Nehemiah 4:15

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

And it came to pass, when our enemies {H341} heard {H8085} that it was known {H3045} unto us, and God {H430} had brought {H6565} their counsel {H6098} to nought {H6565}, that we returned {H7725} all of us to the wall {H2346}, every one {H376} unto his work {H4399}.

When our enemies heard that the plot was known to us, and God had foiled their plans, we all returned to the wall, everyone to his work.

When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall.

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

Commentary

Nehemiah 4:15 (KJV) marks a significant turning point in the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, showcasing divine intervention and the steadfast resolve of God's people.

Context

This verse follows a period of intense opposition faced by Nehemiah and the Jewish exiles returning to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Their primary adversaries, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, had escalated their mockery and threats into a full-blown conspiracy to attack Jerusalem and hinder the work (Nehemiah 4:8). The people of Judah, initially discouraged, responded with prayer and watchful diligence, setting guards day and night. Nehemiah had armed the builders and even arranged for half to work while the other half stood guard with weapons (Nehemiah 4:16-18). This verse indicates that the enemies' secret plot was discovered, thwarting their intentions.

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention: The most crucial aspect of this verse is the declaration that "God had brought their counsel to nought." This highlights God's active role in protecting His people and frustrating the wicked schemes of their enemies. It underscores God's sovereignty over human plans, a theme echoed in Proverbs 21:30 and Psalm 33:10.
  • Vigilance and Prayer: While God acted, it was in response to the people's prayer and their alertness. Their awareness ("it was known unto us") enabled God to expose the plot, demonstrating the partnership between human responsibility and divine power.
  • Resilience and Dedication: Despite the serious threat, once the danger was averted, the people immediately "returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work." This shows their unwavering commitment to the task of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, refusing to be permanently deterred by opposition.
  • Unity in Purpose: The phrase "every one unto his work" emphasizes the collective effort and the individual dedication that characterized this monumental undertaking.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "brought their counsel to nought" comes from the Hebrew word parar (ืคึผึธืจึทืจ), which means to break, frustrate, annul, or make void. This isn't merely a passive failure of the enemies' plans, but an active, decisive action by God to invalidate and dismantle their conspiracy. It speaks to God's direct intervention in human affairs to protect His purposes and His people.

Practical Application

Nehemiah 4:15 offers profound encouragement for believers today. When facing opposition, discouragement, or spiritual warfare in our lives or ministries, this verse reminds us:

  1. Trust in God's Protection: Even when plots are hidden or enemies seem formidable, God is sovereign and can frustrate their designs. Our confidence is in His power to bring to nought the schemes against His children.
  2. Combine Prayer with Action: Nehemiah's example teaches us to pray fervently while also taking practical steps of vigilance and wisdom. God often works through our diligent efforts.
  3. Persevere in God's Work: Once a threat passes, the call is to return to our assigned tasks with renewed focus and dedication. The work of the Lord requires steadfastness despite interruptions and challenges. This perseverance ultimately leads to success, as seen later when the wall was completed (Nehemiah 6:15).

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

  • 2 Samuel 17:14 (5 votes)

    And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite [is] better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

  • Romans 12:11 (4 votes)

    Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

  • Job 5:12 (3 votes)

    He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform [their] enterprise.

  • Job 5:13 (3 votes)

    He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

  • Isaiah 44:25 (3 votes)

    That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

  • Psalms 33:10 (3 votes)

    The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

  • Psalms 33:11 (3 votes)

    The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.