Nehemiah 4 19

Nehemiah 4:19 kjv

And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.

Nehemiah 4:19 nkjv

Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, "The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall.

Nehemiah 4:19 niv

Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall.

Nehemiah 4:19 esv

And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, "The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another.

Nehemiah 4:19 nlt

Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, "The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall.

Nehemiah 4 verses

Nehemiah 4 19 Meaning

Nehemiah observed and articulated a critical logistical challenge to the leaders and the general populace: the sheer magnitude of the work involved in rebuilding the wall was overwhelming, and the workers were extensively spread out, significant distances apart on the sprawling structure. This dispersion made coordinated effort and swift communication incredibly difficult.

Nehemiah 4 19 Context

Nehemiah chapter 4 depicts the ongoing efforts to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, encountering strong and sustained opposition from external adversaries, primarily Sanballat and Tobiah. Initially, they mocked and scorned the builders (Neh 4:1-3), then conspired to attack Jerusalem (Neh 4:7-8). This constant threat required Nehemiah to devise a two-pronged strategy: half of the people worked on the wall while the other half stood guard with weapons, or each builder worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other (Neh 4:16-18). Verse 19 specifically details Nehemiah's keen observation of the logistical challenge posed by the workers being so widely dispersed along the vast circumference of the partially built wall. This separation, coupled with the great extent of the work, created a critical vulnerability regarding communication and the rapid assembly of forces in case of an attack. This verse immediately precedes Nehemiah's brilliant solution of using a trumpet signal to gather all workers to the point of attack.

Nehemiah 4 19 Word analysis

• Then I said: This indicates Nehemiah's proactive leadership, not merely observing but communicating his assessment directly and transparently to all levels of the leadership and the people. It implies a strategic and practical concern for the effectiveness and safety of the ongoing work.
• to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: This highlights Nehemiah's inclusive leadership. He addressed the situation to the entirety of the community involved, from the highest leadership (חֹרִים - chorim, meaning "freemen, nobles," suggesting those of high social standing) to the lower ranks (סְגָנִים - seganim, meaning "prefects, deputies," local administrators or overseers) and finally the general workforce (יֶתֶר הָעָם - yether ha'am, "the rest of the people"). This ensures everyone understood the challenge and subsequent strategy.
• The work: (מְלָאכָה - mĕlāʼḵāh). Refers specifically to the task of rebuilding the wall, encompassing both its construction and defense. It signifies a demanding undertaking.
• is great: (גְּדֹלָה - gĕdôlāh). Signifies not just large in size, but also immense, difficult, and significant in scale and importance. It underscores the monumental effort required.
• and extensive: (וּרְחָבָה - ûrachāvāh). Means wide, broad, spacious. Combined with "great," it conveys the vast geographical area the rebuilding efforts covered, the long circumference of the city wall, amplifying the difficulty of supervision and coordination.
• and we are separated: (פְּרֻדִים - pĕruddîm). A passive participle, meaning divided, scattered, dispersed. It denotes their physical fragmentation and isolation from each other, which inherently weakens their collective strength and response capability.
• far from one another: (רָחוֹק אִישׁ מֵאָחִיו - rachôq îš mê’āḥîw). Literally "far a man from his brother." This emphasizes the literal physical distance between individual workers, confirming the depth of their dispersion and the practical communication challenge. It suggests that immediate help or a shared alert system would be ineffective without a plan.
• on the wall: This specifies the precise location of their separation, directly related to the task at hand. It highlights the vulnerability inherent in their working environment on the partially completed, extensive defensive structure.

Nehemiah 4 19 Bonus section

This verse underscores the principle that effective spiritual leadership involves not just inspiration and direction, but also realistic assessment of practical difficulties and potential vulnerabilities. Nehemiah was a leader who meticulously considered logistics and potential failure points. This observation paved the way for a system of immediate collective response, ensuring the safety of the workers and the continuity of the building efforts, even under attack. It highlights that diligent problem-solving and proactive strategic planning are crucial in any great undertaking for the Lord, especially when facing opposition or large-scale tasks that require unified effort.

Nehemiah 4 19 Commentary

Nehemiah 4:19 encapsulates Nehemiah's sagacious and pragmatic leadership. It shows his ability to accurately assess challenges, even amid relentless progress and fervent dedication from his people. He identifies a crucial weakness: the immense scale of the rebuilding project coupled with the workers' wide dispersal along the lengthy wall made swift coordination and mutual support virtually impossible without a specific communication system. This was a grave vulnerability, particularly in light of the enemy's plans to attack discreetly. Nehemiah's honesty in addressing this reality to all levels of the community, rather than hiding it, reveals his integrity and foresight. His keen perception of this logistical flaw sets the stage for his ingenious and divinely-inspired solution in the following verses (Neh 4:20-21), demonstrating how clear-sighted acknowledgment of problems is the first step towards effective and unified solutions in the work of God. It's a testament to leadership that prioritizes both task completion and the safety and coordination of the workers, even under immense pressure.