Nehemiah 4:23
New International Version
Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.

New Living Translation
During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.

King James Bible
So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.

New King James Version
So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing.

New American Standard Bible
So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me—none of us removed our clothes; each took his weapon even to the water.

NASB 1995
So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each took his weapon even to the water.

NASB 1977
So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each took his weapon even to the water.

Legacy Standard Bible
So neither I, my brothers, my young men, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each took his weapon even to the water.

Amplified Bible
So neither I, my brothers (relatives), my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each took his weapon [even] to the water.

Christian Standard Bible
And I, my brothers, my servants, and the men of the guard with me never took off our clothes. Each carried his weapon, even when washing.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And I, my brothers, my men, and the guards with me never took off our clothes. Each carried his weapon, even when washing.

American Standard Version
So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard that followed me, none of us put off our clothes, every one went with his weapon to the water.

Contemporary English Version
I even slept in my work clothes at night; my relatives, the workers, and the guards slept in theirs as well. And we always kept our weapons close by.

English Revised Version
So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, every one went with his weapon to the water.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
My brothers, my servants, and the guards assigned to me never changed their clothes. Neither did I. We each kept our weapons at hand.

Good News Translation
I didn't take off my clothes even at night, neither did any of my companions nor my servants nor my bodyguards. And we all kept our weapons at hand.

International Standard Version
No one—neither I, my allies, my servants, nor the bodyguards who accompanied me—changed clothes. Everyone carried a weapon even while going for water.

Majority Standard Bible
So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.

NET Bible
We did not change clothes--not I, nor my relatives, nor my workers, nor the watchmen who were with me. Each had his weapon, even when getting a drink of water.

New Heart English Bible
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. Everyone took his weapon to the water.

Webster's Bible Translation
So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.

World English Bible
So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes. Everyone took his weapon to the water.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and there are none—I, and my brothers, and my servants, the men of the watch who [are] after me—there are none of us putting off our garments, each [has] his vessel of water.

Young's Literal Translation
and there are none -- I and my brethren and my servants, the men of the guard who are after me -- there are none of us putting off our garments, each hath his vessel of water.

Smith's Literal Translation
And not I and my brethren and my young men, and the men of the watch which were after me, we not putting off our garments; a man his weapon for water.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now I and my brethren, and my servants, and the watchmen that followed me, did not put off our clothes: only every man stripped himself when he was to be washed.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But I and my brothers, and my servants, and the guards who were behind me, we did not take off our clothes; each one only removed his clothes to wash.

New American Bible
Neither I, nor my kindred, nor any of my attendants, nor any of the bodyguard that accompanied me took off our clothes; everyone kept a weapon at hand.

New Revised Standard Version
So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me ever took off our clothes; each kept his weapon in his right hand.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So neither I nor my brethren nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off his clothes for many full months, and each one did his duty.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I and my brothers and my boy Servants and the men Guards who followed me did not take off our clothes for a month of days, each man who arrived for it.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard that followed me, none of us put off our clothes, every one that went to the water had his weapon.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I was there, and the watchmen behind me, and there was not a man of us that put off his garments.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Discouragement Overcome
22At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.” 23So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.

Cross References
Ephesians 6:11-18
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. / For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. / Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. ...

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8
So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober. / For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. / But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:7
in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Luke 12:35-40
Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning. / Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. / Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them. ...

Romans 13:11-14
And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. / The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. / Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. ...

1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.

2 Timothy 2:3-4
Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. / A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.

Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Isaiah 62:6-7
On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD shall take no rest for yourselves, / nor give Him any rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

Ezekiel 33:6-7
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the horn to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes away a life, then that one will be taken away in his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’ / As for you, O son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word from My mouth and give them the warning from Me.

Psalm 127:1
A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.

2 Chronicles 32:5
Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers on it. He also built an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields.

Judges 7:19-21
Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their horns and broke the jars that were in their hands. / The three companies blew their horns and shattered their jars. Holding the torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” / Each Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army fled, crying out as they ran.


Treasury of Scripture

So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.

So neither I

Nehemiah 5:16
Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.

Nehemiah 7:2
That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.

Judges 9:48
And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

saving that, etc.

Judges 5:11
They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates.

