Nehemiah 2 17

Nehemiah 2:17 kjv

Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.

Nehemiah 2:17 nkjv

Then I said to them, "You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach."

Nehemiah 2:17 niv

Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace."

Nehemiah 2:17 esv

Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision."

Nehemiah 2:17 nlt

But now I said to them, "You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!"

Nehemiah 2 verses

Nehemiah 2 17 Meaning

Nehemiah 2:17 articulates Nehemiah’s concise and powerful assessment of Jerusalem’s desolate state and his impassioned call to action. He lays bare the city’s deep "trouble," highlighting the literal ruins and burned gates as undeniable evidence of its vulnerability and disgrace. Subsequently, he proposes a communal endeavor to "rebuild the wall," asserting that this restorative work will eliminate their ongoing "disgrace" and restore the city’s dignity and security, fundamentally transforming their identity among the surrounding nations.

Nehemiah 2 17 Context

Nehemiah 2:17 occurs immediately after Nehemiah's secret, nocturnal inspection of Jerusalem’s dilapidated walls and gates (Neh 2:11-16). Having personally assessed the full extent of the damage that had left Jerusalem vulnerable and shamed for generations since the Babylonian exile in 586 BC, Nehemiah then convened the local Jewish leaders – priests, nobles, and officials – who had settled in Jerusalem (Neh 2:16). This verse marks his pivotal address to them, revealing the critical situation and proposing the radical solution. Historically, previous attempts to rebuild Jerusalem's walls (e.g., during Ezra's time) had been thwarted by the persistent opposition of surrounding enemies and the King of Persia's decrees (Ezr 4). Therefore, the "disgrace" (חֶרְפָּה, cherpah) referred to was not only physical vulnerability but also a theological and national humiliation, implying divine disfavor and rendering the city an object of scorn among its neighbors, undermining its role as God's chosen dwelling place.

Nehemiah 2 17 Word analysis

• Then I said to them: Nehemiah takes direct initiative as a divinely appointed leader. "I" refers to Nehemiah, acting as the visionary and catalyst. "Them" refers to the local Jewish leadership, implying an official and public declaration to those responsible.
• You see: Implies that the situation is evident, undeniable, and open to shared observation. Nehemiah grounds his argument in a common, objective reality, removing room for doubt or denial.
• the trouble: Hebrew: ra'ah (רָעָה). This term conveys deep affliction, calamity, distress, and evil. It signifies not just a physical problem but a severe, systemic condition of national suffering and vulnerability.
• we are in: Highlights a shared predicament. Nehemiah identifies with the community’s plight, fostering unity and shared responsibility rather than simply placing blame.
• Jerusalem lies in ruins: A blunt description of the city's physical state. It had been like this for over a century, representing constant vulnerability and a failure to re-establish the city's proper, God-ordained standing.
• and its gates: Gates were crucial. They were not just entry points but symbolized security, strength, jurisdiction, justice (courts met at the gates), and identity. Open gates meant no control, no security, no identity.
• have been burned with fire: Specific detail confirming the catastrophic destruction from the Babylonian invasion. It speaks to intentional and complete devastation, making rebuilding a massive, complex undertaking. The gates being burned left the city undefendable.
• Come,: A direct, urgent invitation and call to action. It implies a departure from complacency or despair towards proactive engagement.
• let us rebuild: Hebrew: banah (בָּנָה). This means to build, construct, or restore. The phrase "let us" makes it a collective call to shared labor and ownership of the project. It indicates the necessary corporate effort for a task of this magnitude.
• the wall of Jerusalem: The primary, specific objective. The wall was fundamental for physical defense, distinguishing Jerusalem as a holy city, and symbolizing the integrity and protection of God’s people. Its presence restored order and separation from hostile external influences.
• and we will no longer be in disgrace: Hebrew: cherpah (חֶרְפָּה). This term means reproach, scorn, shame, or humiliation. The ruined state of Jerusalem was a source of constant mocking by surrounding peoples, seen as a sign of God's abandonment or powerlessness. Rebuilding the wall was intrinsically linked to restoring national honor, divine favor, and proving their resilience and faith. It moved them from a state of public humiliation to one of restored dignity.

Nehemiah 2 17 Bonus section

Nehemiah’s careful preparation before delivering this call to action is crucial. He did not arrive in Jerusalem and immediately propose this project. Instead, he spent three days assessing the situation (Neh 2:11-16), ensuring he had a full grasp of the facts and the scope of the problem. This grounded his visionary appeal in reality and strengthened his authority with the people. Furthermore, the spiritual bedrock for this human endeavor is subtly introduced in the next verse (Neh 2:18), where Nehemiah attributes the king’s favor and the people’s subsequent positive response to "the gracious hand of my God." This highlights that the perceived human weakness and inability (leading to "disgrace") can be overcome by divine empowerment when people step out in faith and collaborative action. The physical rebuilding of the wall served as a vital metaphor and a necessary foundation for the subsequent spiritual and legal reforms undertaken by Nehemiah and Ezra, creating a more robust, distinct, and obedient community of God.

Nehemiah 2 17 Commentary

Nehemiah 2:17 stands as the genesis of the physical and spiritual rebuilding of Jerusalem under Nehemiah's leadership. Having silently surveyed the city's dire condition, Nehemiah presented an undeniable reality to the leaders: Jerusalem's desolate walls and gates were not merely an inconvenience but a profound "trouble" and a continuous "disgrace." This disgrace was both outward, as mocked by surrounding nations, and inward, as a theological reflection of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness leading to their vulnerability. His genius lay in connecting the visible problem with the hidden shame and then offering a tangible, communal solution: "Let us rebuild the wall." This wasn't just an urban renewal project; it was a restoration of national honor, spiritual identity, and practical security, demonstrating faith in God's willingness to restore. The removal of "disgrace" signifies a return to divine favor and a public testament to God’s preserving power, challenging the despair and opposition that had plagued previous attempts. This verse serves as a model for addressing systemic problems: acknowledge the truth, identify with the afflicted, cast a compelling vision for collaborative action, and link the effort to the alleviation of deep-seated shame or injustice, rooted in reliance on God's "good hand" (Neh 2:18).

Examples:

1. Churches/Ministries: Identifying a tangible brokenness (e.g., community outreach deficit, internal disunity) and rallying members with a shared vision to actively "rebuild" the area of neglect for God's glory.
2. Personal Life: Confronting a self-inflicted "disgrace" (e.g., addiction, unconfessed sin) by acknowledging its ruinous effect and committing to active, often communal, steps toward restoration and freedom.
3. Community Impact: Recognizing local social issues (e.g., poverty, neglect) as collective "trouble" and collaboratively working on initiatives to restore dignity and provide resources to those in need.