Nehemiah

Nehemiah 6:6–13

6that read:

“It is reported among the nations— and Geshemc agrees— that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king, 7and you have even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ Soon these rumors will reach the ears of the king. So come, let us confer together.”

8Then I sent him this reply: “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.”

9For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.”

But now, my God,d strengthen my hands.

10Later, I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his house. He said:

“Let us meet at the house of God

inside the temple.

Let us shut the temple doors

because they are coming to kill you —

by night they are coming to kill you!”

11But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Should one like me go into the temple to save his own life? I will not go!”

12I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would sin by doing as he suggested, so they could give me a bad name in order to discredit me.

Footnotes

  • c 6:6 Hebrew Gashmu, a variant of Geshem; see verse 1.
  • d 6:9 Hebrew But now; for clarity, my God has been included.

Read all of Nehemiah 6

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Nehemiah 6:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
that readכָּת֣וּבkā·ṯūḇVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularH3789 write
It is reportedנִשְׁמָע֙niš·mā‘Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH8085 hear
among the nationsבַּגּוֹיִ֤םbag·gō·w·yimPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine pluralH1471 nation, people
and Geshemוְגַשְׁמ֣וּwə·ḡaš·mūConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1654 Geshem, Gashmu
agreesאֹמֵ֔ר’ō·mêrVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH559 utter, say
that youאַתָּ֤ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
and the Jewsוְהַיְּהוּדִים֙wə·hay·yə·hū·ḏîmConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - proper - masculine pluralH3064 Jewish
are plottingחֹשְׁבִ֣יםḥō·šə·ḇîmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH2803 think, account
to revoltלִמְר֔וֹדlim·rō·wḏPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH4775 rebel
this is whyעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
youאַתָּ֥ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
are buildingבוֹנֶ֖הḇō·w·nehVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH1129 build
the wallהַחוֹמָ֑הha·ḥō·w·māhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH2346 wall
According to theseהָאֵֽלֶּה׃hā·’êl·lehArticle; Pronoun - common pluralH428 these
reportsכַּדְּבָרִ֖יםkad·də·ḇā·rîmPreposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine pluralH1697 speech, word
youוְאַתָּ֗הwə·’at·tāhConjunctive waw; Pronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
are to becomeהֹוֶ֤הhō·wehVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH1933 fall
theirלָהֶם֙lā·hemPreposition; third person masculine plural
kingלְמֶ֔לֶךְlə·me·leḵPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king

Nehemiah 6:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
and you have evenוְגַם־wə·ḡam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
appointedהֶעֱמַ֣דְתָּhe·‘ĕ·maḏ·tāVerb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singularH5975 take one's stand, stand
prophetsנְבִיאִ֡יםnə·ḇî·’îmNoun - masculine pluralH5030 spokesman, speaker, prophet
in Jerusalemבִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֜םḇî·rū·šā·limPreposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singularH3389 Jerusalem
to proclaimלִקְרֹא֩liq·rōPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH7121 call, proclaim, read
on your behalfעָלֶ֨יךָ‘ā·le·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singularH5921 height
There is a kingמֶ֚לֶךְme·leḵNoun - masculine singularH4428 king
in Judahבִּֽיהוּדָ֔הbî·hū·ḏāhPreposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3063 Judah
Soonוְעַתָּ֣הwə·‘at·tāhConjunctive waw; AdverbH6258 now
theseהָאֵ֑לֶּהhā·’êl·lehArticle; Pronoun - common pluralH428 these
rumorsכַּדְּבָרִ֣יםkad·də·ḇā·rîmPreposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine pluralH1697 speech, word
will reach the earsיִשָּׁמַ֣עyiš·šā·ma‘Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH8085 hear
of the kingלַמֶּ֔לֶךְlam·me·leḵPreposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
Soוְעַתָּה֙wə·‘at·tāhConjunctive waw; AdverbH6258 now
comeלְכָ֔הlə·ḵāhVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singularH1980 go, come, walk
let us conferוְנִֽוָּעֲצָ֖הwə·niw·wā·‘ă·ṣāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common pluralH3289 advise, counsel
togetherיַחְדָּֽו׃סyaḥ·dāwAdverbH3162 unitedness

Nehemiah 6:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then I sentוָאֶשְׁלְחָ֤הwā·’eš·lə·ḥāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singularH7971 send
himאֵלָיו֙’ê·lāwPreposition; third person masculine singularH413 motion to
this replyלֵאמֹ֔רlê·mōrPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH559 utter, say
There isנִֽהְיָה֙nih·yāhVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
nothingלֹ֤אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
to theseהָאֵ֔לֶּהhā·’êl·lehArticle; Pronoun - common pluralH428 these
rumorsכַּדְּבָרִ֣יםkad·də·ḇā·rîmPreposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine pluralH1697 speech, word
youאַתָּ֣ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
are spreadingאוֹמֵ֑ר’ō·w·mêrVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH559 utter, say
youאַתָּ֥ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
are inventing themבוֹדָֽאם׃ḇō·ḏå̄mVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH908 devise, invent
in your own mindמִֽלִּבְּךָ֖mil·lib·bə·ḵāPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH3820 inner man, mind, will, heart

