Nehemiah 4 in the early church
[LXX: 2 Esdras (with Ezra); Vulgate: 2 Esdras]
6 passages quote, allude to, or echo Nehemiah 4, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Nehemiah 4:2
before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neh 4:2 | Commentary on the Song of Songs 3.238 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410) |
| Neh 4:2–5 (2 Esdr. 3:34-Neh Vulg.) | On Not Sparing Those Who Sin against God 14 · Lucifer of Cagliari | quotation, high confidence | ca. 356–361 |
Nehemiah 4:3
Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neh 4:3 | Commentary on the Song of Songs 3.238 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410) |
| Neh 4:3 | Commentary on the Song of Songs 3.240 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410) |
Nehemiah 4:9
So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neh 4:9 | Apostolic Constitutions 7.37.4 · Anonymous | allusion, low confidence | ca. 380 |
Nehemiah 4:16
And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neh 4:16 | Letter 34.4 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |