Nehemiah 7:3

Nehemiah 7:3 Meaning and Explanation

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.

King James Version (KJV)

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Nehemiah gives careful instructions for guarding the gates and setting watches drawn from the people themselves.

What Does Nehemiah 7:3 Mean?

Nehemiah orders that the gates stay shut until full daylight, and be closed and barred while the keepers are still present, never left to chance. He arranges watches from among the inhabitants, each person posted near his own house. Vigilance is shared, and each guards the ground closest to his own door.

Wisdom guards what God has given. The freedom won by hard labor must be kept by steady watchfulness, and that watchfulness is distributed so that every household has its part. So the people of God are called to be alert, each keeping faithful watch over the portion entrusted to them, knowing that what is built in toil can be lost through carelessness.

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What does Nehemiah 7:3 mean?

Nehemiah gives careful instructions for guarding the gates and setting watches drawn from the people themselves.

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