New International Version
Nehemiah 6:5
5Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter
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;
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand,
Context of Nehemiah 6:5
3so 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?” 4Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer. Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter 6in which was written: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king 7and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together.”
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 18:26Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”
- 2 Corinthians 2:11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
- Ephesians 6:11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so 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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