Nehemiah 4:5

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.

And cover {H3680} not their iniquity {H5771}, and let not their sin {H2403} be blotted out {H4229} from before {H6440} thee: for they have provoked thee to anger {H3707} before the builders {H1129}.

Don't cover their guilt, don't let their sin be wiped out from before you; because they have insulted the builders to their face.

Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from Your sight, for they have provoked the builders.

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.

Commentary

Nehemiah 4:5 is a powerful and often challenging verse, part of Nehemiah's prayer in response to the intense opposition faced by the Jewish people as they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. This verse expresses a plea for divine justice against those who mocked and conspired against God's work.

Historical and Cultural Context

The book of Nehemiah details the post-exilic return of the Jewish people to Jerusalem and their efforts to restore the city and its spiritual life. Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, received permission to lead the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, which lay in ruins. This significant undertaking was met with fierce resistance from neighboring adversaries, particularly Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arab (Nehemiah 2:19). Their opposition escalated from mockery to conspiracy and threats of violence (Nehemiah 4:1-3). Nehemiah's response, as recorded in Nehemiah 4:4-5, was to turn to God in prayer, seeking divine intervention and justice against these enemies who were actively hindering God's purposes.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Imprecatory Prayer: This verse is a classic example of an imprecatory prayer, where the petitioner asks God to bring judgment or calamity upon their enemies. Nehemiah is not asking for mercy for his adversaries but for their "iniquity" and "sin" to remain unforgotten and unpardoned by God.
  • Divine Justice: Nehemiah appeals to God's righteous character and His role as judge. He believes that the enemies' actions are not merely against him or the Jewish people, but fundamentally "provoked thee to anger," meaning they are an offense directly against God Himself and His divine plan.
  • Consequences of Opposition to God's Work: The prayer highlights the serious nature of opposing God's will and His people. It suggests that such opposition incurs divine wrath and warrants judgment.
  • Zeal for God's Honor: Nehemiah's primary concern is the honor of God and the successful completion of the work God commissioned. His prayer reflects a deep commitment to seeing God's purposes fulfilled, even if it means asking for judgment on those who stand in the way.

Linguistic Insights

  • "blotted out" (Hebrew: machah - ืžึธื—ึธื”): This powerful verb means "to wipe away," "to erase," or "to obliterate." In the context of sin, for sin to be "blotted out" typically means it is forgiven or removed from God's record, as seen in passages describing God's mercy (e.g., Psalm 51:9). Nehemiah's plea is precisely the opposite: he asks that their sins not be blotted out, but rather remain vividly remembered by God for the purpose of judgment.
  • "provoked [thee] to anger" (Hebrew: ka'as - ื›ึผึธืขึทืก): This phrase emphasizes the direct offense the enemies' actions caused to God. It highlights that their mockery and conspiracy were not just personal insults but direct challenges to God's authority and His ongoing work through His people.

Practical Application

While Nehemiah's prayer for divine judgment may seem harsh through a New Testament lens, it offers several insights:

  • Understanding Biblical Prayers: Imprecatory prayers are part of the biblical record, reflecting the raw emotions and strong appeals to divine justice found in the Old Testament. They often arise from intense persecution and a deep desire for God's righteousness to prevail.
  • Trusting God's Justice: Even in our own struggles with injustice, this verse reminds us that God is the ultimate judge. While the New Testament calls believers to "leave room for God's wrath" and not to take vengeance themselves, it affirms that God will ultimately set all things right.
  • Perseverance in God's Work: Nehemiahโ€™s prayer is framed by his unwavering commitment to the work of rebuilding. It teaches us to persist in God's calling despite opposition, trusting that God will deal with those who maliciously hinder His purposes.
  • Distinction between Old and New Covenant: Christians today are called to a higher standard of love, even for enemies, as taught by Jesus in Matthew 5:44. This highlights the progressive revelation of God's character and expectations from the Old Covenant to the New.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 18:23

    Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay [me]: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal [thus] with them in the time of thine anger.

  • Psalms 109:14

    Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.

  • Psalms 69:27

    Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.

  • Psalms 69:28

    Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

  • Isaiah 44:22

    I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

  • 2 Timothy 4:14

    Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

  • Psalms 51:1

    ยถ To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
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