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

17And I said to them, Ye see the distress that we are in, that Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. 18And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me; as also of the king's words which he had said unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. And they strengthened their hands for the good [work]. And Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobijah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it; and they mocked us and despised us, and said, What is this thing which ye do? will ye rebel against the king? 20And I answered them, and said to them, The God of the heavens, he will prosper us, and we his servants will arise and build; but ye have no portion, nor right, nor 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

• Sanballatסַנְבַלַּטsanballaţ · SanballatH5571
• Horoniteחֹרֹנִיchôrônîy · HoroniteH2772
• servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• Ammoniteעַמּוֹנִי‛ammônîy · AmmonH5984
• Geshemגֶּ֫שֶׁםgeshem gashmû · GeshemH1654
• heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• mockedלָעַגlâ‛ag · to mockH3932
• despisedבָּזָהbâzâh · to despiseH959
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• rebelמָרַדmârad · to rebelH4775
• kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428

Cross-references for Nehemiah 2:19

• Nehemiah 2:10And when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobijah the servant, the Ammonite, heard [of it], it grieved them exceedingly that there had come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
• Nehemiah 6:1And it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobijah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),
• Nehemiah 6:9For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be slackened from the work, that it be not carried out. — Now therefore strengthen my hands!
• Job 30:1But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
• Psalms 44:13Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a mockery and a derision for them that are round about us;
• Psalms 79:4We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a mockery and a derision to them that are round about us.
• Psalms 80:6Thou hast made us a strife unto our neighbours, and our enemies mock among themselves.
• Jeremiah 20:8For as oft as I speak, I cry out; I proclaim violence and spoil; for the word of Jehovah is become unto me a reproach and a derision all the day.
• Mark 5:40And they derided him. But he, having put [them] all out, takes with [him] the father of the child, and the mother, and those that were with him, and enters in where the child was lying.
• Hebrews 11:36and others underwent trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, and of bonds and imprisonment.
• Nehemiah 6:6in which was written: It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says [it, that] thou and the Jews think to rebel, for which cause thou buildest the wall, and according to these words thou wilt become their king.
• Ezra 4:15that search may be made in the book of the annals of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the annals and know that this city is a rebellious city, which has done damage to kings and provinces, and that they have raised sedition within the same of old time, for which cause this city was destroyed.
• Luke 23:2And they began to accuse him, saying, We have found this [man] perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ, a king.
• John 19:12From this time Pilate sought to release him; but the Jews cried out saying, If thou releasest this [man], thou art not a friend to Caesar. Every one making himself a king speaks against Caesar.
• Acts 24:5For finding this man a pest, and moving sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazaraeans;

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
• Geshem
• Horonite
• Laugh
• Moabite
• Reproach
• Sanballat
• Scorn
• Ezra-Nehemiah

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