Nehemiah 4:3

biblecontext

{ "verseID": "Nehemiah.4.3", "source": "וַנִּתְפַּלֵּ֖ל אֶל־אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וַנַּעֲמִ֨יד מִשְׁמָ֧ר עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם יוֹמָ֥ם וָלַ֖יְלָה מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃", "text": "And *wannitpallēl* to *ʾĕlōhênû* and *wannaʿămîd* *mišmār* against them *yômām* and *wālaylâ* from *mippənêhem*.", "grammar": { "*wannitpallēl*": "waw-consecutive + hitpael imperfect 1cp - and we prayed", "*ʾĕlōhênû*": "noun masculine plural + pronominal suffix 1cp - our God", "*wannaʿămîd*": "waw-consecutive + hiphil imperfect 1cp - and we caused to stand/set up", "*mišmār*": "noun masculine singular - guard/watch", "*yômām*": "adverb - by day", "*wālaylâ*": "waw-conjunctive + noun masculine singular - and night", "*mippənêhem*": "preposition + noun masculine plural construct + pronominal suffix 3mp - from before them/because of them" }, "variants": { "*mišmār*": "guard/watch/watchman", "*mippənêhem*": "from before them/because of them/facing them" } }

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַנִּתְפַּלֵּ֖ל אֶל־אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וַנַּעֲמִ֨יד מִשְׁמָ֧ר עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם יוֹמָ֥ם וָלַ֖יְלָה מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃

Transliteration

And wannitpallēl to ʾĕlōhênû and wannaʿămîd mišmār against them yômām and wālaylâ from mippənêhem.

Grammar Details

• *wannitpallēl*: waw-consecutive + hitpael imperfect 1cp - and we prayed
• *ʾĕlōhênû*: noun masculine plural + pronominal suffix 1cp - our God
• *wannaʿămîd*: waw-consecutive + hiphil imperfect 1cp - and we caused to stand/set up
• *mišmār*: noun masculine singular - guard/watch
• *yômām*: adverb - by day
• *wālaylâ*: waw-conjunctive + noun masculine singular - and night
• *mippənêhem*: preposition + noun masculine plural construct + pronominal suffix 3mp - from before them/because of them

Word Meanings

• *mišmār*: guard/watch/watchman
• *mippənêhem*: from before them/because of them/facing them

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  So we prayed to our God and set a guard against them day and night because of their threats.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their sto wall.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, Even what they build, if a fox goes up, he will break down their stone wall.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And Tobias the Ammonite beside him saide: Let the builde on, yf a foxe go vp, he shall breake downe their stonye wall.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and said, Although they buylde, yet if a foxe goe vp, he shall euen breake downe their stonie wall.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and sayde: Though they buyld, yet if a foxe go vp, he shall breake downe their stony wall.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And Tobiah the Ammonite `is' by him and saith, `Also, that which they are building -- if a fox doth go up, then it hath broken down their stone wall.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Such is their building that if a fox goes up it, their stone wall will be broken down.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, "What they are building, if a fox climbed up it, he would break down their stone wall."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was close by, said,“If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”

