Nehemiah 4:1

Nehemiah 4:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
• New International Version (NIV)When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews.

Context of Nehemiah 4:1

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews 2before his colleagues and the powerful men of Samaria and said, “What are these pathetic Jews doing? Can they restore it by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they ever finish it? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” 3Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “Indeed, even if a fox climbed up what they are building, he would break down their stone wall!”

Nehemiah 4:1 word by word

וַיְהִ֞י כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר שָׁמַ֣ע סַנְבַלַּ֗ט כִּֽי־אֲנַ֤חְנוּ בוֹנִים֙ אֶת־הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה וַיִּ֣חַר ל֔וֹ וַיִּכְעַ֖ס הַרְבֵּ֑ה וַיַּלְעֵ֖ג עַל־הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But it came to pass, that when Sanballatסַנְבַלַּטsanballaţ · SanballatH5571
• heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• that we buildedבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• the wallחוֹמָהchômâh · wallH2346
• he was wrothחָרָהchârâh · to be incensedH2734
• and took greatרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• indignationכָּעַסka‛as · to provokeH3707
• and mockedלָעַגlâ‛ag · to mockH3932
• the Jewsיְהוּדִיyehûdîy · JewH3064

Cross-references for Nehemiah 4:1

• 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.
• Ezra 4:1When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel,
• Acts 5:17Then the high priest rose up. He and all who were with him, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
• Psalms 35:15But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; they gathered against me. Assailants I did not know tore at me and did not stop.
• Psalms 44:13You make us an object of reproach to our neighbors, a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us.
• Matthew 27:29They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and placed a staff in his right hand. And they knelt down before him and mocked him: “Hail, king of the Jews!”
• Hebrews 11:36Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 4:1

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Opposition of Sanballat and others. (1-6) The designs of the adversaries. (7-15) Nehemiah's precautions. (16-23) Verses 1-6 Many a good work has been looked upon with contempt by proud and haughty scorners. Those who disagree in almost every thing, will unite in persecution. Nehemiah did not answer these fools according to their folly, but looked up to God by prayer. God's people have often been a despised people, but he hears all the slights that are put…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-61. when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth--The Samaritan faction showed their bitter animosity to the Jews on discovering the systematic design of refortifying Jerusalem. Their opposition was confined at first to scoffs and insults, in heaping which the governors made themselves conspicuous, and circulated all sorts of disparaging reflections that might increase the feelings of hatred and contempt for them in their own party. The…Read the comment

Topics related to Nehemiah 4:1

• Scoffing

In the dictionaries

• Armour
• Moabite
• Sanballat
• Ammon; Ammonites
• Dispersion, the
• Esdras, the First Book of
• Mock; Mocker; Mocking
• Take

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