Nehemiah 6:18 (KJV)

Passage

For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the 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 thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

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

Nehemiah 6:18 For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the 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 reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "judah", "sworn", "shechaniah", "arah", "johanan", "taken", "daughter", and "meshullam". 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 reported his good deeds before...", 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.