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

(3:33) Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he became angry and was quite upset. He derided the Jews, 2and in the presence of his colleagues and the army of Samaria he said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they be left to themselves? Will they again offer sacrifice? Will they finish this in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones to life again from piles of dust?” 3Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was close by, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”

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 all this, they were very displeased that someone had come to seek benefit for the Israelites.
• Ezra 4:1When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin learned that the former exiles were building a temple for the Lord God of Israel,
• Acts 5:17Now the high priest rose up, and all those with him (that is, the religious party of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.
• Psalms 35:15But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together to ambush me. They tore at me without stopping to rest.
• Psalms 44:13You made us an object of disdain to our neighbors; those who live on our borders taunt and insult us.
• Matthew 27:29and after braiding a crown of thorns, they put it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand, and kneeling down before him, they mocked him: “Hail, king of the Jews!”
• Hebrews 11:36And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains 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