Nehemiah 6:18 (DBY)

Passage

For there were many in Judah sworn to him; for he was a son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.

Nearby Context

Nehemiah 6:16 And it came to pass that when all our enemies heard [of it], all the nations that were about us were afraid and were much cast down in their own eyes, and they perceived that this work was wrought by our God.

Nehemiah 6:17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobijah, and those of Tobijah came to them.

Nehemiah 6:18 For there were many in Judah sworn to him; for he was a son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.

Nehemiah 6:19 Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. [And] Tobijah sent letters to put me in fear.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "judah", "sworn", "son-in-law", "shechaniah", "arah", "johanan", "taken", and "daughter". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "judah" and "sworn", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "Moreover in those days the nobles of..." into verse 19's "Also they spoke of his good deeds...", so "judah" and "sworn" belong inside that flow. In Nehemiah context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "judah" and "sworn" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.