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

17So I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned. Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” 18I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me, and what the king had said to me. They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and their hands were strengthened to do this good work. When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked and despised us, and said, “What is this you’re doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20I gave them this reply, “The God of the heavens is the one who will grant us success. We, his servants, will start building, but you have no share, right, or historic claim 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 that someone had come to pursue the prosperity of the Israelites, they were greatly displeased.
• Nehemiah 6:1When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gap was left in it — though at that time I had not installed the doors in the city gates —
• Nehemiah 6:9For they were all trying to intimidate us, saying, “They will drop their hands from the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.
• Job 30:1But now they mock me, men younger than I am, whose fathers I would have refused to put with my sheep dogs.
• Psalms 44:13You make us an object of reproach to our neighbors, a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us.
• Psalms 79:4We have become an object of reproach to our neighbors, a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us.
• Psalms 80:6You put us at odds with our neighbors; our enemies mock us.
• Jeremiah 20:8For whenever I speak, I cry out, I proclaim, “Violence and destruction!” so the word of the Lord has become my constant disgrace and derision.
• Mark 5:40They laughed at him, but he put them all outside. He took the child’s father, mother, and those who were with him, and entered the place where the child was.
• Hebrews 11:36Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment.
• Nehemiah 6:6In it was written: It is reported among the nations — and Geshem agrees — that you and the Jews plan to rebel. This is the reason you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king
• Ezra 4:15that a search should be made in your predecessors’ record books. In these record books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces. There have been revolts in it since ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.
• Luke 23:2They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”
• John 19:12From that moment Pilate kept trying to release him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!”
• Acts 24:5For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the 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