Nehemiah 2:16
New International Version
The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

New Living Translation
The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration.

English Standard Version
And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.

Berean Standard Bible
The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews or priests or nobles or officials or any other workers.

King James Bible
And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.

New King James Version
And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work.

New American Standard Bible
However, the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the rest who were doing the work.

NASB 1995
The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work.

NASB 1977
And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the rest who did the work.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the rest who were doing the work.

Amplified Bible
The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the rest who did the work.

Christian Standard Bible
The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or the rest of those who would be doing the work.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or the rest of those who would be doing the work.

American Standard Version
And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.

Contemporary English Version
None of the city officials knew what I had in mind. And I had not even told any of the Jews--not the priests, the leaders, the officials, or any other Jews who would be helping in the work.

English Revised Version
And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The officials didn't know where I had gone or what I had done. I hadn't yet told the Jews, the priests, the leaders, the other officials, or any of the rest who would be doing the work.

Good News Translation
None of the local officials knew where I had gone or what I had been doing. So far I had not said anything to any of the other Jews--the priests, the leaders, the officials, or anyone else who would be taking part in the work.

International Standard Version
The local officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done—I informed neither the Judeans, nor the priests, nor the nobles, nor the officials, nor any of the rest who would be doing the work.

Majority Standard Bible
The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews or priests or nobles or officials or any other workers.

NET Bible
The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had been doing, for up to this point I had not told any of the Jews or the priests or the nobles or the officials or the rest of the workers.

New Heart English Bible
The rulers did not know where I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.

World English Bible
The rulers didn’t know where I went, or what I did. I had not as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the prefects have not known to where I have gone, and what I am doing; and to the Jews, and to the priests, and to the nobles, and to the prefects, and to the rest of those doing the work, until now I have not declared [it];

Young's Literal Translation
And the prefects have not known whither I have gone, and what I am doing; and to the Jews, and to the priests, and to the freemen, and to the prefects, and to the rest of those doing the work, hitherto I have not declared it;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the prefects knew not whither I went and what I was doing: and to the Jews and to the priests and to the nobles and to the prefects, and to the rest doing the work, even thus I announced not.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the magistrates knew not whither I went, or what I did: neither had I as yet told any thing to the Jews, or to the priests, or to the nobles, or to the magistrates, or to the rest that did the work.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now the magistrates did not know where I had gone, or what I had done. For I had revealed nothing, even to that point in time, to the Jews, or to the priests, or to the nobles, or to the magistrates, or to the others who were doing the work.

New American Bible
The magistrates knew nothing of where I had gone or what I was doing, for as yet I had disclosed nothing to the Jews, neither to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the magistrates, nor to the others who were to do the work.

New Revised Standard Version
The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest that were to do the work.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the authorities did not know where I had gone or what I was doing: neither had I as yet told it to the Jews nor to the priests nor to the governors nor to the scribes nor to the rest that did the work.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Governors did not know where I went and what I did, and I had not shown the Jews, or the Priests, or the Rulers, or the Scribes, or the rest who did the work, until now.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the sentinels knew not why I went, nor what I was doing; and until that time I told it not to the Jews, or to the priests, or to the nobles, or to the captains, or to the rest of the men who wrought the works.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Nehemiah Inspects the Walls
15so I went up the valley by night and inspected the wall. Then I headed back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews or priests or nobles or officials or any other workers. 17Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned down. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.”…

Cross References
Nehemiah 4:14
After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and 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 and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

Nehemiah 6:16
When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.

Ezra 5:2
Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak rose up and began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them.

Ezra 4:12-13
Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring its walls and repairing its foundations. / Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.

Ezra 6:14
So the Jewish elders built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia.

Haggai 1:14
So the LORD stirred the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and began the work on the house of the LORD of Hosts, their God,

Zechariah 4:9
“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you.

1 Chronicles 28:19
“All this,” said David, “all the details of this plan, the LORD has made clear to me in writing by His hand upon me.”

2 Chronicles 24:12-13
Then the king and Jehoiada would give the money to those who supervised the labor on the house of the LORD to hire stonecutters and carpenters to restore the house of the LORD, as well as workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the LORD. / So the workmen labored, and in their hands the repair work progressed. They restored the house of God according to its specifications, and they reinforced it.

Proverbs 15:22
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Isaiah 58:12
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling.

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Luke 14:28-30
Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? / Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, / saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’


Treasury of Scripture

And the rulers knew not where I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.

the rulers

Nehemiah 2:12
And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

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Chiefs Declared Freemen Great Hitherto Jews Nobles Officials Ones Others Prefects Priests Rest Rulers Whither Work
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Chiefs Declared Freemen Great Hitherto Jews Nobles Officials Ones Others Prefects Priests Rest Rulers Whither Work
Nehemiah 2
1. Artaxerxes, understanding the cause of Nehemiah's sadness,
6. sends him with letters and commission to Jerusalem
9. Nehemiah, to the grief of the enemies, comes to Jerusalem
12. He views secretly the ruins of the walls
17. He incites the Jews to build














The officials did not know
This phrase highlights the secrecy and discretion Nehemiah maintained during his initial assessment of Jerusalem's walls. The Hebrew root for "officials" is "sarim," which often refers to leaders or rulers. In the context of Nehemiah's mission, these were likely local leaders who had a vested interest in the status quo. Nehemiah's wisdom in keeping his plans concealed at this stage reflects a strategic approach to leadership, ensuring that his vision was not prematurely opposed or misunderstood.

where I had gone or what I was doing
Nehemiah's actions were deliberate and purposeful. The Hebrew verb "halak," translated as "had gone," implies movement with intent. Nehemiah was not aimlessly wandering; he was on a mission from God. His actions were guided by prayer and divine direction, underscoring the importance of seeking God's guidance in our endeavors. This phrase also suggests a level of spiritual discernment, as Nehemiah understood the importance of timing and revelation in God's work.

for I had not yet told
The phrase "had not yet told" indicates a conscious decision to withhold information. The Hebrew word "nagad" means to declare or make known. Nehemiah's restraint in sharing his plans reflects a deep understanding of human nature and the potential for opposition. By waiting for the right moment, Nehemiah ensured that his message would be received with the seriousness and support it required. This teaches us the value of patience and timing in leadership and ministry.

the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or any others
This list encompasses the various groups within the Jewish community, each with its own role and influence. The "Jews" refers to the general populace, while "priests" were the spiritual leaders. "Nobles" and "officials" were likely the political and social leaders. The phrase "or any others" suggests inclusivity, indicating that Nehemiah's plan would eventually involve the entire community. This highlights the importance of unity and collective effort in accomplishing God's work.

who would be doing the work
The phrase "doing the work" emphasizes the active participation required from the community. The Hebrew word "melakah" refers to labor or craftsmanship, indicating that rebuilding the walls was not just a spiritual endeavor but also a physical one. Nehemiah's vision required the cooperation and dedication of the people, illustrating the principle that while God provides the vision, it is through human hands that His plans are often realized. This serves as a reminder of the partnership between divine providence and human responsibility in fulfilling God's purposes.

(16) The rest that did the work, that is, afterwards. The caution of this procedure is justified by subsequent events: the city teemed with elements of danger. The nobles and rulers were possessed of no substantial repressive authority.

Verse 16. - The rulers. On Nehemiah's arrival at Jerusalem he found no single individual exercising authority, but a number of persons, a sort of town-council, whom he calls khorim and saganim. It is not clear that he made his commission known to them at first, or indeed that he divulged it before the interview mentioned in vers. 17 and 18. The rest that did the work This seems to be said by anticipation, and to mean those who subsequently built the wall.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The officials
וְהַסְּגָנִ֗ים (wə·has·sə·ḡā·nîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5461: A prefect of a, province

did not
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

know
יָדְעוּ֙ (yā·ḏə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3045: To know

where
אָ֣נָה (’ā·nāh)
Interrogative
Strong's 575: Where?, whither?, when?, hither and thither

I had gone
הָלַ֔כְתִּי (hā·laḵ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

or what
וּמָ֖ה (ū·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

I
אֲנִ֣י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

was doing,
עֹשֶׂ֑ה (‘ō·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

for I had not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

yet
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

told
הִגַּֽדְתִּי׃ (hig·gaḏ·tî)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

the Jews
וְלַיְּהוּדִ֨ים (wə·lay·yə·hū·ḏîm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3064: Jews -- Jewish

or priests
וְלַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים (wə·lak·kō·hă·nîm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

or nobles
וְלַחֹרִ֣ים (wə·la·ḥō·rîm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2715: White, pure, noble

or officials
וְלַסְּגָנִ֗ים (wə·las·sə·ḡā·nîm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5461: A prefect of a, province

or any others
וּלְיֶ֙תֶר֙ (ū·lə·ye·ṯer)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3499: An overhanging, an excess, superiority, remainder, a small rope

who would be doing
עֹשֵׂ֣ה (‘ō·śêh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

the work.
הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה (ham·mə·lā·ḵāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4399: Deputyship, ministry, employment, work, property


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OT History: Nehemiah 2:16 The rulers didn't know where I went (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 2:15
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