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Clothes Clothing Followed Guard Guards Hand Kept Removed Saving Servants Washing Water Weapon
Nehemiah 4
1. While the enemies scoff, Nehemiah prays and continues the work
7. Understanding the wrath and secrets of the enemy, he sets a watch
13. He arms the laborers
19. and gives military precepts














So neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me
This phrase highlights the unity and shared commitment among Nehemiah and his companions. The Hebrew word for "brothers" (אֲחַי, 'achai) can refer to literal siblings or, more broadly, to fellow countrymen or allies. In this context, it underscores the familial bond and solidarity among the workers. Historically, this reflects the communal effort required to rebuild Jerusalem's walls amidst opposition. Nehemiah's leadership is evident as he stands alongside his people, emphasizing the importance of shared responsibility and mutual support in achieving God's purposes.

changed out of our clothes
The phrase indicates a state of constant readiness and vigilance. In ancient times, changing clothes was not only a matter of hygiene but also a sign of rest and relaxation. By not changing their clothes, Nehemiah and his men demonstrated their unwavering dedication to the task at hand. This commitment can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual readiness, reminding believers to remain vigilant and prepared for spiritual battles, as echoed in Ephesians 6:11, where Paul speaks of putting on the full armor of God.

each carried his weapon
The Hebrew word for "weapon" (שֶׁלַח, shelah) signifies an instrument of war. This phrase illustrates the dual role of the workers as both builders and defenders. It reflects the reality of spiritual warfare, where believers must be prepared to build God's kingdom while also defending against spiritual attacks. The image of carrying a weapon while working serves as a powerful reminder of the need for spiritual preparedness and the importance of being equipped with the Word of God, which is described as the "sword of the Spirit" in Ephesians 6:17.

even to go for water
This final phrase underscores the extent of their vigilance. Water, a basic necessity, often required trips to wells or cisterns outside the immediate area. The fact that they carried weapons even for such routine tasks highlights the ever-present threat they faced and their determination to be prepared at all times. Spiritually, this can be seen as an encouragement for believers to remain spiritually alert and armed with faith, even in the mundane aspects of daily life, recognizing that spiritual challenges can arise at any moment.

(23) Saving that every one put them off for washing.--This rendering is very improbable, as the words are simply: "every man his weapon water." Some interpret that "each man's weapon was his water": evidently too subtle a turn of thought. It is best, on the whole, to supply the ellipsis: "every man went with his weapon to the water."

Verse 23. - My brethren. Actual brothers probably. That Nehemiah had brothers appears from Nehemiah 1:2; that one of them, Hanani, had accompanied him to Jerusalem is evident from Nehemiah 7:2. My servants. See above, ver. 16. The men of the guard that followed me. As governor, Nehemiah would maintain a body-guard, in addition to his band of slaves. Saving that every one put them off for washing. So the Vulgate: "Unnsquisque tantum nudabatur ad baptismum;" but it is at least doubtful whether the Hebrew words can possibly have this meaning. The most natural and literal sense of them is that given by Maurer and Rambach - "Each man's weapon was his water;" the supposed connection of the clause with the preceding being, "No one took off his clothes," not even for the bath - no one bathed; "a man's only bath was his weapon." Some critics, however, defend the rendering of the A. V.; others take the words in the same way, but explain the term "water" differently, of a natural want (Ewald, Stanley); while many regard the text as unsound, and propose emendations. None, however, that has as yet been proposed is satisfactory.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So neither I
אֲנִ֜י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

nor brothers
וְאַחַ֣י (wə·’a·ḥay)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

nor my men
וּנְעָרַ֗י (ū·nə·‘ā·ray)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

nor the guards
אִ֖ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

with me
אַחֲרַ֔י (’a·ḥă·ray)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

changed out of
פֹשְׁטִ֖ים (p̄ō·šə·ṭîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6584: To strip off, make a dash, raid

our clothes;
בְּגָדֵ֑ינוּ (bə·ḡā·ḏê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 899: A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage

each carried his weapon,
שִׁלְח֥וֹ (šil·ḥōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7973: A missile of attack, spear, a shoot of growth, branch

[even to go] for water.
הַמָּֽיִם׃ (ham·mā·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen


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OT History: Nehemiah 4:23 So neither I nor my brothers (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 4:22
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