Nehemiah 4:10

“And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.”

Immediate Context

The preceding line reads “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.” The titled verse reads “And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.” The following line reads “And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.” Together, these lines place Nehemiah 4:10 within its immediate canonical and literary sequence.

Reading the Verse

The verse records speech within a historical scene. Meaning depends on who speaks, who receives the words, and what prompted the exchange.

The verse first states “And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish;” It then adds “so that we are not able to build the wall.” Both movements belong together.

Biblical Significance

Recorded speech reveals decisions, commands, questions, fears, promises, or responses within the biblical account. Keeping the correct words with the correct speaker is essential.

Application

Readers should ask what the speech accomplishes in the scene and how the surrounding narrative evaluates it. Careful listening should precede application.

Read in this setting, Nehemiah 4:10 speaks through its own wording and context. Its claims and application begin with the KJV text above.