Nehemiah 4:10

10 But soon word was going around in Judah, The builders are pooped, the rubbish piles up; We're in over our heads, we can't build this wall.

Nehemiah 4:10 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 4:10

And Judah said
Several of the men of Judah:

the strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed;
through much labour, in carrying heavy loads of stone and timber to the builders, and yet more through fear of the enemy:

and there is much rubbish;
which ought to be removed, but that the labourers were so weak that they could not do it:

so that we are not able to build the wall;
to finish it before the enemy comes to attack us.

Nehemiah 4:10 In-Context

8 They put their heads together and decided to fight against Jerusalem and create as much trouble as they could.
9 We countered with prayer to our God and set a round-the-clock guard against them.
10 But soon word was going around in Judah, The builders are pooped, the rubbish piles up; We're in over our heads, we can't build this wall.
11 And all this time our enemies were saying, "They won't know what hit them. Before they know it we'll be at their throats, killing them right and left. That will put a stop to the work!"
12 The Jews who were their neighbors kept reporting, "They have us surrounded; they're going to attack!" If we heard it once, we heard it ten times.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.