Nehemiah 4:4 kjv
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
Nehemiah 4:4 nkjv
Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity!
Nehemiah 4:4 niv
Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.
Nehemiah 4:4 esv
Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives.
Nehemiah 4:4 nlt
Then I prayed, "Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land!
Nehemiah 4 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 4:3 | But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears | God hears the cries of His people. |
| Ps 6:9 | The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer. | God accepts and answers prayers. |
| Ps 34:17 | When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them | God listens and delivers the righteous. |
| Ps 35:8 | Let destruction come upon him by surprise; let the net that he hid catch him | Prayer for enemies to fall into their own trap. |
| Ps 59:12 | For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be caught | Punishment for sinful words and deeds. |
| Ps 69:22 | Let their table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, a trap. | Imprecatory prayer for retribution. |
| Jer 11:20 | But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, | God as righteous judge of hearts. |
| 2 Tim 4:14 | Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according | God repays those who inflict harm. |
| Rom 12:19 | Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it | Vengeance belongs to God, not to humans. |
| Deut 32:43 | Rejoice with him, O heavens; bow down to him, all gods, For he avenges the | God takes vengeance for His servants. |
| Rev 6:10 | "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge" | Saints crying out for divine justice. |
| Ps 42:10 | As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, saying | Taunts and reproach endured by the godly. |
| Ps 44:13 | You have made us an object of reproach to our neighbors, a scorn | Israel suffering mockery from enemies. |
| Ps 74:10 | How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever? | Prayer against perpetual enemy mockery. |
| Isa 51:7 | Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law | Not to fear the reproach of man. |
| Prov 26:27 | Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone that a man rolls will | The one who plans harm receives it. |
| Ps 7:16 | His mischief will return upon his own head, and his violence will fall | Wickedness boomerang back on the wicked. |
| Ps 140:9 | As for the head of those who encompass me, let the mischief of their lips cover | May the words of enemies turn against them. |
| Isa 42:24 | Who gave up Jacob to the plunderer, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not | God's people disciplined through plundering. |
| Jer 20:5 | Moreover, I will give all the wealth of this city, all its gains | Enemies made subject to plunder. |
| 2 Kgs 24:14 | He carried away all Jerusalem into exile, all the officials... | Captivity and plundering by God's decree. |
| Ex 14:14 | The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. | God fights on behalf of His people. |
| Zech 2:8 | For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations | Touching God's people is touching His eye. |
| Neh 6:16 | And when all our enemies heard of it...they perceived that this work | Enemies seeing God's hand in His people's success. |
Nehemiah 4 verses
Nehemiah 4 4 Meaning
Nehemiah 4:4 is a powerful imprecatory prayer offered by Nehemiah in response to the bitter scorn and ridicule from the enemies of Israel, primarily Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem. It expresses a deep reliance on God's justice, requesting that the enemies' contempt and reproach be returned upon their own heads, and that they face judgment, suffering the same plundering and captivity they sought for God's people. This prayer is not a personal act of vengeance, but a plea to the sovereign God for righteous vindication against those who mock and oppose His work and His covenant people.
Nehemiah 4 4 Context
Nehemiah 4 describes the ongoing opposition faced by Nehemiah and the people of Judah as they diligently rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites become enraged by the progress. Their initial mockery in Nehemiah 4:1-3, which aims to discourage the Jews and discredit their efforts as futile, escalates. Verse 4:4 is Nehemiah's direct response to this taunting. Rather than engaging in verbal sparring or personal retribution, Nehemiah immediately turns to God in prayer. This prayer follows the principle that vengeance belongs to the Lord, and it asks God to intervene righteously against those who not only scorn Nehemiah and the Jews but ultimately blaspheme the Name of God by despising His work. The wider historical context includes the post-exilic return of the Jewish people, their vulnerable state, and the continuous struggle to re-establish Jerusalem and their identity as God's covenant people amidst hostile neighbors.
