Nehemiah 4 5

Nehemiah 4:5 kjv

And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.

Nehemiah 4:5 nkjv

Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders.

Nehemiah 4:5 niv

Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.

Nehemiah 4:5 esv

Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.

Nehemiah 4:5 nlt

Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders."

Nehemiah 4 verses

Nehemiah 4 5 Meaning

Nehemiah 4:5 is a passionate imprecatory prayer offered by Nehemiah to God, seeking divine justice against the adversaries—Sanballat, Tobiah, and others—who were actively hindering and mocking the work of rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. Nehemiah petitions God to remember their iniquity and sin, specifically asking Him not to blot it out, signifying a desire for their offenses to remain vividly before God’s judgment, unpardoned and unforgotten. The basis for this plea is their deliberate act of provoking God to anger through their contempt for His people and their work.

Nehemiah 4 5 Context

Nehemiah 4 describes the intense opposition faced by the Jews as they began to rebuild Jerusalem's walls under Nehemiah's leadership. Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab openly mocked and scorned their efforts (Neh 4:1-3), seeking to discourage and demean them. This mockery was not just personal insult but a direct challenge to the work of God. In response, Nehemiah did not retaliate physically or verbally directly to them but turned immediately to God in prayer (Neh 4:4-5), seeking divine intervention and justice against these determined enemies of God's people and His restoration project. The chapter then moves to explain how, despite the opposition, Nehemiah strengthened the resolve of the people and organized them for both building and defense.

Nehemiah 4 5 Word analysis

• Do not blot out (אַל־תְּמַח ʾal-təmaḥ): A strong negative command to God. The Hebrew verb machah (מָחָה) means to wipe out, wipe away, efface, annihilate. It is used elsewhere for God "blotting out" sins, usually indicating forgiveness and forgetting (Isa 43:25; Jer 31:34). Here, Nehemiah uses it in reverse, specifically praying that God not remove or forget the iniquity of their enemies. This implies a desire for their sins to remain on record before God for judgment.
• their iniquity (עֲוֹנָם ʿăvônam): Refers to a crookedness, perversity, guilt, or punishment associated with wrong doing. It often highlights the inward nature of sin or its consequence.
• from before You (מִלְּפָנֶיךָ milləp̄āneḵā): Emphasizes God's direct sight and presence. Nehemiah wants God to be ever-aware of their guilt.
• and let not their sin (וְחַטָּאתָם wəḥaṭṭāʾtām): Chatta't (חַטָּאת) broadly means "sin," often missing the mark or wrongdoing. Used alongside 'iniquity,' it serves to intensify the plea, encompassing both the nature of their offense and the specific actions they committed.
• be blotted out (תִמָּחֶה timmāḥeh): Again, the verb machah is used, reinforcing the desire for divine retention of their record of wrong. The repetition highlights the intensity of the request.
• for they have provoked You to anger (כִּֽי־הִכְעִיסוּךָ kî-hiḵəʿîsûḵā): The Hebrew verb ka'as (כָּעַס) means to provoke, to vex, to irritate, to be grieved, to make angry. It often denotes a deep offense that evokes divine wrath. The phrase indicates that the adversaries' actions were not just against Nehemiah or the people, but directly against God Himself. Their mockery and opposition were perceived as an affront to the divine purpose behind the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
• before the builders (לִפְנֵי הַבֹּנִים lip̄nê habbōnîm): This phrase highlights the public and contemptuous nature of their provocation. The mockery occurred in full view of those striving to perform God's work, seeking to demoralize and disrupt. This public offense further justifies the plea for public and certain judgment from God.

Nehemiah 4 5 Bonus section

Nehemiah's imprecatory prayer finds its parallel in numerous psalms where the psalmists call upon God for judgment against their enemies. These prayers are deeply rooted in the Old Testament understanding of a righteous God who repays evil and vindicates His covenant people. They are not merely expressions of personal malice but appeals to God’s holy justice, especially when enemies are resisting God’s redemptive purposes. While the New Testament emphasizes loving one's enemies and leaving vengeance to God, understanding these Old Testament prayers requires recognizing their context as part of a progressive revelation of God's character and His dealings with humanity. These prayers were prophetic utterances, aligning with God's ultimate intention to establish His kingdom and remove all obstacles to His glory. They affirmed that the Lord of hosts would indeed take action against those who stood in the way of His divine plans.

Nehemiah 4 5 Commentary

Nehemiah 4:5 encapsulates Nehemiah's profound understanding of God's character and the nature of the spiritual battle. His prayer is not one of personal revenge, but an appeal to God for divine justice against those who actively defied and obstructed His work and His people. It reveals a zeal for God's glory and a deep faith that God sees, knows, and will ultimately bring judgment. The prayer asserts that the enemies' sin, rather than being forgotten or pardoned (as God does for His repentant people), should be retained in God's perfect memory, signifying a request for accountability and recompense. This plea acknowledges God as the righteous Judge who is provoked when His plans are maliciously thwarted.