New English Translation
Nehemiah 6:5
5The fifth time that Sanballat sent his assistant to me in this way, he had an open letter in his hand.
Nehemiah 6:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;
- New International Version (NIV)Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter
- English Standard Version (ESV)In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.
Context of Nehemiah 6:5
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?” 4They contacted me four times in this way, and I responded the same way each time. The fifth time that Sanballat sent his assistant to me in this way, he had an open letter in his hand. 6Written in it were the following words: “Among the nations it is rumored (and Geshem has substantiated this) that you and the Jews have intentions of revolting, and for this reason you are building the wall. Furthermore, according to these rumors you are going to become their king. 7You have also established prophets to announce in Jerusalem on your behalf, ‘We have a king in Judah!’ Now the king is going to hear about these rumors. So come on! Let’s talk about this.”
Read all of Nehemiah 6Nehemiah 6:5 word by word
וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ אֵלַ֨י סַנְבַלַּ֜ט כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֛ה פַּ֥עַם חֲמִישִׁ֖ית אֶֽת־נַעֲר֑וֹ וְאִגֶּ֥רֶת פְּתוּחָ֖ה בְּיָדֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- Sanballatסַנְבַלַּטsanballaţ · SanballatH5571
- his servantנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
- unto me in like mannerדָּבָרdâbâr · ChroniclesH1697
- the fifthחֲמִישִׁיchămîyshîy chămishshîy · fifthH2549
- timeפַּ֫עַםpa‛am pa‛ămâh · beatH6471
- with an openפָּתַחpâthach · to openH6605
- letterאִגֶּ֫רֶת'iggereth · letterH107
- in his handיָדyâd · handH3027
Cross-references for Nehemiah 6:5
- 2 Kings 18:26Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the chief adviser, “Speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Don’t speak with us in the Judahite dialect in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”
- 2 Corinthians 2:11so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).
- 2 Corinthians 11:13For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
- Ephesians 6:11Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved.
Commentaries on Nehemiah 6:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5With an open letter in his hand - This was an insult to a person of Nehemiah's quality: as letters sent to chiefs and governors in the East are always carefully folded up, and put in costly silken bags, and these carefully sealed. The circumstance is thus marked to show the contempt he (Sanballat) had for him.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5The letter was “open,” in order that the contents might be generally known, and that the Jews, alarmed at the threats contained in it, might refuse to continue the work.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. 5-95-9. Then sent Sanballat his servant ... the fifth time with an open letter in his hand--In Western Asia, letters, after being rolled up like a map, are flattened to the breadth of an inch; and instead of being sealed, they are pasted at the ends. In Eastern Asia, the Persians make up their letters in the form of a roll about six inches long, and a bit of paper is fastened round it with gum, and sealed with an impression of ink, which resembles our…Read the comment
Topics related to Nehemiah 6:5
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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