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 we were rebuilding the wall, he became enraged and made fun of the Jews. 2In front of his allies and the army from Samaria, he said, “What do these miserable Jews think they’re doing? Can they rebuild it by themselves? Are they going to offer sacrifices? Can they finish it in a day? Will they get the stones out of the rubbish heaps, burned as these stones are, and give them new strength?” 3Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside Sanballat, said, “Even a fox would make their stone wall collapse if it walked on top of what they’re building!”

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 2:10But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, they were very upset that someone had come to give the people of Israel so much assistance.
• Ezra 4:1When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people who returned from exile were building a temple for the Lord God of Israel,
• Acts 5:17The chief priest and the whole party of the Sadducees who were with him were extremely jealous. So they took action
• Psalms 35:15Yet, when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together. They gathered together against me. Unknown attackers tore me apart without stopping.
• Psalms 44:13You made us a disgrace to our neighbors and an object of ridicule and contempt to those around us.
• Matthew 27:29They twisted some thorns into a crown, placed it on his head, and put a stick in his right hand. They knelt in front of him and made fun of him by saying, “Long live the king of the Jews!”
• Hebrews 11:36Some were made fun of and whipped, and some were chained and put in prison.

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