Nehemiah 6 15

Nehemiah 6:15 kjv

So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.

Nehemiah 6:15 nkjv

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.

Nehemiah 6:15 niv

So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.

Nehemiah 6:15 esv

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.

Nehemiah 6:15 nlt

So on October 2 the wall was finished ? just fifty-two days after we had begun.

Nehemiah 6 verses

Nehemiah 6 15 Meaning

Nehemiah 6:15 states, "So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days." This verse powerfully marks the successful and swift completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall, despite relentless opposition and challenges. It signifies a remarkable achievement, demonstrating divine enablement, Nehemiah's extraordinary leadership, and the people's unified labor and unwavering faith in God's provision. The swift completion confounded adversaries and brought great encouragement to the returned exiles, proving that God fulfills His purposes.

Nehemiah 6 15 Context

Nehemiah 6:15 sits at the climax of the narrative detailing the reconstruction of Jerusalem's walls under Nehemiah's leadership. Chapters 4 and 5 describe the severe internal and external pressures faced during the rebuilding: external mockery, threats of attack, and internal economic exploitation. Throughout chapter 6, the enemies—Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem—intensify their efforts through schemes of deception, entrapment, and slander to stop the work and discredit Nehemiah. This includes feigned meetings, false prophecies from within Jerusalem, and intimidation tactics. Verse 15 marks the triumphant conclusion of the physical construction, immediately following Nehemiah's steadfast refusal to compromise or be intimidated by these various ploys. The completion of the wall was not merely an architectural feat but a spiritual victory that deeply impacted both the Jewish community and their adversaries, silencing their ridicule and validating God's faithfulness to His people.

Nehemiah 6 15 Word analysis

• So (וַתִּשְׁלַם֙ - watišlēm): This conjunctive imperfect, functioning as a "consecutive" or "narrative" waw plus verb, indicates a direct consequence or the result of prior actions. It signals the culmination of all the efforts, perseverance, and divine intervention that preceded it, creating a definitive sense of accomplishment.
• the wall (הַחֹומָה֙ - hachomāh): The definite article "the" emphasizes this specific wall—the wall of Jerusalem, crucial for the city's defense, identity, and the security of the restored Jewish community. In a broader sense, it represents the visible structure and protection that was foundational for the re-establishment of Jewish life in the land.
• was finished (וַתִּשְׁלַם֙ - watišlēm): Derived from the Hebrew root shâlêm (שׁלם), meaning "to be complete," "to be finished," "to be sound," or "to be whole." This is not just "it stopped" but "it was brought to full completion." It denotes not merely the cessation of work, but perfection and soundness in its completed state, emphasizing quality and fulfillment. The root also links to "shalom" (peace, wholeness), suggesting restoration and security brought by its completion.
• on the twenty-fifth day (בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֗ה יוֹם֙ - bəʿeśrîm wachămishâh yōm): The specific date emphasizes the precise and divinely ordained timing of the accomplishment. This numerical precision suggests accurate historical recording and validates the account.
• of the month Elul (לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ אֱל֔וּל - lachodesh ʾĕlûl): Elul is the sixth month of the Jewish civil calendar, typically falling in August-September. Historically, Elul is a month of introspection, repentance, and preparation for the High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) in the following month, Tishrei. Finishing such a monumental task during a time of spiritual readiness and seeking God's favor further underscores its divine blessing and timely completion before the crucial period of atonement and new beginnings.
• in fifty-two days (בַּחֲמִשִּׁ֤ים וּשְׁנַ֨יִם יֹום֙ - bachamishshîm ûšenāyim yōm): This remarkably short duration for rebuilding an entire city wall, especially given the scale of the task and the constant threats and diversions, is a powerful testimony to divine intervention. It highlights miraculous speed, unity among the workers, Nehemiah's unparalleled organizational and motivational skills, and ultimately, God's overriding hand in accelerating the work. It implies an accelerated work rate far beyond what human strength alone could accomplish.

Words-group analysis:

• "So the wall was finished": This phrase directly attributes the successful outcome to the prior determined efforts and God's enabling. It heralds a victory and closure to a period of intense struggle and uncertainty.
• "on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul": This specific dating solidifies the historical reliability of the account and adds weight to the magnitude of the achievement. It places the completion within the sacred calendar, perhaps signifying God's blessing on a people aligning their labor with His appointed times.
• "in fifty-two days": This astonishing timeline underscores the supernatural element of the work. It was not merely human effort, but divine empowerment that allowed for such a rapid, secure construction amidst persistent enemy efforts to halt it. It served as irrefutable proof to both friends and foes that God was truly at work.

Nehemiah 6 15 Bonus section

The speed of the wall's completion, 52 days, profoundly impressed ancient commentators and modern scholars alike. Some note the symbolic significance of such rapid rebuilding, equating it to the immediate re-establishment of a fortified spiritual defense for God's people. This swiftness often causes enemies to recognize God's intervention, as acknowledged in the very next verse (Neh 6:16), indicating that the completion's quickness was itself a testimony to the nations. The project involved immense logistical challenges, requiring every individual to contribute simultaneously, showing what unified, Spirit-empowered labor can achieve under committed leadership. The completed wall served as a tangible symbol of security, divine protection, and the restoration of Judah's dignity after generations of shame and vulnerability.

Nehemiah 6 15 Commentary

Nehemiah 6:15 is a concise but profoundly significant verse that serves as the culmination of the arduous and perilous task of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls. Its very brevity enhances its impact, proclaiming a decisive victory. The swift completion, taking a mere 52 days, defies human expectations for such a monumental engineering task, especially one fraught with continuous threats, psychological warfare, and internal struggles. This rapid accomplishment is a powerful testament not just to Nehemiah's exceptional leadership and the people's collective determination, but overwhelmingly to the manifest hand of God. It directly counters the mocking and plots of Sanballat and Tobiah, revealing the futility of their human schemes against God's purpose. The finishing of the wall marked the restoration of Jerusalem's physical integrity and security, but more importantly, it signaled a deep spiritual revitalization among the returned exiles. It affirmed God's faithfulness to His covenant, demonstrating His ability to complete His work despite opposition and His willingness to equip His people for impossible tasks. This success fostered hope and solidified the community's identity and reliance on God.