Nehemiah 4 15

Nehemiah 4:15 kjv

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

Nehemiah 4:15 nkjv

And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.

Nehemiah 4:15 niv

When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.

Nehemiah 4:15 esv

When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.

Nehemiah 4:15 nlt

When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall.

Nehemiah 4 verses

Nehemiah 4 15 Meaning

Nehemiah 4:15 describes the critical turning point in the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. After intense opposition and a foiled ambush plan by their enemies, the Judeans learned that their adversaries' intentions had been discovered and, crucially, that God Himself had thwarted their malicious counsel. This divine intervention and their heightened awareness prompted everyone, without hesitation, to abandon their defensive stances and return with renewed vigor to their construction work on the wall, each resuming their specific task. It signifies a moment of divine vindication, unified resolve, and steadfast persistence in the face of adversity.

Nehemiah 4 15 Context

Nehemiah 4 narrates the intense opposition faced by the Jewish people under Nehemiah's leadership as they sought to rebuild Jerusalem's walls after the Babylonian exile. Initially, their enemies—Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and others—scoffed at their efforts (v. 1-3). When the rebuilding progressed, the opposition escalated into anger and a conspiracy to attack Jerusalem by surprise to cause confusion and hinder the work (v. 7-8). In response, Nehemiah prayed and strategically placed guards, also arming the workers (v. 9-14). He rallied the people, reminding them to "remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes" (v. 14). Verse 15 is the turning point where the enemies' plot is exposed and foiled, leading to the immediate resumption of work. The historical context is post-exilic Jerusalem in the mid-5th century BCE, a vulnerable city trying to restore its defensive fortifications and national identity against formidable regional adversaries.

Nehemiah 4 15 Word analysis

• When / וַיְהִי֙ (vayehi): A common Hebrew conjunctive expressing "it came to pass" or "and it was." It marks a narrative progression, highlighting a significant event that follows from the previous circumstances.
• our enemies / אֽוֹיְבֵ֗ינוּ (oyvey'nu): Plural form of "enemy." Specifically refers to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and their allied peoples (Arabians, Ammonites, Ashdodites) who continuously opposed Jerusalem's restoration. This constant naming emphasizes the sustained, external hostility faced by God's people.
• heard / שָׁמְע֜וּ (sham'u): Beyond just "hearing information," it implies they understood the full implication and significance of the news, likely that their surprise attack plan was known and thus compromised. It points to a realization on their part.
• that we were aware of their plan / כִּ֤י נוֹדַ֨ע לָ֙נוּ֙ וַיָּ֙פֶר הָאֱלֹהִ֤ים אֶת־עֲצָתָם֙: This entire phrase is central.
  • aware / נוֹדַ֨ע (nodac): Literally, "it was made known to us." This can suggest that Nehemiah's vigilance and security measures led to the discovery, but often in biblical narratives, significant awareness like this can imply divine insight or revelation alongside human diligence (e.g., Amos 3:7). It highlights that their scheme was no longer secret.
  • their plan / עֲצָתָם (atzatam): From the root yā‘ats meaning "to counsel, advise, plan." Here, it specifically denotes a malicious, deceitful scheme or conspiracy designed to prevent the rebuilding (Neh 4:8, 11).
  • God had frustrated it / וַיָּ֙פֶר הָאֱלֹהִ֤ים (vayafər ha'Elohim): This is the crucial theological statement.
    • frustrated / וַיָּ֙פֶר (vayafər): From the verb parar, meaning "to break, annul, make void, frustrate, bring to nothing." It's a strong verb emphasizing a decisive act. God actively broke down or nullified their plot. This is not passive observation by God but direct, potent intervention.
    • God / הָאֱלֹהִ֤ים (ha'Elohim): The generic Hebrew word for God, but used here with the definite article, indicating "the [true] God." This points to the God of Israel as the ultimate orchestrator and protector, overriding human evil. It serves as a direct theological commentary on the event, attributing the failure of the enemy's plot not to chance or human cleverness alone, but to divine power. This acts as a polemic against the idea that mere human strength or cunning can prevail against God's purposes.
• we all returned / וַנָּ֣שׁוּב כֻּלָּ֔נוּ (vattashuv kullanu):
  • returned / וַנָּ֣שׁוּב (vattashuv): From shuv, "to return." Indicates a change from their defensive stance back to their original objective.
  • all / כֻּלָּ֔נוּ (kullanu): Emphasizes the collective, unified response of the entire community. It signals restored morale and purpose, moving from fear-induced watchfulness back to proactive building.
• to the wall / אֶל־הַֽחוֹמָ֖ה (el haḥomah): The central object of their mission, symbolizing their identity and security. Returning to it represents dedication to God's commissioned work.
• each to his work / אִ֥ישׁ לִמְלַאכְתּֽוֹ (ish limlakh'to):
  • each man / אִ֥ישׁ (ish): Highlights individual responsibility.
  • his work / לִמְלַאכְתּֽוֹ (limlakh'to): Refers to their specific tasks in the rebuilding process. This denotes restored order, discipline, and commitment. It signifies that the interruption caused by fear and opposition did not lead to permanent cessation, but a determined resumption of every individual's contribution.

Nehemiah 4 15 Bonus section

The interplay between divine sovereignty and human responsibility is vividly displayed throughout Nehemiah 4, with verse 15 being a crucial example. Nehemiah's leadership does not wait passively for God to act; instead, he responds to threats with prayer (Neh 4:4, 9) and strategic action—setting guards, arming workers, and instructing them to fight (Neh 4:9, 13-14). Yet, when the plot is foiled, the credit is attributed squarely to God ("God had frustrated it"). This illustrates that faithful action (the "each to his work") is empowered by and rooted in divine intervention. It highlights a recurring theme in scripture: God works through faithful obedience and human effort, but the ultimate success and deliverance belong to Him. This provides a balanced model for spiritual service and facing adversity in life: be prayerful, be proactive, but always acknowledge God's ultimate hand in deliverance and success.

Nehemiah 4 15 Commentary

Nehemiah 4:15 encapsulates a profound theological truth amidst a practical challenge. The enemies' scheme to violently stop the rebuilding effort was known to Nehemiah and the people not solely through human intelligence but fundamentally because "God had frustrated it." This isn't merely the failure of a plot; it's God's active, decisive intervention in rendering it null and void. The verb "frustrated" (פָרַר, parar) highlights God's sovereignty over the counsels of the wicked. This realization—that their enemy's malicious intent was powerless against God—transformed the people's fear into renewed resolve. They didn't dwell on what could have happened or continue in a state of apprehension; rather, their collective return "to the wall, each to his work" demonstrates a revitalized sense of purpose and unified dedication. This verse serves as a powerful testament to combining diligent human vigilance (Nehemiah setting a guard) with absolute trust in God's protective sovereignty. It reminds believers that God oversees even the conspiracies of opponents, turning their malice to naught, enabling His people to persevere in His ordained work with confidence and single-mindedness. It teaches that divine protection enables practical diligence.