Referenced Verses

• Neh 2:10 : 10 { "verseID": "Nehemiah.2.10", "source": "וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע סַנְבַלַּ֣ט הַחֹרֹנִ֗י וְטֽוֹבִיָּה֙ הָעֶ֣בֶד הָֽעַמֹּנִ֔י וַיֵּ֥רַע לָהֶ֖ם רָעָ֣ה גְדֹלָ֑ה אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣א אָדָ֔ם לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ טוֹבָ֖ה לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל", "text": "*wa-yišmaʿ* *sanballaṭ* the-*ḥōrōnî* *wə-ṭôbiyyāh* the-*ʿebed* the-*ʿammōnî* *wa-yēraʿ* to-them *rāʿāh* *gədōlāh* *ʾăšer*-came *ʾādām* to-*baqqēš* *ṭôbāh* for-*bənê* *yiśrāʾēl*", "grammar": { "*wa-yišmaʿ*": "conjunction + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he heard", "*sanballaṭ*": "proper noun - Sanballat", "*ḥōrōnî*": "gentilic adjective masculine singular - Horonite", "*wə-ṭôbiyyāh*": "conjunction + proper noun - and Tobiah", "*ʿebed*": "masculine singular - servant", "*ʿammōnî*": "gentilic adjective masculine singular - Ammonite", "*wa-yēraʿ*": "conjunction + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and it was displeasing", "*rāʿāh*": "feminine singular - evil/distress", "*gədōlāh*": "adjective feminine singular - great", "*ʾādām*": "masculine singular - man/person", "*baqqēš*": "piel infinitive construct - to seek", "*ṭôbāh*": "feminine singular - good/welfare", "*bənê*": "masculine plural construct - sons/children of", "*yiśrāʾēl*": "proper noun - Israel" }, "variants": { "*wa-yēraʿ*": "it displeased them/they were greatly disturbed", "*rāʿāh* *gədōlāh*": "great displeasure/great evil", "*baqqēš* *ṭôbāh*": "to seek the welfare/good/prosperity", "*bənê* *yiśrāʾēl*": "children of Israel/Israelites" } }
• Neh 2:19 : 19 { "verseID": "Nehemiah.2.19", "source": "וַיִּשְׁמַע֩ סַנְבַלַּ֨ט הַחֹרֹנִ֜י וְטֹבִיָּ֣ה ׀ הָעֶ֣בֶד הָֽעַמּוֹנִ֗י וְגֶ֙שֶׁם֙ הָֽעַרְבִ֔י וַיַּלְעִ֣גוּ לָ֔נוּ וַיִּבְז֖וּ עָלֵ֑ינוּ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ מָֽה־הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתֶּ֣ם עֹשִׂ֔ים הַעַ֥ל הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אַתֶּ֥ם מֹרְדִֽים", "text": "*wa-yišmaʿ* *sanballaṭ* the-*ḥōrōnî* *wə-ṭōbiyyāh* the-*ʿebed* the-*ʿammônî* *wə-gešem* the-*ʿarbî* *wa-yalʿigû* to-us *wa-yibzû* upon-us *wa-yōʾmərû* what-the-*dābār* the-this *ʾăšer* you *ʿōśîm* ?-against the-*melek* you *mōrədîm*", "grammar": { "*wa-yišmaʿ*": "conjunction + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he heard", "*sanballaṭ*": "proper noun - Sanballat", "*ḥōrōnî*": "gentilic adjective masculine singular - Horonite", "*wə-ṭōbiyyāh*": "conjunction + proper noun - and Tobiah", "*ʿebed*": "masculine singular - servant", "*ʿammônî*": "gentilic adjective masculine singular - Ammonite", "*wə-gešem*": "conjunction + proper noun - and Geshem", "*ʿarbî*": "gentilic adjective masculine singular - Arabian", "*wa-yalʿigû*": "conjunction + hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine plural - and they mocked", "*wa-yibzû*": "conjunction + qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural - and they despised", "*wa-yōʾmərû*": "conjunction + qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural - and they said", "*dābār*": "masculine singular - thing/matter", "*ʿōśîm*": "qal participle masculine plural - doing", "*melek*": "masculine singular - king", "*mōrədîm*": "qal participle masculine plural - rebelling" }, "variants": { "*wa-yalʿigû*": "and they mocked/derided/ridiculed", "*wa-yibzû*": "and they despised/disrespected/looked down on", "*dābār*": "thing/matter/business", "*mōrədîm*": "rebelling/revolting against" } }
