Nehemiah 4:4
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach on their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
American King James Version (AKJV)
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach on their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
American Standard Version (ASV)
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity;
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Give ear, O our God, for we are looked down on: let their words of shame be turned back on themselves, and let them be given up to wasting in a land where they are prisoners:
Webster's Revision
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
World English Bible
"Hear, our God; for we are despised; and turn back their reproach on their own head, give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity;
English Revised Version (ERV)
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up to spoiling in a land of captivity:
Definitions for Nehemiah 4:4
Clarke's Nehemiah 4:4 Bible Commentary
Turn their reproach upon their own head - A prayer of this kind, understood literally, is not lawful for any Christian. Jesus, our great master, has said, "Love your enemies; do good to them that hate you; and pray for them that despitefully use you." Such sayings as the above are excusable in the mouth of a Jew, under severe irritation. See the next verse, Nehemiah 4:5 (note).
Barnes's Nehemiah 4:4 Bible Commentary
The parenthetical prayers of Nehemiah form one of the most striking characteristics of his history. Here we have the first. Other examples are Nehemiah 5:19; Nehemiah 6:9, Nehemiah 6:14; Nehemiah 13:14, Nehemiah 13:22, Nehemiah 13:29, Nehemiah 13:31.
Wesley's Nehemiah 4:4 Bible Commentary
4:4 A prey - Give them for a prey to their enemies, and let these carry them into the land of captivity.
