Nehemiah 6:16

16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem; for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

Nehemiah 6:16 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 6:16

And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof,
&c.] That the wall was finished:

and all the Heathen that were about us saw these things;
the neighbouring nations, who not only heard with their ears, but saw with their eyes what was done:

they were much cast down in their own eyes;
through shame and confusion, because of their own scoffs and jeers; through grief and vexation at the unexpected success of the Jews, and through the fear of them that was fallen upon them, as Jarchi notes:

for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God;
his special providence and blessing attending it, as appeared by its being so soon effected.

Nehemiah 6:16 In-Context

14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.

16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem; for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them.

18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.

Footnotes

• [a]. Another reading is [saw]