And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

NEHEMIAH 4:14KJV
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Nehemiah 4:14 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 4:14 mean?

Nehemiah 4:14 records Nehemiah urging the people not to be afraid of their enemies but to remember the Lord’s greatness and to fight to protect their families and homes. The verse highlights both courage in the face of threat and the importance of relying on God’s power.

Nehemiah is speaking to the nobles, rulers, and the rest of the people as they rebuild Jerusalem’s walls under threat from hostile neighbors. He calls them to set aside fear, focus on God’s strength, and defend their loved ones and property. This moment shows Nehemiah’s leadership and the people’s need for encouragement during a dangerous time.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 4:14

  • "afraid" (יָרֵא, yare): This word means to fear or be terrified. Nehemiah uses it to directly address the people’s natural reaction to threats, telling them not to let fear control them.
  • "remember" (זָכַר, zakar): This means to call to mind or focus on something important. Nehemiah urges the people to actively recall God’s greatness and power, not just passively hope for help.
  • "great" (גָּדוֹל, gadol) and "terrible" (יָרֵא, yare): Here, "great" emphasizes God’s unmatched power, while "terrible" (sometimes translated "awesome") points to God’s ability to inspire awe or fear. Together, these words remind the people that God is both mighty and worthy of respect.
  • "fight" (לָחַם, lacham): This verb means to engage in battle or defend. Nehemiah calls for active defense, not just trust—he wants the people to take real steps to protect their families.

Why Nehemiah 4:14 matters

  • Nehemiah 4:14 clarifies that trusting God does not mean being passive; the people are called to both remember God and take action.
  • The verse shows the balance between faith and responsibility—Nehemiah links courage and action with remembering God’s character.
  • This moment connects to the wider passage by showing how Nehemiah motivates the people to keep building despite real danger, emphasizing unity and purpose.

Where else these words appear

“nobles” Hebrew H2715 · used in 13 verses

  • 1 Kings 21:8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
  • Nehemiah 5:7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
  • Ecclesiastes 10:17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

“rulers” Hebrew H5461 · used in 16 verses

  • Ezra 9:2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
  • Nehemiah 7:5 And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,
  • Jeremiah 51:28 Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion.

“rest” Hebrew H3499 · used in 95 verses

  • Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
  • 1 Kings 22:39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
  • 2 Chronicles 27:7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.