Nehemiah 13:21
Arabic 2016 (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)
فَحَذَّرْتُهُمْ وَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ: «لِمَاذَا تَبِيتُونَ أمَامَ السُّورِ؟ إنْ كَرَّرْتُمْ هَذَا الأمْرَ ثَانِيَةً فَسَأسْتَخْدِمُ القُوَّةَ ضِدَّكُمْ.» وَمُنْذُ ذَلِكَ الوَقْتِ لَمْ يَعُودُوا يَأْتُونَ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ.
What Does This Mean?
Nehemiah is speaking to people who were working around the wall on the Sabbath day. He told them not to work on the Sabbath and warned them that if they did it again, he would punish them. After that, they stopped working on the Sabbath.
Explained for Children
Imagine you have a favorite toy and a special time when you're not supposed to play with it. Nehemiah was like a parent telling the kids, 'Why are you playing with your toys during nap time? If you do it again, you'll get a time-out.' The kids understood and stopped playing during nap time.
Historical Background
Nehemiah wrote this part of the Bible during the post-exilic period, around the 5th century BCE. He was addressing the people of Jerusalem who had returned from exile and were rebuilding the city walls. The Sabbath was a sacred day of rest, and Nehemiah wanted to ensure it was respected.
Living It Out Today
In a modern context, this verse can apply to how we respect other people's boundaries and schedules. For example, if a colleague insists on sending work emails during your vacation time, it's important to set clear boundaries and communicate your limits to maintain respect and balance in relationships.
Topics
sabbathboundariesrespectleadershipresponsibilityrebuilding
Related Verses
Exodus 20:8-11Exodus 31:12-17Isaiah 58:13-14Matthew 12:1-14Luke 6:5
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Nehemiah concerned about people working on the Sabbath?
Nehemiah was concerned about people working on the Sabbath because it was a sacred day set apart for rest and worship, and he wanted to ensure that the community respected it to maintain spiritual integrity.
What does this verse teach about leadership?
This verse teaches that leaders must be firm but fair in setting and enforcing boundaries, especially when it comes to values and principles that are important to the community.
How can we apply Nehemiah's approach to our own lives?
We can apply Nehemiah's approach by setting clear boundaries in our personal and professional lives, respecting others' schedules and needs, and ensuring that we uphold values that are important to us.
What was the result of Nehemiah's actions?
After Nehemiah's warning, people stopped working on the Sabbath, showing that his approach was effective in reinforcing the importance of the day of rest.