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

1When 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?” Tobiah 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!” 4⌞Nehemiah prayed,⌟ “Our God, hear us. We are despised. Turn their insults back on them, and let them be robbed in the land where they are prisoners. 5Don’t ignore their guilt, and don’t let their sins disappear from your records. They have insulted you in front of these builders.”

Nehemiah 4:3 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Now Tobiahטוֹבִיָּ֫הוּţôbîyâh ţôbîyâhû · TobiahH2900
• the Ammoniteעַמּוֹנִי‛ammônîy · AmmonH5984
• by himאֵ֫צֶל'êtsel · besideH681
• and he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Even that which they buildבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• if a foxשׁוּעָלshû‛âl shû‛âl · foxH7776
• go upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• he shall even break downפָּרַץpârats · to break throughH6555
• their stoneאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
• wallחוֹמָהchômâh · wallH2346

Cross-references for Nehemiah 4:3

• 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.
• Nehemiah 6:1Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gaps had been left in it (although at that time I had not yet hung the doors in the city gates).
• 1 Kings 20:10Then Benhadad sent Ahab the following message: “May the gods strike me dead if there will be enough dust left from Samaria to give a handful to each soldier who follows me.”
• 2 Kings 18:23“Now, make a deal with my master, the king of Assyria. I’ll give you 2,000 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
• Armour
• Sanballat
• 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