Nehemiah 4:3

Nehemiah 4:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
• New International Version (NIV)Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.”

Context of Nehemiah 4:3

1Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews 2before 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?” 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!” 4Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. 5Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from Your sight, for they have provoked the builders.

Nehemiah 4:3 word by word

וְטוֹבִיָּ֥ה הָעַמֹּנִ֖י אֶצְל֑וֹ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר גַּ֚ם אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֣ם בּוֹנִ֔ים אִם־יַעֲלֶ֣ה שׁוּעָ֔ל וּפָרַ֖ץ חוֹמַ֥ת אַבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ פRead the interlinear

• Then Tobiahטוֹבִיָּ֫הוּţôbîyâh ţôbîyâhû · TobiahH2900
• the Ammoniteעַמּוֹנִי‛ammônîy · AmmonH5984
• who was beside himאֵ֫צֶל'êtsel · besideH681
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Ifאִם'im · ifH518
• evenגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• a foxשׁוּעָלshû‛âl shû‛âl · foxH7776
• were to climb up onעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• whatאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• theyהֵ֫מָּהhêm hêmmâh · they(masc.)H1992
• are buildingבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• it would break downפָּרַץpârats · to break throughH6555
• their wallחוֹמָהchômâh · wallH2346
• of stonesאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68

Cross-references for Nehemiah 4:3

• Nehemiah 2:10But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.
• Nehemiah 6:1When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates—
• 1 Kings 20:10Then Ben-hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if enough dust remains of Samaria for each of my men to have a handful.”
• 2 Kings 18:23Now, therefore, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you two thousand horses—if you can put riders on them!

Commentaries on Nehemiah 4:3

• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. if a fox go up--The foxes were mentioned because they were known to infest in great numbers the ruined and desolate places in the mount and city of Zion (La 5:18).Read the comment

Topics related to Nehemiah 4:3

• Fox
• Sarcasm
• Stones
• Tobiah

In the dictionaries

• Ammonite
• Ammon, Ammonite
• Armour
• Sanballat
• Ammon; Ammonites
• Esdras, the First Book of
• Fox
• Vine

Commentaries on Nehemiah 4

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings