Nehemiah 4:14

And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, [which is] great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

And I looked {H7200}, and rose up {H6965}, and said {H559} unto the nobles {H2715}, and to the rulers {H5461}, and to the rest {H3499} of the people {H5971}, Be not ye afraid {H3372} of them {H6440}: remember {H2142} the Lord {H136}, which is great {H1419} and terrible {H3372}, and fight {H3898} for your brethren {H251}, your sons {H1121}, and your daughters {H1323}, your wives {H802}, and your houses {H1004}.

After inspecting them, I stood up and addressed the nobles, leaders and the rest of the people: "Don't be afraid of them! Remember Adonai, who is great and fearful; and fight for your brothers, sons, daughters, wives and homes."

After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, β€œDo not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

Commentary

Commentary on Nehemiah 4:14 (KJV)

Nehemiah 4:14 captures a pivotal moment during the daunting task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Under Nehemiah's inspired leadership, the Jewish exiles had returned to their homeland and begun the arduous work. However, their efforts were met with intense opposition, mockery, and direct threats from surrounding enemies, particularly Sanballat and Tobiah. This verse records Nehemiah's powerful exhortation to a people gripped by fear, reminding them of God's might and their core motivations for perseverance.

Context

The book of Nehemiah details the post-exilic return of the Jewish people and their efforts to restore Jerusalem's defenses and spiritual life. Chapter 4 specifically highlights the escalating opposition to the wall-building project. After initial mockery (Nehemiah 2:19), the enemies, seeing the work progress, conspire to attack Jerusalem and hinder the builders. This threat caused great alarm among the people, leading Nehemiah to arm the workers and set watches. Nehemiah 4:14 is his direct address to the nobles, rulers, and the rest of the people, turning their fear into resolve and courage.

Key Themes

  • Overcoming Fear with Faith: Nehemiah directly confronts the widespread fear, urging the people, "Be not ye afraid of them." This command is immediately followed by the antidote to fear: remembering God.
  • Remembering God's Character: The core of Nehemiah's encouragement is the command to "remember the Lord, which is great and terrible." This is not about a frightening deity, but an awe-inspiring, mighty God who is capable of delivering His people and is far superior to any earthly foe.
  • Fighting for Core Values: Nehemiah galvanizes the people by appealing to their deepest loyalties: "fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses." This emphasizes that their labor and potential battle were not just for bricks and mortar, but for the preservation of their families, homes, and community.
  • Courageous Leadership: Nehemiah exemplifies strong, faith-filled leadership. He doesn't just command; he stands with them, assesses the situation, and offers a clear, actionable path forward, turning potential panic into determined action. His leadership is a model of providing vision and direction in times of crisis.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "great and terrible" in Hebrew is gadol v'nora (Χ’Χ“Χ•Χœ ונורא). Gadol means "great," "mighty," or "magnificent." Nora (from the root yare) means "awe-inspiring," "dreadful," or "reverence-inducing." It signifies God's immense power, majesty, and holiness, inspiring profound respect and holy fear rather than mere terror. This reminds the people of God's sovereignty and His ability to protect them, far surpassing the power of their enemies. It's a reminder of God's awesome power, as seen in other scriptures like Deuteronomy 10:17.

Practical Application

Nehemiah 4:14 offers timeless principles for believers facing challenges today. When confronted with daunting obstacles, spiritual attacks, or societal pressures that threaten our faith and values, we are called to:

  • Confront Fear with Faith: Rather than succumbing to anxiety or despair, we are to actively remember God's power and promises. Our confidence should be rooted in Him, not in our circumstances or strength. As Isaiah 41:10 reminds us, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee."
  • Recall God's Unchanging Character: Our assurance comes from knowing who God is – sovereign, mighty, and faithful. He is the same "great and terrible" God who delivered Israel.
  • Defend What Truly Matters: We are encouraged to stand firm for our families, our faith, our communities, and the truth of God's Word when these are threatened. This may involve spiritual vigilance, active prayer, or courageous action in the face of opposition.
  • Embrace Godly Courage: This verse inspires us to act decisively and courageously, knowing that the Lord is with us in our righteous endeavors. It's a call to spiritual vigilance and active defense of our values, trusting that God will fight for us as we do our part.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 14:9 (19 votes)

    Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they [are] bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD [is] with us: fear them not.

  • 2 Samuel 10:12 (19 votes)

    Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.

  • Isaiah 41:10 (14 votes)

    ΒΆ Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

  • Isaiah 41:14 (14 votes)

    Fear not, thou worm Jacob, [and] ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

  • Hebrews 13:6 (13 votes)

    So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

  • Matthew 10:28 (8 votes)

    And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

  • Psalms 20:7 (8 votes)

    Some [trust] in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.