNehemiah 13 1. Upon the reading of the law, separation is made from the mixed multitude.4. Nehemiah, at his return, causes the chambers to be cleansed. 10. He reforms the offices in the house of God; 15. the violation of the Sabbath; 23. and the marriages with the strange wives. Once or twice This phrase indicates a repeated action, suggesting persistence by the merchants. In the context of Nehemiah's reforms, it highlights the challenge of enforcing the Sabbath laws. The persistence of the merchants reflects the economic pressures and temptations faced by the people of Jerusalem. This persistence can be seen as a test of Nehemiah's leadership and the people's commitment to God's commandments. the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem Persons / Places / Events 1. NehemiahThe central figure in the book, Nehemiah was a Jewish leader who served as the governor of Jerusalem. He was instrumental in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and instituting reforms to restore the spiritual and social order of the Jewish community. 2. Merchants These were traders who sold various goods. In this context, they were attempting to sell their wares on the Sabbath, which was against the Jewish law. 3. Jerusalem The holy city of the Jews, which Nehemiah was tasked with rebuilding and reforming. It was the center of Jewish worship and culture. 4. Sabbath The day of rest and worship commanded by God in the Ten Commandments. Nehemiah was enforcing its observance as part of his reforms. 5. Reforms Nehemiah's efforts to restore proper worship and adherence to the Law of Moses, including the observance of the Sabbath. Teaching Points The Importance of Sabbath ObservanceNehemiah's actions highlight the importance of setting aside time for rest and worship, as commanded by God. In today's busy world, Christians are reminded to prioritize their spiritual well-being by observing a day of rest. Guarding Against Compromise The merchants camping outside Jerusalem symbolize the constant temptation to compromise on spiritual principles. Believers are encouraged to remain vigilant and uphold their convictions, even when faced with external pressures. Leadership and Accountability Nehemiah's leadership demonstrates the need for accountability in spiritual communities. Leaders are called to enforce God's standards and guide their communities in faithful living. Community and Worship The passage underscores the communal aspect of worship and obedience. Christians are reminded of the importance of gathering together to honor God and support one another in their faith journey. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Nehemiah 13:20?2. How does Nehemiah 13:20 illustrate the importance of honoring the Sabbath today? 3. What actions did Nehemiah take to enforce the Sabbath in Nehemiah 13:20? 4. How can we apply Nehemiah's leadership in Nehemiah 13:20 to modern church leadership? 5. What other Scriptures emphasize the significance of keeping the Sabbath holy? 6. How can we prevent secular influences from compromising our faith, as Nehemiah did? 7. Why did Nehemiah enforce the Sabbath so strictly in Nehemiah 13:20? 8. How does Nehemiah 13:20 reflect on the importance of the Sabbath in Jewish tradition? 9. What historical context led to Nehemiah's actions in Nehemiah 13:20? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Nehemiah 13? 11. Does the mention of Tarshish and other distant lands in Ezekiel 27 align with known ancient geography and historical records? 12. How did Nehemiah rebuild Jerusalem's walls and restore faith? 13. What are the names of Jerusalem's gates? 14. What does the Bible say about Christian political involvement? What Does Nehemiah 13:20 Mean Once or twiceNehemiah notes, “Once or twice…,” highlighting a brief but telling pattern. • The phrase shows the merchants’ persistence yet also Nehemiah’s swift response; their attempts never became a weekly norm (cf. Nehemiah 13:21). • Scripture often uses similar wording to spotlight limited but significant repetition—see 2 Corinthians 12:8, where Paul pleads “three times,” or 1 Samuel 3:8, where the LORD calls Samuel “a third time.” • The verse reminds us that even small, repeated compromises can threaten obedience (Galatians 5:9). the merchants Jerusalem attracted traders because of its central location and growing population after the wall’s completion (Nehemiah 6:15). • Merchants are neutral in themselves (Proverbs 31:24), yet their priorities are typically profit and expedience (Revelation 18:3). • When commerce overrides worship, the pattern mirrors what Jesus confronted in the temple courts (Mark 11:15). • Nehemiah’s account warns that the drive for gain can test covenant faithfulness (Ezekiel 27:15; 1 Timothy 6:10). and those who sell all kinds of goods The phrase widens the net from professional merchants to any vendor carrying wares—produce, textiles, utensils, perhaps even sacrificial animals. • Amos 8:5 pictures sellers impatient for holy days to end so they can “market grain.” Nehemiah faces that same attitude. • Diversity of goods means wider temptation: something for everyone, making Sabbath observance harder to protect (cf. Exodus 20:8–11). • The detail underscores how ordinary needs can erode sacred rhythms if boundaries blur (Matthew 6:31–33). camped outside Jerusalem With the city gates shut from sunset to sunset (Nehemiah 13:19), sellers bivouacked just beyond the walls, waiting for an opening. • The tactic pressed Nehemiah to act decisively; he warns, “If you lodge again, I will lay hands on you” (Nehemiah 13:21). • Camping outside illustrates how the world’s values sit at the doorstep of God’s people (1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 13:13). • Nehemiah keeps commerce physically and spiritually outside the covenant community until the Sabbath passes, modeling clear boundaries (Proverbs 4:23). summary Nehemiah 13:20 shows determined merchants making one or two attempts to slip Sabbath-breaking trade back into Jerusalem. Their camping outside the walls exposes how easily economic pressures crowd worship and how quickly compromise can return if leaders relax vigilance. Nehemiah’s firm stance protects the holiness of God’s day, teaching believers to guard sacred priorities, set clear boundaries, and respond promptly whenever worldly influences press at the gates. (20) Once or twice.--For a time they lodged outside; the unseemliness of this, and the evidence it gave that they were only waiting to evade the law, made Nehemiah testify in word, and threaten forcible action. This effectually removed the evil.Verse 20. - The merchants lodged without. The merchants could not leave their wares unguarded; and the wares not being admitted into the town, they were obliged to camp out. Thus a crowd was collected about the gates, and a disturbance and excitement caused, which was unsuitable for the sabbath. To prevent this, Nehemiah threatened to arrest the merchants, whereupon the practice was given up (ver. 21).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Onceפַּ֥עַם (pa·‘am) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 6471: A beat, foot, anvil, occurrence or twice, וּשְׁתָּֽיִם׃ (ū·šə·tā·yim) Conjunctive waw | Number - fd Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) the merchants הָרֹכְלִ֜ים (hā·rō·ḵə·lîm) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 7402: To travel for, trading and those who sell וּמֹכְרֵ֧י (ū·mō·ḵə·rê) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct Strong's 4376: To sell all kinds כָל־ (ḵāl) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every of goods מִמְכָּ֛ר (mim·kār) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4465: Merchandise, a selling camped וַיָּלִ֨ינוּ (way·yā·lî·nū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 3885: To stop, to stay permanently, to be obstinate outside מִח֥וּץ (mi·ḥūṣ) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2351: Separate by a, wall, outside, outdoors Jerusalem, לִירוּשָׁלִָ֖ם (lî·rū·šā·lim) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel Links Nehemiah 13:20 NIVNehemiah 13:20 NLT Nehemiah 13:20 ESV Nehemiah 13:20 NASB Nehemiah 13:20 KJV Nehemiah 13:20 BibleApps.com Nehemiah 13:20 Biblia Paralela Nehemiah 13:20 Chinese Bible Nehemiah 13:20 French Bible Nehemiah 13:20 Catholic Bible OT History: Nehemiah 13:20 So the merchants and sellers of all (Neh Ne) |
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