New Living Translation
Nehemiah 6:5
5The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with 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 replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” 4Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, 6and this is what it said: “There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. 7He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’ “You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.”
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, Shebna, and Joah said to the Assyrian chief of staff, “Please speak to us in Aramaic, for we understand it well. Don’t speak in Hebrew, for the people on the wall will hear.”
- 2 Corinthians 2:11so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.
- Ephesians 6:11Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.
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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