• Neh 6:1 : 1 { "verseID": "Nehemiah.6.1", "source": "וַיְהִ֣י כַאֲשֶׁ֣ר נִשְׁמַ֣ע לְסַנְבַלַּ֣ט וְ֠טוֹבִיָּה וּלְגֶ֨שֶׁם הָֽעַרְבִ֜י וּלְיֶ֣תֶר אֹֽיְבֵ֗ינוּ כִּ֤י בָנִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה וְלֹא־נ֥וֹתַר בָּ֖הּ פָּ֑רֶץ גַּ֚ם עַד־הָעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא דְּלָת֖וֹת לֹא־הֶעֱמַ֥דְתִּי בַשְּׁעָרִֽים", "text": "*wə-yhî* when *nishmaʿ* to-*Sanballaṭ* and-*Ṭôbiyyâ* and-to-*Geshem* the-*ʿarbî* and-to-*yeter* *ʾôyəbênû* that *bānîtî* *ʾet*-the-*ḥômâ* and-not-*nôtar* in-her *pāreṣ* also until-the-*ʿēt* the-that *dəlātôt* not-*heʿĕmadtî* in-the-*shəʿārîm*", "grammar": { "*wə-yhî*": "conjunction + verb, qal imperfect 3ms - and it came to pass/happened", "*nishmaʿ*": "verb, niphal perfect 3ms - it was heard", "*Sanballaṭ*": "proper noun - Sanballat", "*Ṭôbiyyâ*": "proper noun - Tobiah", "*Geshem*": "proper noun - Geshem", "*ʿarbî*": "adjective, masculine singular - Arabian", "*yeter*": "noun, masculine singular construct - remainder of", "*ʾôyəbênû*": "noun, masculine plural construct + 1cp suffix - our enemies", "*bānîtî*": "verb, qal perfect 1cs - I built", "*ʾet*": "direct object marker", "*ḥômâ*": "noun, feminine singular - wall", "*nôtar*": "verb, niphal perfect 3ms - was left/remained", "*pāreṣ*": "noun, masculine singular - breach/gap", "*ʿēt*": "noun, feminine singular - time", "*dəlātôt*": "noun, feminine plural - doors", "*heʿĕmadtî*": "verb, hiphil perfect 1cs - I had set up/erected", "*shəʿārîm*": "noun, masculine plural - gates" }, "variants": { "*wə-yhî*": "and it happened/came to pass", "*nishmaʿ*": "it was heard/reported", "*yeter*": "remainder/rest", "*ʾôyəbênû*": "our enemies/adversaries", "*nôtar*": "remained/was left", "*pāreṣ*": "breach/gap/broken place", "*heʿĕmadtî*": "I had set up/erected/established" } }
• Lam 5:18 : 18 { "verseID": "Lamentations.5.18", "source": "עַ֤ל הַר־צִיּוֹן֙ שֶׁשָּׁמֵ֔ם שׁוּעָלִ֖ים הִלְּכוּ־בֽוֹ׃", "text": "For *har*-*ṣîyôn* that-*šāmēm*, *šûʿālîm* *hilləḵû*-in-it", "grammar": { "*har*": "noun masculine singular construct - mountain of", "*ṣîyôn*": "proper noun - Zion", "*šāmēm*": "qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - it lies desolate", "*šûʿālîm*": "noun masculine plural - foxes", "*hilləḵû*": "piel perfect 3rd common plural - they walk about" }, "variants": { "*har*": "mountain/hill/mount", "*šāmēm*": "it lies desolate/is deserted/is made desolate", "*šûʿālîm*": "foxes/jackals (wild animals inhabiting ruins)", "*hilləḵû*": "they walk about/prowl/wander" } }
• 1 Kgs 20:10 : 10 { "verseID": "1 Kings.20.10", "source": "וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אֵלָיו֙ בֶּן־הֲדַ֔ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר כֹּֽה־יַעֲשׂ֥וּן לִ֛י אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֑פוּ אִם־יִשְׂפֹּק֙ עֲפַ֣ר שֹׁמְר֔וֹן לִשְׁעָלִ֕ים לְכָל־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּרַגְלָֽי", "text": "And *yišlaḥ* to-him *Ben-Hadad* and *yōʾmer*, \"Thus-*yaʿăśûn* to-me *ʾĕlōhîm* and-thus *yôsipû*, if-*yiśpōq* *ʿăpar* *Šōmerôn* for-*šəʿālîm* for-all-the-*ʿām* who in-*raglāy*\"", "grammar": { "*yišlaḥ*": "verb, qal imperfect consecutive, 3rd person masculine singular - 'sent'", "*Ben-Hadad*": "proper noun, masculine - 'son of Hadad'", "*yōʾmer*": "verb, qal imperfect consecutive, 3rd person masculine singular - 'said'", "*yaʿăśûn*": "verb, qal imperfect paragogic nun, 3rd person masculine plural - 'may they do'", "*ʾĕlōhîm*": "noun, masculine, plural - 'gods/God'", "*yôsipû*": "verb, hiphil imperfect, 3rd person masculine plural - 'may they add'", "*yiśpōq*": "verb, qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - 'it suffices'", "*ʿăpar*": "noun, masculine, singular construct - 'dust of'", "*Šōmerôn*": "proper noun - 'Samaria'", "*šəʿālîm*": "noun, masculine, plural - 'handfuls'", "*ʿām*": "noun, masculine, singular with definite article - 'the people'", "*raglāy*": "noun, feminine, dual with 1st person singular suffix - 'my feet'" }, "variants": { "*yaʿăśûn*": "may they do/perform/execute", "*yôsipû*": "may they add/increase/do again", "*yiśpōq*": "it suffices/is enough/is sufficient for", "*šəʿālîm*": "handfuls/hollow of hands", "*raglāy*": "my feet (idiomatic for 'my followers')" } }
• 1 Kgs 20:18 : 18 { "verseID": "1 Kings.20.18", "source": "וַיֹּ֛אמֶר אִם־לְשָׁל֥וֹם יָצָ֖אוּ תִּפְשׂ֣וּם חַיִּ֑ים וְאִ֧ם לְמִלְחָמָ֛ה יָצָ֖אוּ חַיִּ֥ים תִּפְשֽׂוּם׃", "text": "And *wayyōʾmer* [he said], if for *lᵊšālôm* [peace] *yāṣāʾû* [they have come out], *tip̄śûm* [seize them] *ḥayyîm* [alive]; and if for *lᵊmilḥāmâ* [war] *yāṣāʾû* [they have come out], *ḥayyîm* [alive] *tip̄śûm* [seize them].", "grammar": { "*wayyōʾmer*": "waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - he said", "*lᵊšālôm*": "preposition + masculine singular noun - for peace", "*yāṣāʾû*": "qal perfect 3rd masculine plural - they have come out/gone out", "*tip̄śûm*": "qal imperative masculine plural + 3rd masculine plural suffix - seize them", "*ḥayyîm*": "masculine plural adjective - alive/living", "*lᵊmilḥāmâ*": "preposition + feminine singular noun - for war/battle", "*yāṣāʾû*": "qal perfect 3rd masculine plural - they have come out/gone out", "*ḥayyîm*": "masculine plural adjective - alive/living", "*tip̄śûm*": "qal imperative masculine plural + 3rd masculine plural suffix - seize them" }, "variants": { "*lᵊšālôm*": "for peace/with peaceful intent", "*tip̄śûm*": "seize them/capture them/take them", "*ḥayyîm*": "alive/living", "*lᵊmilḥāmâ*": "for war/battle/combat" } }
• 2 Kgs 18:23 : 23 { "verseID": "2 Kings.18.23", "source": "וְעַתָּה֙ הִתְעָ֣רֶב נָ֔א אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֖י אֶת־מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר וְאֶתְּנָ֤ה לְךָ֙ אַלְפַּ֣יִם סוּסִ֔ים אִם־תּוּכַ֕ל לָ֥תֶת לְךָ֖ רֹכְבִ֥ים עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃", "text": "And-*ʿattāh* *hitʿāreb* *nāʾ* *ʾet*-*ʾădōnî* *ʾet*-*melek* *ʾaššûr* *wə-ʾettənāh* to-you *ʾalpayim* *sûsîm* if-*tûkal* to-give to-you *rōkəbîm* upon-them.", "grammar": { "*ʿattāh*": "adverb - now", "*hitʿāreb*": "hithpael imperative, masculine singular - exchange pledges", "*nāʾ*": "particle - please/now", "*ʾădōnî*": "noun, masculine singular + 1st person suffix - my lord", "*melek*": "noun, masculine singular construct - king of", "*ʾaššûr*": "proper noun - Assyria", "*wə-ʾettənāh*": "waw consecutive + qal imperfect cohortative, 1st common singular - and I will give", "*ʾalpayim*": "numeral, dual - two thousand", "*sûsîm*": "noun, masculine plural - horses", "*tûkal*": "qal imperfect, 2nd masculine singular - you are able", "*rōkəbîm*": "qal participle, masculine plural - riders" }, "variants": { "*hitʿāreb*": "exchange pledges/make a wager/make a bargain", "*nāʾ*": "please/now/I pray", "*tûkal*": "you are able/you can/you have capacity" } }