Nehemiah 6:3

Nehemiah 6:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
• New International Version (NIV)so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”

Context of Nehemiah 6:3

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). 2Then Sanballat and Geshem sent this message to me: “Let’s meet in Hakkephirim on the plain of Ono.” They were planning to harm me. I sent messengers to tell them, “I’m working on an important project and can’t get away. Why should the work stop while I leave to meet with you?” 4They sent the same message to me four times, and I answered them the same way. 5When Sanballat sent me the same message a fifth time, his servant held in his hand an unsealed letter.

Nehemiah 6:3 word by word

וָאֶשְׁלְחָ֨ה עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם מַלְאָכִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מְלָאכָ֤ה גְדוֹלָה֙ אֲנִ֣י עֹשֶׂ֔ה וְלֹ֥א אוּכַ֖ל לָרֶ֑דֶת לָ֣מָּה תִשְׁבַּ֤ת הַמְּלָאכָה֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר אַרְפֶּ֔הָ וְיָרַדְתִּ֖י אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And I sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• messengersמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messengerH4397
• unto them, sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• doingעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• a greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• workמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399
• so that I cannotיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• come downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
• ceaseשָׁבַתshâbath · to ceaseH7673
• whilstכַּאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · as whichH834
• I leaveרָפָהrâphâh · to slackenH7503

Cross-references for Nehemiah 6:3

• Proverbs 14:15A gullible person believes anything, but a sensible person watches his step.
• Matthew 10:16“I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as snakes but as innocent as doves.
• Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever presents itself for you to do, do it with ⌞all⌟ your might, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or skill in the grave where you’re going.
• Luke 14:30They’ll say, ‘This person started to build but couldn’t finish the job.’
• John 9:4We must do what the one who sent me wants us to do while it is day. The night when no one can do anything is coming.
• 1 Timothy 4:15Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 6:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3I am doing a great work - Though he knew their design, he does not think it prudent to mention it. Had he done so, they would probably have gone to extremities, finding that they were discovered; and perhaps in a formidable body attacked Jerusalem, when ill provided to sustain such a shock. They wished to effect their purpose rather by treachery than by open violence. I know not any language which a man who is employed on important labors can use more…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-19After solving the financial crisis (see Nehemiah 5), the story shifts back to how those against rebuilding tried to scare or stop Nehemiah.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-192-4. Then Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me--The Samaritan leaders, convinced that they could not overcome Nehemiah by open arms, resolved to gain advantage over him by deceit and stratagem. With this in view, under pretext of terminating their differences in an amicable manner, they invited him to a conference. The place of rendezvous was fixed "in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono." "In the villages" is, Hebrew, "in Cephirim," or "Chephirah,"…Read the comment

Topics related to Nehemiah 6:3

• Fellowship
• Geshem
• Liberality
• Tobiah

In the dictionaries

• Feign
• Noble
• Versions, Georgian, Gothic, Slavonic

Commentaries on Nehemiah 6

• 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