Old Testament
The Book of Nehemiah
The Book of Nehemiah is the sixteenth of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 13 chapters and 404 verses. The Douay-Rheims calls it 2 Esdras.
About Nehemiah
About Nehemiah · Restoration memoir
Nehemiah is largely the first-person memoir of a Jewish cupbearer to the Persian king who obtained leave to rebuild Jerusalem's walls, and did it in fifty-two days against ridicule and armed threat. Compiled with the book of Ezra, it was written to record how practical competence — surveys, work rosters, guard shifts — can itself be a work of God. Its climax is not the wall but the public reading of the law, with the people in tears and being told that the joy of the Lord is their strength.
| Testament | Old Testament — book 16 of 46, 16 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 13 |
| Verses | 404, as Bless numbers them |
| In the Douay-Rheims | 2 Esdras |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 13 chapters · 5 notes |
| Catechism | 2 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 13 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
Nehemiah 1
11 versesNehemias hearing the miserable state of his countrymen in Judea, lamenteth, fasteth, and prayeth to God for their relief.
Nehemiah 2
20 versesNehemias with commission from king Artaxerxes cometh to Jerusalem: and exhorteth the Jews to rebuild the walls.
Nehemiah 3
31 versesThey begin to build the walls: the names and order of the builders.
Nehemiah 4
23 versesThe building is carried on notwithstanding the opposition of their enemies.
Nehemiah 5
19 versesNehemias blameth the rich, for their oppressing the poor. His exhortation, and bounty to his countrymen.
Nehemiah 6
19 versesThe enemies seek to terrify Nehemias. He proceedeth and finisheth the wall.
Nehemiah 7
73 versesNehemias appointeth watchmen in Jerusalem. The list of those who came first from Babylon.
Nehemiah 8
18 versesEsdras readeth the law before the people. Nehemias comforteth them. They celebrate the feast of tabernacles.
Nehemiah 9
38 versesThe people repent with fasting and sackcloth. The Levites confess God's benefits, and the people's ingratitude: they pray for them, and make a covenant with God.
Nehemiah 10
39 versesThe names of the subscribers to the covenant, and the contents of it.
Nehemiah 11
36 versesWho were the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the other cities.
Nehemiah 12
46 versesThe priests, and Levites that came up with Zorobabel. The succession of high priests: the solemnity of the dedication of the wall.
Nehemiah 13
31 versesDivers abuses are reformed.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
In the comments
What the saints said.
1 quotation from 1 saint linked to passages of Nehemiah in Bless. Each names the work it comes from.
St. Philip Neri · on Nehemiah 8:10
On this theme
Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and makes us persevere in a good life; wherefore the servant of God ought always to be in good spirits.
Maxims, 16th c.
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, Nehemiah is read at the principal Mass on 1 day in the US calendar. The next 2 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| computed | St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church | First Reading | Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12 |
| computed | Third Sunday in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.