Nehemiah 2:19

Nehemiah 2:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
• New International Version (NIV)But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?”

Context of Nehemiah 2:19

17Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation that we are in—how Jerusalem is desolate and lies in ruins and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, and let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” 18Then I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they thoroughly supported the good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked us and regarded us with contempt and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20I answered them, “The God of heaven [has appointed us for His purpose and] will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem.”

Nehemiah 2:19 word by word

וַיִּשְׁמַע֩ סַנְבַלַּ֨ט הַחֹרֹנִ֜י וְטֹבִיָּ֣ה׀ הָעֶ֣בֶד הָֽעַמּוֹנִ֗י וְגֶ֙שֶׁם֙ הָֽעַרְבִ֔י וַיַּלְעִ֣גוּ לָ֔נוּ וַיִּבְז֖וּ עָלֵ֑ינוּ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ מָֽה־הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתֶּ֣ם עֹשִׂ֔ים הַעַ֥ל הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אַתֶּ֥ם מֹרְדִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But when Sanballatסַנְבַלַּטsanballaţ · SanballatH5571
• the Horoniteחֹרֹנִיchôrônîy · HoroniteH2772
• and Tobiahטוֹבִיָּ֫הוּţôbîyâh ţôbîyâhû · TobiahH2900
• the servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• the Ammoniteעַמּוֹנִי‛ammônîy · AmmonH5984
• and Geshemגֶּ֫שֶׁםgeshem gashmû · GeshemH1654
• the Arabianעַרְבִי‛ărâbîy ‛arbîy · ArabianH6163
• heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• they laughed us to scornלָעַגlâ‛ag · to mockH3932
• and despisedבָּזָהbâzâh · to despiseH959
• us, and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• this thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• that ye doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• will ye rebelמָרַדmârad · to rebelH4775
• against the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428

Cross-references for Nehemiah 2:19

• Nehemiah 2:10When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard this, it caused them great displeasure that someone had come to see about the welfare and prosperity of the Israelites.
• Nehemiah 6:1Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there was no breach left in it, although at that time I had not set up doors in the gates,
• Nehemiah 6:9For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, [O God,] strengthen my hands.
• Job 30:1“But now those younger than I mock and laugh at me, Whose fathers I refused to put with the sheepdogs of my flock.
• Psalms 44:13You have made us the reproach and taunt of our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to those around us.
• Psalms 79:4We have become an object of taunting to our neighbors [because of our humiliation], A derision and mockery to those who encircle us.
• Psalms 80:6You make us an object of contention to our neighbors, And our enemies laugh [at our suffering] among themselves.
• Jeremiah 20:8For whenever I speak, I must shout out; I shout violence and destruction, Because the word of the Lord has become to me A reprimand and a mockery and has brought me insult all day long.
• Mark 5:40They began laughing [scornfully] at Him [because they knew the child was dead]. But He made them all go outside, and took along the child’s father and mother and His own [three] companions, and entered the room where the child was.
• Hebrews 11:36and others experienced the trial of mocking and scourging [amid torture], and even chains and imprisonment.
• Nehemiah 6:6In it was written, “It is reported among the [neighboring] nations, and Gashmu is saying that you and the Jews are planning to revolt, and that is the reason you are rebuilding the wall. And according to these reports, you are to be their king.
• Ezra 4:15in order that a search may be made in the record books of your fathers. And you will discover in the record books and learn that this is a rebellious city, damaging to kings and provinces, and that in the past they have incited rebellion within it. That is why that city was laid waste (destroyed).
• Luke 23:2They began to accuse Jesus, asserting, “We found this Man misleading and perverting our nation and forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and claiming that He Himself is Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), a King.”
• John 19:12As a result of this, Pilate kept making efforts to release Him, but the Jews kept screaming, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar! Anyone who makes himself out [to be] a king opposes Caesar [and rebels against the emperor]!”
• Acts 24:5For we have found this man to be a public menace and one who instigates dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the [heretical] sect of the Nazarenes.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 2:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19Geshem the Arabian - Some chief of the Arabs contiguous to Samaria, who had joined with Sanballat and Tobiah to distress the Jews, and hinder their work. Will ye rebel against the king? - This they said in order to raise jealousies in the king's mind, and induce him to recall his ordinance.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-20Verses 19-20 The enmity of the serpent's seed against the cause of Christ is confined to no age or nation. The application to ourselves is plain. The church of God asks for our help. Is it not desolate, and exposed to assaults? Does the consideration of its low estate cause you any grief? Let not business, pleasure, or the support of a party so engage attention, as that Zion and her welfare shall be nothing to you.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19Nehemiah’s enemies quickly mocked and tried to halt progress. These opponents were dangerous because they could discourage the people and damage Nehemiah’s credibility. Are you rebelling against the king?: This serious accusation could lead to death (see also Ezra 4:6–23).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-201. it came to pass in the month Nisan--This was nearly four months after he had learned the desolate and ruinous state of Jerusalem (Ne 1:1). The reasons for so long a delay cannot be ascertained. I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king--Xenophon has particularly remarked about the polished and graceful manner in which the cupbearers of the Median, and consequently the Persian, monarchs performed their duty of presenting the wine to their royal…Read the comment

Topics related to Nehemiah 2:19

• Arabians
• Character
• Country
• Geshem
• Sanballat
• Tobiah

In the dictionaries

• Ammonite
• Arabian
• Ammon, Ammonite
• Arabia, Arabian
• Geshem
• Horonite
• Laugh
• Moabite
• Reproach
• Sanballat

Commentaries on Nehemiah 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings