Nehemiah 6:9

For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Nehemiah speaks directly to God during the active rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls, responding to opponents who are coordinating intimidation to halt the project.

The words — The Hebrew יִרְפּוּ (yirpu) literally means “they will drop” or “grow weak,” describing the adversaries’ claim that the builders’ hands will fail under the labor.

The thread — This pattern of intimidation followed by a plea for strength appears in Nehemiah 4:10 where workers complain of failing strength, and in 1 Samuel 30:6 where David faces threats before turning to God.

Why it lands — The text records a factual report of fear tactics before the speaker’s prayer for empowerment, requiring a reader to acknowledge that sustained work demands divine reinforcement rather than self-reliance.

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

כִּ֣יkifor כֻלָּ֗םkhu.La/mall of/ them מְיָֽרְאִ֤יםme.ya.re.'Im[were] making afraid אוֹתָ֙נוּ֙'o.Ta./nu<obj.>/ us לֵאמֹ֔רle./Mor<to>/ saying יִרְפּ֧וּyir.Puthey will drop יְדֵיהֶ֛םye.dei./Hemhands/ their מִן־min-from הַמְּלָאכָ֖הha./me.la.Khahthe/ work וְלֹ֣אve./Lo'and/ not תֵעָשֶׂ֑הte.'a.Sehit will be done וְעַתָּ֖הve./'a.Tahand/ therefore חַזֵּ֥קcha.Zekstrengthen אֶת־'et-<obj.>יָדָֽי׃ya.Da/ihands/ my

King James Version

For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

Cross-references

Psalms 138:3 On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.
1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of every man grieved for his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.
Nehemiah 4:10 Meanwhile, the people of Judah said: “The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.”
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
Ephesians 3:16 I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Hebrews 12:12 Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.
1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.