Nehemiah 4:23 (DRB)

Passage

Now I and my brethren, and my servants, and the watchmen that followed me, did not put off our clothes: only every man stripped himself when he was to be washed.

Nearby Context

Nehemiah 4:21 And let us do the work: and let one half of us hold our spears from the rising of the morning, till the stars appear.

Nehemiah 4:22 At that time also I said to the people: Let every one with his servant stay in the midst of Jerusalem, and let us take our turns in the night, and by day, to work.

Nehemiah 4:23 Now I and my brethren, and my servants, and the watchmen that followed me, did not put off our clothes: only every man stripped himself when he was to be washed.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "brethren", "servants", "watchmen", "followed", "clothes", "only", "stripped", and "himself". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "brethren" and "servants", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "At that time also I said to...", giving immediate footing for "brethren" and "servants". In Nehemiah context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

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