New English Translation
Nehemiah 4:3
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 4:3 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
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?” Then 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!” 4Hear, O our God, for we are despised! Return their reproach on their own head! Reduce them to plunder in a land of exile! 5Do not cover their iniquity, and do not wipe out their sin from before them. For they have bitterly offended the builders!
Read all of Nehemiah 4Nehemiah 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 2:10When 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.
- Nehemiah 6:1When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and no breach remained in it (even though up to that time I had not positioned doors in the gates),
- 1 Kings 20:10Ben Hadad sent another message to him, “May the gods judge me severely if there is enough dirt left in Samaria for my soldiers to scoop up in their hands.”
- 2 Kings 18:23Now make a deal with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, provided you can find enough riders for them.
Commentaries on Nehemiah 4:3
Topics related to Nehemiah 4:3
In the dictionaries
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries