Nehemiah 2:18

I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Nehemiah addresses the Jewish officials in Jerusalem, reporting his divine favor and royal authorization to rebuild the city walls immediately after describing their ruined state (Nehemiah 2:17).

The words — יַד (yad) translates literally as "hand," describing the gracious hand of God upon Nehemiah, while אָגִיד (agid) means "I told," marking his report of both divine favor and the king's instructions.

The thread — This account of God enabling human action aligns with Philippians 2:13, which states God works in people to will and act for His good purpose, while the call to practical commitment echoes 2 Chronicles 32:5.

Why it lands — The text states that divine empowerment precedes and sustains communal effort, requiring readers to respond with concrete action rather than passive observation.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וָאַגִּ֨ידva./'a.Gidand/ I toldלָהֶ֜םla./Hemto/ themאֶת־'et-<obj.>[about]יַ֣דyad[the] hand of אֱלֹהַ֗י'e.lo.Ha/iGod/ my אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-that הִיא֙hi'it טוֹבָ֣הto.Vah[was] good עָלַ֔י'a.La/ion/ me וְאַף־ve./'af-and/ also דִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.Rei[the] words of הַמֶּ֖לֶךְha./Me.lekhthe/ king אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich אָֽמַר־'a.mar-he had spokenלִ֑יL/ito/ meוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙va/i.yo.me.Ruand/ they said נָק֣וּםna.Kumlet us arise וּבָנִ֔ינוּu./va.Ni.nuand/ we will rebuild וַיְחַזְּק֥וּva/y.cha.ze.Kuand/ they strengthened יְדֵיהֶ֖םye.dei./Hemhands/ their לַטּוֹבָֽה׃ פla./to.Vahfor <the>/ good

King James Version

Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

Cross-references

Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
1 Chronicles 19:13 Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
2 Chronicles 32:5 Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers on it. He also built an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Haggai 1:13 Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, delivered the message of the LORD to the people: “I am with you,” declares the LORD.
2 Samuel 2:7 Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.”
Ezra 6:22 For seven days they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread with joy, because the LORD had made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to strengthen their hands in the work on the house of the God of Israel.
1 Chronicles 11:10 Now these were the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who, together with all Israel, bolstered and strengthened his kingdom, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.