Nehemiah — Chapters

Click on a chapter for more information.
Chapter 1
11 verses

Nehemiah receives devastating news of Jerusalem's ruined walls and, in sorrow and repentance, prays earnestly to God for mercy and restoration.

Repentance and confession Covenant faithfulness God’s mercy and restoration
Chapter 2
20 verses

Nehemiah seeks King Artaxerxes’ permission to travel to Judah, secretly surveys Jerusalem’s ruined walls, rallies the people to rebuild them, and confronts opposition from surrounding rulers.

Faith and divine empowerment Leadership and civic responsibility Opposition and perseverance
Chapter 3
32 verses

Nehemiah 3 records a coordinated communal effort to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls and gates, led by the high priest Eliashib and culminating in Nehemiah’s own repair of the city’s defenses.

Restoration of Jerusalem’s walls; Communal labor and shared responsibility; Divine guidance through collective effort.
Chapter 4
23 verses

Nehemiah led the Jews in rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls while facing mockery and threat from surrounding enemies, demonstrating faith, resilience, and strategic defense.

faith amid persecution strategic defense and vigilance collective perseverance
Chapter 5
19 verses

Nehemiah confronts rampant usury by Jewish nobles, restores land and dignity to the people, and declares a covenant to uphold justice.

justice and redemption self‑discipline and leadership faithful stewardship
Chapter 6
19 verses

Nehemiah faces persistent opposition from Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem as he rebuilds Jerusalem’s walls, yet the project is completed and the enemies are humbled.

Faithful perseverance under persecution The deceptive nature of political enemies Divine protection and vindication
Chapter 7
73 verses

Nehemiah 7 records the restoration of Jerusalem’s walls, the appointment of city officials, and a detailed census of the returning exiles.

Restoration of community Reestablishment of religious order Record-keeping as identity
Chapter 8
18 verses

The people of Jerusalem gather to hear the law read aloud, mourn the past, rejoice in understanding, and then celebrate by building booths and observing the Feast of Tabernacles.

Restoration of covenant identity through the law Communal worship and mutual teaching Joyful obedience after mourning
Chapter 9
38 verses

The chapter is a communal prayer that recounts God’s covenantal faithfulness to Israel, laments their repeated disobedience, and pleads for mercy amid ongoing oppression.

covenant faithfulness human sin and rebellion divine mercy and justice
Chapter 10
39 verses

Nehemiah 10 records a covenant by the priests, Levites, and Israelites to observe God's law, maintain temple service, and uphold Sabbath and intermarriage prohibitions.

Covenant renewal Separation from surrounding peoples Sacred economics and temple worship
Chapter 11
36 verses

Nehemiah 11 records the settlement of Jerusalem’s inhabitants after the wall’s completion, listing the leaders, priests, Levites, and other groups and detailing their distribution among the city and surrounding towns.

Restoration of the community after exile Genealogical continuity and temple order Divine allocation of roles and civic responsibilities
Chapter 12
47 verses

Nehemiah records the genealogies of priests and Levites who re-dedicated Jerusalem’s wall, detailing the organization of worship and the joyous celebration that followed.

Restoration of Jerusalem’s worship practices Continuity and legitimacy of priestly lineage Communal joy and collective responsibility
Chapter 13
31 verses

Nehemiah enforces the covenant by purifying worship practices, guarding the Sabbath, and removing foreign influences from Jerusalem.

Covenant fidelity and purity Sabbath holiness and civic order Separation from idolatry and foreign influence