Nehemiah 13:20 nasb — Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem.

NASB

"Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem."

— Nehemiah 13:20, NASB

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Nehemiah 13:20 in Other Translations

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Nehemiah 13 — Context

17

Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day?

18

"Did not your fathers do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath."

19

It came about that just as it grew dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and that they should not open them until after the sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load would enter on the sabbath day.

20

Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem.

21

Then I warned them and said to them, "Why do you spend the night in front of the wall? If you do so again, I will use force against you." From that time on they did not come on the sabbath.

22

And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day. For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness.

23

In those days I also saw that the Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab.

Nehemiah 13:20 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Nehemiah 13:20 say?
Nehemiah 13:20 in the NASB reads: “Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem.”
Where is Nehemiah 13:20 in the Bible?
Nehemiah 13:20 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Nehemiah, chapter 13, verse 20.
Who wrote Nehemiah?
Nehemiah is traditionally attributed to Nehemiah (largely from his memoirs). It was written c. 445–425 BC.
What is the book of Nehemiah about?
Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, leads the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls against fierce opposition. The book combines stirring leadership with covenant renewal, ending with reform of priesthood, sabbath, and intermarriage.
What are the major themes of Nehemiah?
Nehemiah explores themes including Leadership, Prayer, Rebuilding, Opposition, Covenant Renewal. These themes shape the meaning and context of Nehemiah 13:20.
What translation should I read Nehemiah 13:20 in?
Nehemiah 13:20 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Nehemiah 13:20?
Nehemiah 13:20 reads (NASB): “Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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