Nehemiah 6:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Forכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
they were allכֻלָּ֗םḵul·lāmNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH3605 the whole, all
to frightenמְיָֽרְאִ֤יםmə·yā·rə·’îmVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine pluralH3372 fear
usאוֹתָ֙נוּ֙’ō·w·ṯā·nūDirect object marker; first person common pluralH853 mark of the accusative
sayingלֵאמֹ֔רlê·mōrPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH559 utter, say
Their handsיְדֵיהֶ֛םyə·ḏê·hemNoun - feminine dual construct; third person masculine pluralH3027 hand
will be weakenedיִרְפּ֧וּyir·pūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH7503 sink, relax
inמִן־min-PrepositionH4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the workהַמְּלָאכָ֖הham·mə·lā·ḵāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH4399 occupation, work
and it will neverוְלֹ֣אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
be finishedתֵעָשֶׂ֑הṯê·‘ā·śehVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularH6213 do, make
But nowוְעַתָּ֖הwə·‘at·tāhConjunctive waw; AdverbH6258 now
my Godוְעַתָּ֖הwə·‘at·tāhConjunctive waw; AdverbH6258 now
strengthenחַזֵּ֥קḥaz·zêqVerb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singularH2388 be or grow firm, strong, strengthen
my handsיָדָֽי׃yā·ḏāyNoun - feminine dual construct; first person common singularH3027 hand

Nehemiah 6:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Laterוַאֲנִי־wa·’ă·nî-Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singularH589 I
Iוַאֲנִי־wa·’ă·nî-Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singularH589 I
wentבָ֗אתִיḇā·ṯîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
to the houseבֵּ֣יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
of Shemaiahשְֽׁמַֽעְיָ֧הšə·ma‘·yāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH8098 Shemajah
sonבֶן־ḇen-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Delaiahדְּלָיָ֛הdə·lā·yāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH1806 Delajah
the sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Mehetabelמְהֵֽיטַבְאֵ֖לmə·hê·ṭaḇ·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH4105 Mehetabel
whoוְה֣וּאwə·hūConjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
was confinedעָצ֑וּר‘ā·ṣūrVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularH6113 restrain, retain
to his houseוַיֹּ֡אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
He saidוַיֹּ֡אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Let us meetנִוָּעֵד֩niw·wā·‘êḏVerb - Nifal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common pluralH3259 appoint
atאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the houseבֵּ֨יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֜יםhā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
insideאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the templeהַֽהֵיכָ֗לha·hê·ḵālArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1964 palace, temple
Let us shutוְנִסְגְּרָה֙wə·nis·gə·rāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common pluralH5462 shut, close
the templeהַהֵיכָ֔לha·hê·ḵālArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1964 palace, temple
doorsדַּלְת֣וֹתdal·ṯō·wṯNoun - feminine plural constructH1817 door
becauseכִּ֚יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
they are comingבָּאִ֣יםbā·’îmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
to kill youלְהָרְגֶ֔ךָlə·hā·rə·ḡe·ḵāPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singularH2026 kill, slay
by nightוְלַ֖יְלָהwə·lay·lāhConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH3915 twist, night, adversity
they are comingבָּאִ֥יםbā·’îmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
to kill youלְהָרְגֶֽךָ׃lə·hā·rə·ḡe·ḵāPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singularH2026 kill, slay

Nehemiah 6:11

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But I repliedוָאֹמְרָ֗הwā·’ō·mə·rāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singularH559 utter, say
Should a manהַאִ֤ישׁha·’îšArticle; Noun - masculine singularH376 man
like meכָּמ֙וֹנִי֙kā·mō·w·nîPreposition; first person common singularH3644 like, as, when
run awayיִבְרָ֔חyiḇ·rāḥVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1272 go through, flee
Shouldוּמִ֥יū·mîConjunctive waw; InterrogativeH4310 who?
one like meכָמ֛וֹנִיḵā·mō·w·nîPreposition; first person common singularH3644 like, as, when
goיָב֥וֹאyā·ḇō·wVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
intoאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the templeהַהֵיכָ֖לha·hê·ḵālArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1964 palace, temple
to save his own lifeוָחָ֑יwā·ḥāyConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH2421 live
I will notלֹ֖אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
goאָבֽוֹא׃’ā·ḇō·wVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH935 come in, come, go in, go

Nehemiah 6:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
I realizedוָאַכִּ֕ירָהwā·’ak·kî·rāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singularH5234 regard, recognize
that Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
had notלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
sent himשְׁלָח֑וֹšə·lā·ḥōwVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singularH7971 send
but that he had utteredדִּבