Nehemiah 4 14

Nehemiah 4:14 kjv

And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the LORD, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

Nehemiah 4:14 nkjv

And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."

Nehemiah 4:14 niv

After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."

Nehemiah 4:14 esv

And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to 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, your daughters, your wives, and your homes."

Nehemiah 4:14 nlt

Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, "Don't be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!"

Nehemiah 4 verses

Nehemiah 4 14 Meaning

Nehemiah 4:14 presents Nehemiah’s powerful charge to the people of Jerusalem to overcome their fear of enemies by fixing their gaze upon the magnitude and awesome power of God. He urges them to actively remember the Lord’s supreme attributes, which inherently dwarf the perceived strength of their adversaries. This divine remembrance is presented not merely as a mental exercise, but as the foundational motivation for courageous, sacrificial action—specifically, to stand firm and defend their families and their dwellings. It underscores that trust in God does not negate human responsibility, but rather empowers it for a divine cause.

Nehemiah 4 14 Context

Nehemiah 4 describes the intense opposition faced by the Jewish people as they began to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Enemies like Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem openly mocked their efforts (v.1-3) and then conspired to physically attack Jerusalem and create confusion among the builders (v.8). The builders, already burdened by heavy labor, became discouraged by the sheer amount of rubble and the persistent threats (v.10). Moreover, news of the enemy's impending attack and their plans to kill the workers spread fear among the people, especially those living outside the immediate wall-building areas (v.11-12). In response to this grave danger and the widespread fear, Nehemiah wisely posted armed guards strategically (v.13). Immediately following this practical measure, Nehemiah directly addresses the diverse population—nobles, officials, and the common people—with a powerful exhortation in verse 14. This verse is Nehemiah's leadership at its best: assessing the situation (he "looked"), taking a decisive stand ("rose up"), and providing spiritual and practical guidance to re-motivate a disheartened and frightened community to complete their God-given task of rebuilding.

Nehemiah 4 14 Word analysis

• And I looked and rose up: Nehemiah's keen situational awareness and immediate, decisive action. This isn't passive observation, but active assessment followed by stepping into his leadership role. It reflects a proactive and strategic leader.
• and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people: Nehemiah's address is comprehensive and inclusive. He engages all strata of society—those with influence (nobles, officials) and the general populace. This unity was crucial for effective action and a demonstration of Nehemiah's broad influence and respect.
• "Do not be afraid of them.": Hebrew: אַל־תִּירָ֧אוּ (ʾal-tiraʾu). A direct, imperative command to cease fearing the adversaries. This recurring biblical phrase signifies that fear, though a natural human response, is incompatible with trust in God's sovereignty and presence. Nehemiah commands not naive optimism but a spiritual reorientation away from enemy strength and towards divine power.
• "Remember the Lord,": Hebrew: זִכְר֧וּ אֶת־אֲדֹנָ֣י (zikrū ʾet-ʾadonāy). The verb "remember" (זָכַר - zakhar) in Hebrew signifies much more than mere intellectual recall. It implies active consideration, acting in accordance with what is remembered, and living out the implications of God’s character and past deeds. Here, it is a call to align their present fear with the reality of God's unchanging nature.
• "who is great and awesome,": Hebrew: הַגָּד֣וֹל וְהַנּוֹרָ֗א (ha-gadol wə-ha-nôrāʾ). This describes two core attributes of God.
  • "great" (גָּדוֹל - gadol): Signifies His immense power, supreme authority, vastness, and limitless might. He is infinitely superior to any human enemy or obstacle.
  • "awesome" (נוֹרָא - norah): Denotes that which inspires profound reverence, dread, and wonder. It refers to God's terrifying majesty, not to be feared by His people in a detrimental sense, but revered and respected for His unparalleled power and holy character, a power that makes Him fearful to His enemies. These attributes are the antidote to human fear and despair.
• "and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.": Hebrew: הִֽלָּחֲמ֡וּ (hilachamū) - "fight."
  • "fight": A clear, active imperative. Nehemiah does not tell them to merely hope or pray without action. Their faith in an awesome God leads to courageous engagement. It emphasizes their vital role in defending their community.
  • "for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes": This specific list powerfully appeals to the most fundamental and precious aspects of their lives—family and dwelling. This is a highly emotional and motivating appeal. It connects their immediate actions to the profound impact it will have on the most sacred elements of their existence, underscoring the high stakes involved in their building project. The fight is for their identity, their future, and the covenant community's preservation.

Nehemiah 4 14 Bonus section

Nehemiah’s leadership here is often cited as a model for blending strong spiritual grounding with astute practical action, particularly in times of adversity. He is both a man of prayer and a decisive strategist. This verse follows his act of positioning armed men (Neh 4:13), showing that Nehemiah understood that trust in God did not exclude prudent defense measures. The very specific and comprehensive listing of "brothers, sons, daughters, wives, and homes" uses a rhetorical device to emphasize the ultimate and personal stakes involved. This method aims to evoke a visceral response, forging a powerful emotional bond to the cause. It grounds the abstract divine task (rebuilding the city of God) in the tangible and immediate welfare of each family unit. This demonstrates Nehemiah’s understanding of human motivation, appealing not just to duty, but to profound love and protection. The passage subtly illustrates that living out one's faith sometimes necessitates defending those God has placed under our care, reflecting His own protective nature over His covenant people.

Nehemiah 4 14 Commentary

Nehemiah 4:14 is a quintessential display of divinely inspired leadership that balances spiritual conviction with practical courage. Facing overwhelming threats and a disheartened populace, Nehemiah doesn't resort to empty platitudes but offers a deep theological foundation for action. He directly confronts the people's fear by shifting their focus from the visible strength of their enemies to the invisible, infinite power and majesty of their God. The command "Do not be afraid" is not a dismissal of legitimate danger, but a call to remember who God is—great and awesome—making any enemy pale in comparison. This "remembering" is active, implying a re-alignment of perspective that produces courage.

Crucially, Nehemiah then channels this God-centered courage into tangible action: "and fight." This highlights a profound biblical principle: faith in God's sovereignty does not negate human responsibility, but rather empowers it. Their readiness to "fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes" taps into the most primal and powerful motivations—the defense of family, heritage, and hearth. It reminds them that their spiritual mission of rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls is intrinsically tied to the practical defense of their lives and community. This verse perfectly encapsulates the blend of fervent prayer, unwavering faith, strategic planning, and gritty determination that defined the rebuilding effort. It's a timeless call for believers to anchor their resolve in the character of God, which in turn fuels courageous action in defending what is true and precious in God's sight.

Practical applications might include:

• When faced with overwhelming problems, deliberately recount God's past faithfulness and awesome power.
• Translate spiritual strength into proactive steps to protect your family, faith, or values.
• Remember that courage in Christ is not the absence of fear, but acting despite it, motivated by a greater truth.