Nehemiah 4:19

And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work [is] great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.

And I said {H559} unto the nobles {H2715}, and to the rulers {H5461}, and to the rest {H3499} of the people {H5971}, The work {H4399} is great {H7235} and large {H7342}, and we are separated {H6504} upon the wall {H2346}, one {H376} far from {H7350} another {H251}.

I said to the nobles, the leaders and the rest of the people, "This is a great work, and it is spread out; we are separated on the wall, one far from another.

Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: โ€œThe work is great and extensive, and we are spread out far from one another along the wall.

And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another:

Commentary

In Nehemiah 4:19, Nehemiah, the appointed governor, addresses the critical challenges faced by the Jewish exiles diligently rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. He articulates two primary difficulties: the sheer scale of the undertaking and the physical separation of the workers along the extensive wall. This verse reveals Nehemiah's transparent leadership and his keen awareness of the practical and strategic vulnerabilities of his people as they faced constant threats from adversaries.

Context

This verse is set during a crucial period of post-exilic Jewish history, around 445 BC, when the returned exiles under Nehemiah's leadership were laboring to reconstruct Jerusalem's protective walls, which had lain in ruins since the Babylonian destruction. The rebuilding effort was met with fierce opposition from neighboring peoples, including Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, who mocked, conspired, and even planned violent attacks. Nehemiah had already implemented a system where half the men worked while the other half stood guard with weapons (Nehemiah 4:16). Verse 19 highlights an additional, inherent logistical challenge: the vastness of the project meant workers were spread out, making communication and rapid response to threats difficult. This acknowledgment sets the stage for Nehemiah's strategic solution in the verses that follow.

Key Themes

  • Immense Task and Overwhelm: Nehemiah acknowledges the "great and large" nature of the work. This speaks to the daunting scale of God's work, often requiring immense effort and perseverance from His people. It can be a source of discouragement if not approached with faith and proper organization.
  • Vulnerability and Isolation: The phrase "separated upon the wall, one far from another" underscores the danger of being spread thin and isolated, making individual workers susceptible to attack and hindering effective collective defense. This highlights the need for unity and a clear communication strategy in any significant endeavor.
  • Transparent and Strategic Leadership: Nehemiah's willingness to openly state the difficulties to the "nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people" demonstrates honest and inclusive leadership. He doesn't hide the challenges but prepares his people for them, a hallmark of effective leadership in times of crisis.
  • Need for Communication and Unity: While not explicitly stated as a theme in this verse, the problem of separation inherently points to the critical need for effective communication and a unified response system, which Nehemiah addresses directly in Nehemiah 4:20.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "great and large" is gedolah u'rchavah (ื’ึฐื“ึนืœึธื” ื•ึผืจึฐื—ึธื‘ึธื”). Gedolah means "great" in terms of magnitude or importance, while u'rchavah means "broad" or "spacious," emphasizing the extensive physical expanse of the wall. This combination powerfully conveys both the monumental scale and the wide distribution of the work. The word for "separated" is perudim (ืคึผึฐืจื•ึผื“ึดื™ื), meaning scattered or isolated, vividly depicting the physical distance between the workers.

Practical Application

Nehemiah 4:19 offers timeless lessons for contemporary challenges. Just as the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall was a "great and large" task, many endeavors in life, especially those of spiritual significance or community building, can feel overwhelming. This verse reminds us:

  1. Acknowledge the Scale: It's healthy to realistically assess the size of the task before us, whether in ministry, personal growth, or community projects.
  2. Beware of Isolation: Feeling "separated" can lead to discouragement, vulnerability, and a lack of support. In our modern world, this can manifest as digital isolation or a lack of true community. The church and spiritual communities are designed to combat this, encouraging believers to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.
  3. Value Transparent Leadership: Leaders should openly communicate challenges and vulnerabilities, fostering trust and enabling collective problem-solving.
  4. Embrace Strategic Solutions: Nehemiah's honesty about the problem led to a practical solution (the trumpet signal in the next verse). Similarly, recognizing challenges in our own "work" can prompt us to seek God-given wisdom for strategic planning and collaboration.
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Cross-References

No cross-references found.