Nehemiah 6 16

Nehemiah 6:16 kjv

And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

Nehemiah 6:16 nkjv

And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

Nehemiah 6:16 niv

When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

Nehemiah 6:16 esv

And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

Nehemiah 6:16 nlt

When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.

Nehemiah 6 verses

Nehemiah 6 16 Meaning

Nehemiah 6:16 declares the profound impact of Jerusalem's wall completion: when all their surrounding enemies and hostile nations witnessed the astonishingly swift and successful rebuilding, they were utterly demoralized and disgraced. Their confidence and perceived power collapsed, as they were compelled to acknowledge that this extraordinary feat could not be a mere human accomplishment but was unmistakably the work orchestrated by the God of Israel. This verse signifies God's triumph over opposition and His faithfulness to His people, bringing recognition of His divine power even among adversaries.

Nehemiah 6 16 Context

Nehemiah 6:16 marks a triumphant culmination of the intense struggle described throughout the preceding chapters. The immediate context of chapter 6 showcases the relentless and escalating opposition Nehemiah faced from Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, who represented the hostile powers surrounding Jerusalem. They employed various tactics, including invitations to meet with murderous intent, accusations of rebellion against the Persian king, attempts to induce Nehemiah to flee into the temple for sanctuary (thus causing him to sin and discredit himself), and attempts to corrupt him through false prophets. Despite these elaborate and persistent schemes designed to instill fear, stop the work, and discredit Nehemiah's leadership, the wall was completed in an astonishing 52 days (Neh 6:15). Verse 16 directly follows this monumental completion, presenting the impact it had on their adversaries.

Historically, this event occurs in the post-exilic period, roughly 445-444 BC, with the returned exiles attempting to re-establish Jerusalem as a thriving city under Persian dominion. The rebuilding of the wall was not merely a construction project; it was a powerful symbol of the restoration of Israel's national identity, security, and the glory of their God in the sight of hostile nations. The surrounding peoples (Samaritans, Ammonites, Ashdodites, Arabs) viewed this restoration as a direct threat to their regional influence and repeatedly tried to prevent it. Thus, the completion of the wall despite such overwhelming human opposition was clear evidence to both friend and foe that a divine power was at work, defying human expectation and ability.

Nehemiah 6 16 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (וַיְהִי֙ - va-ye-hi): A common narrative opening in the Hebrew Bible, signaling the occurrence of a significant event. It often implies a divinely ordained unfolding of events, not merely coincidental happenstance.
• that when all our enemies (כְּכָל־אֹֽיְבֵ֣ינוּ - ke-khol-oyeveinu):
  • כָּל־ (kol): "all", emphasizing the universality of the opposition's awareness, signifying no exception or escape from witnessing this truth.
  • אֹיְבֵינוּ (oyeveinu): "our enemies," highlighting the specific and diverse array of antagonists who had consistently tried to obstruct the work (e.g., Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem and their followers). This emphasizes that even those directly opposing God's work were forced to confront its divine origin.
• heard thereof (שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ - shame'u): "heard", referring to the news of the wall's completion. The news travelled quickly and certainly given its political and symbolic importance. This indicates intellectual awareness of the fact.
• and all the heathen (וַיִּרְאוּ֙ כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֣ם - vayir'u kol-haggoyim):
  • וַיִּרְאוּ (vayir'u): "and they saw," denoting direct visual confirmation and experience, moving beyond mere rumor to undeniable reality.
  • הַגּוֹיִם (haggoyim): "the nations" or "the Gentiles." While goyim can be a neutral term for nations, in this context it refers specifically to the surrounding, non-Jewish, often antagonistic peoples.
• that were about us (אֲשֶׁ֣ר סְבִיבֹתֵ֔ינוּ - asher sevivoteinu): "who were around us," indicating their geographical proximity and immediate awareness of the situation. They were the ones who could literally see the wall.
• saw these things (וַיִּרְאוּ֙ ... אֵ֔לֶּה - vayir'u... eileh): Explicitly pointing to the visible reality of the finished walls.
• they were much cast down in their own eyes (וַיִּפְּל֥וּ בְּעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם מְאֹ֑ד - vayyippelu be'eineihem me'od):
  • Literal translation: "they fell greatly in their eyes." This is a powerful Hebrew idiom indicating severe demoralization, humiliation, loss of prestige, dignity, or courage. It implies a crushing blow to their self-perception and status, demonstrating their utter failure to stop God's work.
  • נָפַל (nafal): "to fall," suggesting collapse, defeat.
  • בְּעֵינֵיהֶם (be'eineihem): "in their eyes," signifies self-perception and the loss of honor or reputation. It implies that their own internal judgment led to a realization of their utter defeat.
  • מְאֹד (me'od): "very," "much," emphasizing the depth and intensity of their demoralization.
• for they perceived (כִּ֣י יָֽדְע֔וּ - ki yade'u): "for they knew," indicating a clear understanding or intellectual recognition that transcended mere observation. They comprehended the underlying truth. יָדַע (yada') signifies deep knowledge or intimate understanding.
• that this work was wrought (נֶעֶשְׂתָ֖ה הַמְּלָאכָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃ - ne'eśetâ hammele'khâ hazzo't):
  • נֶעֶשְׂתָה (ne'eśetâ): "it was done/wrought," in the passive voice. This grammatical structure strongly suggests an external, unstated agent – namely, God Himself. It emphasizes divine action rather than human might or skill.
  • הַמְּלָאכָה (hammelakha): "the work" or "the task," referring specifically to the rebuilding of the walls.
• of our God (מֵאֵ֣ת אֱלֹהֵ֧ינוּ - me'ēt 'Eloheinu):
  • מֵאֵת (me'ēt): "from/by," explicitly attributing the source and cause of the work.
  • אֱלֹהֵינוּ ('Eloheinu): "our God," signifying the God of Israel, emphasizing the covenant relationship and acknowledging that the victory belonged to Him and His chosen people. The recognition of "our God" by the surrounding hostile nations also serves as an implicit polemic, diminishing the power of their own pagan deities.

Nehemiah 6 16 Bonus section

The seemingly impossible speed of the wall's completion in 52 days (Neh 6:15), coupled with the intensity of the opposition throughout Nehemiah 4-6, amplifies the miraculous aspect recognized by the enemies in Nehemiah 6:16. This speed was not just efficient; it served as concrete proof of divine acceleration and blessing. This rapid completion undermined all human efforts to thwart God's purpose, turning what was intended as a humiliating defeat for Jerusalem into a public display of divine triumph and vindication for His people. It implicitly counters any claims of power by the gods of the surrounding nations, proving that the God of Israel alone is sovereign and mighty.

Nehemiah 6 16 Commentary

Nehemiah 6:16 is a powerful testament to the sovereignty and power of God, providing the divine interpretation of the successful completion of the Jerusalem wall. The swiftness of the completion (52 days) for such a formidable task clearly defied human capability, thus prompting even the bitterest enemies to a profound recognition. Their previous scorn, threats, and stratagems collapsed, replaced by deep shame and demoralization, symbolized by them being "cast down in their own eyes." This humiliation was not merely a subjective feeling but a divine vindication for Nehemiah and the returned exiles. It silenced the opposition not through military might, but through the undeniable evidence of God's supernatural enablement. This verse asserts that when God's people faithfully obey and press forward in His will, He will make His presence so manifest that even adversaries are forced to acknowledge His hand and power. The physical wall's completion becomes a monument not to human effort, but to the unstoppable will of God. It highlights that true success in spiritual undertakings always stems from divine provision and is ultimately for God's glory, leading to the dismay of those who oppose Him and the vindication of His chosen ones.