Nehemiah 4 4 Word analysis
- Hear: (שְׁמַע, Shema) - An imperative command. This is not merely asking God to "listen," but to "hear and act." It implies a call for divine attention that leads to intervention and judgment. It is a cry for active acknowledgment and response.
- O our God: (אֱלֹהֵינוּ, 'Eloheinu) - The plural form Elohim (God) with the suffix "our." Emphasizes God's majesty and power, but also the covenant relationship and intimate bond between the people and their God. They claim Him as their God, indicating a basis for Him to hear their plea.
- for we are despised!: (כִּי־בָאנוּ בוּז, ki-banu buz) - The Hebrew phrase literally means "for we have become contempt" or "for we have been held in scorn/contempt." It highlights the intensity of the humiliation they feel, expressing their vulnerable and mocked state directly before God.
- Return: (הָשֵׁב, Hashev) - Imperative, meaning "cause to return" or "bring back." This is the core of the imprecation, a petition for divine recompense.
- their reproach: (חֶרְפָּתָם, cherpatam) - "Reproach," "taunt," "shame," "insult," "scorn." This is the specific offense against them, involving contemptuous words and attitudes. The suffix 'their' clearly identifies the source of the scorn.
- on their own heads: (אֶל־רֹאשָׁם, el-rosham) - A common idiom in biblical Hebrew for bringing consequences or curses directly back upon the perpetrator. It signifies a complete and fitting retribution. It aligns with the principle of "lex talionis" (an eye for an eye) in a moral, not necessarily physical, sense, seeking that justice be proportional to the offense.
- and give them up to be plundered: (וּתְנֵם לְבִזָּה, u-tenem l'bizzah) - "Give them up," or "make them subject to" "plunder" or "spoil." This is a specific request for punitive judgment, asking that their enemies suffer what they intended for Judah—their possessions seized and scattered.
- in a land of captivity: (בְּאֶרֶץ שְׁבִי, b'eretz shvi) - Literally "in a land of capture/captivity/exile." This phrase echoes the very recent painful experience of the Jewish people who had just returned from exile. It is a potent request for their enemies to experience the very humiliation and loss that Judah had undergone, reflecting poetic justice. It means not just losing possessions, but their freedom and homeland.
Nehemiah 4 4 Bonus section
The nature of imprecatory prayers like Nehemiah 4:4 can sometimes be misunderstood in contemporary Christianity. However, it's vital to recognize their context and intent. These prayers are uttered by those who have exhausted human avenues of recourse and entrust judgment entirely to God. They acknowledge divine sovereignty over justice and avoid human retaliation. In the Old Testament, these prayers are often seen as calls for God's covenant curses to fall upon covenant-breakers or enemies of God's redemptive plan. They also prophetically look forward to a day of final judgment. In the New Testament, while believers are called to bless those who persecute (Rom 12:14) and leave vengeance to God (Rom 12:19), the ultimate reality of God's justice is never negated. Instead, it is postponed or revealed in different ways, ensuring that all evil will eventually face its reckoning. This passage illustrates Nehemiah's deep understanding of God's character as both merciful to His people and just towards their oppressors, praying not for spite, but for divine righteousness to be fully manifested.
Nehemiah 4 4 Commentary
Nehemiah 4:4 serves as a profound biblical example of an imprecatory prayer, which is a prayer calling for God’s judgment on enemies. These prayers are deeply rooted in God's righteousness and justice, not in personal malice. Nehemiah's request is not for individual vengeance but a plea for God to vindicate His own name and purpose. The enemies' reproach was not merely against Nehemiah or the Jews, but ultimately against God Himself, whose work they were ridiculing. Therefore, Nehemiah petitions the sovereign Lord to return their scorn upon themselves and for them to experience a measure of the suffering (plundering, captivity) that they gloated over or wished upon God's people. This prayer models trust in God as the ultimate Judge who sees, hears, and will execute justice. It demonstrates surrendering personal pain and desire for vindication to the Lord, trusting His timing and method for righteousness to prevail, echoing sentiments seen throughout the Psalms. It shows faith in a just God who acts to protect His own, even when they are helpless against overwhelming opposition.