Bible/Nehemiah/7

Nehemiah 7:3

7:2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.
And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.

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I said to them, “Don’t let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut the doors, and you bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, with everyone near his house.”

And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.

And I said to them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.

7:4 Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. large: Heb. broad in spaces

What does Nehemiah 7:3 mean?

Nehemiah 7:3 is a verse in the book of Nehemiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אָמַר (ʼâmar), שַׁעַר (shaʻar), יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim). It connects to 15 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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And
I
saidאָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)
unto
them,
Let
not
the
gatesשַׁעַרshaʻar/shah'-ar/H8179an opening, i.e. door or gate
of
Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםYᵉrûwshâlaim/yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im/H3389Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
be
openedפָּתַחpâthach/paw-thakh'/H6605to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve
until
the
sunשֶׁמֶשׁshemesh/sheh'-mesh/H8121the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement
be
hot;חֹםchôm/khome/H2527heat
and
while
they
stand
by,עָמַדʻâmad/aw-mad'/H5975to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
let
them
shutגּוּףgûwph/goof/H1479properly, to hollow or arch, i.e. (figuratively) close; to shut
the
doors,דֶּלֶתdeleth/deh'-leth/H1817something swinging, i.e. the valve of adoor
and
barאָחַזʼâchaz/aw-khaz'/H270to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)
them:
and
appointעָמַדʻâmad/aw-mad'/H5975to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
watchesמִשְׁמֶרֶתmishmereth/mish-mer'-reth/H4931watch, i.e. the act (custody), or (concretely) the sentry, the post; objectively preservation, or (concretely) safe; figuratively observance, i.e. (abstractly) duty or (objectively) a usage or party
of
the
inhabitantsיָשַׁבyâshab/yaw-shab'/H3427properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
of
Jerusalem,יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםYᵉrûwshâlaim/yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im/H3389Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
every
oneאִישׁʼîysh/eesh/H376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
in
his
watch,מִשְׁמָרmishmâr/mish-mawr'/H4929a guard (the man, the post or the prison); a deposit (figuratively); also (as observed) a usage (abstractly), or an example (concretely)
and
every
oneאִישׁʼîysh/eesh/H376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
to
be
over
against
his
house.בַּיִתbayith/bah'-yith/H1004a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

Commentary on Nehemiah 7:3

HENRY_FULL · Nehemiah 7:3
"10" In this chapter we have that grievance redressed which was complained of and lamented in the foregoing chapter. Observe, I. How the people's hearts were prepared for the redress of it by their deep humiliation for the sin, ver. 1 . II. How it was proposed to Ezra by Shechaniah, ver. 2-4 . III. How the proposal was put in execution. 1. The great men were sworn to stand to it, ver. 5 . 2. Ezra appeared first in it, ver. 6 . 3. A general assembly was called, ver. 7-9 . 4. They all, in compliance with Ezra's exhortation, agreed to the reformation, ver. 10-14 . 5. Commissioners were appointed to sit "de die in diem"—day after day, to enquire who had married strange wives and to oblige them to put them away, which was done accordingly ( ver. 15-17 ), and a list of the names of those that were found guilty given in, ver. 18-44 .

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 34:6

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

Exodus 34:7

Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

Exodus 34:12

Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:

Nehemiah 2:7

Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;

Nehemiah 3:29

After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.

Nehemiah 7:12

The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

Nehemiah 7:26

The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.

Nehemiah 7:34

The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

Nehemiah 13:27

Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

Isaiah 55:6

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Isaiah 55:7

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. the unrighteous: Heb. the man of iniquity abundantly: Heb. multiply to pardon

Jeremiah 3:12

Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.

Jeremiah 3:13

Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.

James 2:9

But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

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Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Nehemiah 7:3.

1 Samuel 11:9

And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. help: or, deliverance

Exodus 32:26

Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

Frequently asked questions

What does Nehemiah 7:3 say?

Nehemiah 7:3 (King James Version) reads: "And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house."

Is Nehemiah 7:3 in the Old or New Testament?

Nehemiah 7:3 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Nehemiah.

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As you read Nehemiah 7:3, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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