What Does Nehemiah 3:5 Mean in the King James?

And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.

Nehemiah 3:5 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The Hebrew word for “work” is avodah (⁨עֲבֹדָה⁩, service or labor): rebuilding is service people enter, while rank can leave its neck outside.

THE MEANING

The broken places in your community are strengthened through shared service, while rank can still hold itself apart from the labor. This verse exposes the gap between belonging to what needs repair and taking part in the work that restores it.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie is that prominence or proximity to a community means you are carrying its repair. The nobles’ untouched necks show that status can stand beside the work without entering it.

THE ROOT

עֲבֹדַת

avodat

GROWS FROM

עבד

To serve, labor, or work.

The word rendered “work” is avodah (⁨עֲבֹדָה⁩, service or labor), from ⁨עבד⁩ (avad, to serve or work). The verse holds labor and service together: repairing the wall means entering the shared service, while the nobles withhold themselves from it.

ALSO GROWS

avad: To serve or work.

עָבַד

The verb carries both senses, making the labor itself an act of service.

eved: A servant or slave.

עֶבֶד

This related noun names one who serves; it makes the nobles’ refusal a refusal to take their place in the service.

הֶחֱזִיקוּ

hecheziqu

GROWS FROM

חזק

To be strong, strengthen, or make firm.

The verb translated “repaired” carries the sense of strengthening or making firm. The wall’s repair is described as strengthening what is there, while the nobles refuse to put themselves to that work.

ALSO GROWS

chazaq: To be strong, become firm, or prevail.

חָזַק

The root keeps strength inside the idea of repair: the damaged place is made firm.

chizzeq: To strengthen or reinforce.

חִזֵּק

This related verb shows the active work of making something stronger, the sense carried by “repaired” here.

THE PATTERN

Shared repair depends on members entering the work; status cannot stand in for service.

So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

Nehemiah 4:6 · KJVThe wall comes together as the people give themselves to the work.

And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

1 Corinthians 12:21 · KJVThe body’s parts cannot replace one another; each has a place in the shared life.

And what soever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Colossians 3:23 · KJVWork is presented as service offered wholeheartedly, not merely as a task performed for other people.

THE THREAD

And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

Exodus 1:14 · KJV

The “work” in Nehemiah is avodah, from ⁨עבד⁩ (avad, to serve or work); Exodus uses that same root for Israel’s bitter, forced service. The shared word makes the contrast sharp: labor can be service that rebuilds a community, or a burden imposed with rigour.

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