What Does Nehemiah 4:16 Mean in the King James?
And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought 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.
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 “held” belongs to the same root as “repaired”: guarding the work and strengthening the wall are both acts of making strong.
THE MEANING
The work before you can include both building and protection; the verse holds them together as one communal effort. The leaders stand behind the whole house of Judah, whose name carries the sense of praise.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Having to defend what you are building does not mean you have stopped building; here, protection is part of the work.
THE ROOT
מַחֲזִיקִים
maḥazîqîm
GROWS FROM
חזק
ḥ-z-q
To be strong, strengthen, or hold fast.
The word translated “held” comes from the same root used for strengthening or repairing the wall. The Hebrew links the hands gripping weapons with the hands restoring what has been broken: both strengthen what is being preserved.
ALSO GROWS
ḥazaq: Be strong; strengthen; hold fast.
חָזַק
This is the root’s core sense, bringing strength and holding together in the verse’s armed watch.
heḥĕzîq: Strengthened; repaired.
הֶחֱזִיק
The same root describes the wall repair in Nehemiah 3:4, joining defense and restoration in one word-family.
יְהוּדָה
Yehudah
GROWS FROM
ידה
y-d-h
To praise or give thanks; the name Judah is linked to this root.
“The house of Judah” carries the name’s sense of praise within the scene of shared labor and defense. The verse places this whole household behind the restoration, not just the hands doing one task.
ALSO GROWS
yadah: Praise; give thanks.
יָדָה
The name Judah is associated with this verb, giving “the house of Judah” the sense of a house of praise.
todah: Thanksgiving; praise.
תּוֹדָה
This related word shows praise as expressed thanks, echoing the nature carried by Judah’s name.
THE PATTERN
What is being built is sustained when labor and watchfulness serve the same work.
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.A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.THE THREAD
And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.The Hebrew behind “repaired” here comes from the same root as “held” in Nehemiah 4:16. The wall is strengthened by repair, and the people are strengthened as they hold their weapons.
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