New English Translation
Nehemiah 6:11
11But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Would someone like me flee to the temple in order to save his life? I will not go!”
Nehemiah 6:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.
- New International Version (NIV)But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!”
- English Standard Version (ESV)But I said, "Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!”
Context of Nehemiah 6:11
9All of them were wanting to scare us, supposing, “Their hands will grow slack from the work, and it won’t get done.” So now, strengthen my hands! 10Then I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel. He was confined to his home. He said, “Let’s set up a time to meet in the house of God, within the temple. Let’s close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. It will surely be at night that they will come to kill you.” But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Would someone like me flee to the temple in order to save his life? I will not go!” 12I recognized the fact that God had not sent him, for he had spoken the prophecy against me as a hired agent of Tobiah and Sanballat. 13He had been hired to scare me so that I would do this and thereby sin. They would thus bring reproach on me and I would be discredited.
Read all of Nehemiah 6Nehemiah 6:11 word by word
וָאֹמְרָ֗ה הַאִ֤ישׁ כָּמ֙וֹנִי֙ יִבְרָ֔ח וּמִ֥י כָמ֛וֹנִי אֲשֶׁר־יָב֥וֹא אֶל־הַהֵיכָ֖ל וָחָ֑י לֹ֖א אָבֽוֹא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Nehemiah 6:11
- Nehemiah 6:3So I sent messengers to them saying, “I am engaged in an important work, and I am unable to come down. Why should the work come to a halt when I leave it to come down to you?”
- 1 Samuel 19:5He risked his life when he struck down the Philistine and the Lord gave all Israel a great victory. When you saw it, you were happy. So why would you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death for no reason?”
- Job 4:3Look, you have instructed many; you have strengthened feeble hands.
- Psalms 11:1In the Lord I have taken shelter. How can you say to me, “Flee to a mountain like a bird!
- Psalms 112:6For he will never be upended; others will always remember one who is just.
- Proverbs 28:1The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing, but the righteous person is as confident as a lion.
- Isaiah 10:18The splendor of his forest and his orchard will be completely destroyed, as when a sick man’s life ebbs away.
- Luke 13:31At that time, some Pharisees came up and said to Jesus, “Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you.”
- Acts 8:1And Saul agreed completely with killing him. Now on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.
- Acts 20:24But I do not consider my life worth anything to myself, so that I may finish my task and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.
- Acts 21:13Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
- Hebrews 11:27By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king’s anger, for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible.
- Nehemiah 6:9All of them were wanting to scare us, supposing, “Their hands will grow slack from the work, and it won’t get done.” So now, strengthen my hands!
- Numbers 32:7Why do you frustrate the intent of the Israelites to cross over into the land which the Lord has given them?
- Ecclesiastes 10:1One dead fly makes the perfumer’s ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom.
- Philippians 2:17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice together with all of you.
Commentaries on Nehemiah 6:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Should such a man as I flee? - Shall I, who am governor of the people, appointed both by God and the king, shall I betray my trust, and leave the flock without a shepherd? Shall I be a traitor, and abandon the office to which I am appointed? - No! Who, in my situation, with such responsibility, and such prospects, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not: I will stand at my post, and be ready to receive my enemies whensoever they come; so let…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Would go into the temple to save his life - Rather “could go into the temple and live.” For a layman to enter the sanctuary was a capital offence (see Numbers 18:7).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-14Verses 10-14 The greatest mischief our enemies can do us, is, to frighten us from our duty, and to lead us to do what is sinful. Let us never decline a good work, never do a bad one. We ought to try all advice, and to reject what is contrary to the word of God. Every man should study to be consistent. Should I, a professed Christian, called to be a saint, a child of God, a member of Christ, a temple of the Holy Ghost, should I be covetous, sensual, proud…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11A good leader does not run from danger but stands as an example for their people.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-1410-14. Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah, &c.--This man was the son of a priest, who was an intimate and confidential friend of Nehemiah. The young man claimed to be endowed with the gift of prophecy. Having been secretly bribed by Sanballat, he, in his pretended capacity of prophet, told Nehemiah that his enemies were that night to make an attempt upon his life. He advised him, at the same time, to consult his safety by concealing himself in…Read the comment
Topics related to Nehemiah 6:11
In the dictionaries
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
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