Nehemiah 4:17

who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Nehemiah addresses the people of Judah during the wall reconstruction, directing them to split into labor and guard divisions. This occurs immediately after the community organizes to withstand coordinated opposition to the rebuilding project.

The words — הַבּוֹנִים (ha-bo.Nim) translates to "who were rebuilding," and עֹשֶׂה ('o.Seh) literally means "doing" or working, describing the laborers actively constructing while simultaneously holding a weapon.

The thread — The dual posture of work and armed readiness appears in the apostolic command to carry "the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left" (2 Corinthians 6:7). It also aligns with the directive to endure hardship as a "good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:3).

Why it lands — The text states that laborers carried materials with one hand while wielding a weapon with the other, establishing a pattern of simultaneous diligence and vigilance. It requires readers to maintain their assigned work without neglecting the reality of ongoing opposition.

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The Hebrew words

הַבּוֹנִ֧יםha./bo.Nimwho/ were rebuilding בַּחוֹמָ֛הba./cho.Mah<on> the/ wall וְהַנֹּשְׂאִ֥יםve./ha./no.se.'Imand/ the/ [ones who] were carrying בַּסֶּ֖בֶלba./Se.velin <the>/ burden עֹמְשִׂ֑ים'o.me.Sim[were] carrying [it]בְּאַחַ֤תbe./'a.Chatwith/ [the] one יָדוֹ֙ya.D/ohand/ his עֹשֶׂ֣ה'o.Sehdoing בַמְּלָאכָ֔הva./me.la.Khah<in> the/ work וְאַחַ֖תve./'a.Chatand/ one [hand]מַחֲזֶ֥קֶתma.cha.Ze.ket[was] holding הַשָּֽׁלַח׃ha./Sha.lachthe/ weapon

King James Version

They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 6:7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
2 Timothy 2:3 Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
1 Corinthians 16:9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Philippians 1:28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God.
Daniel 9:25 Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.
1 Corinthians 9:12 If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.