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

Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” 3Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”

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 2:10But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.
• Ezra 4:1The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel.
• Acts 5:17The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
• Psalms 35:15But they are glad now that I am in trouble; they gleefully join together against me. I am attacked by people I don’t even know; they slander me constantly.
• Psalms 44:13You let our neighbors mock us. We are an object of scorn and derision to those around us.
• Matthew 27:29They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!”
• Hebrews 11:36Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons.

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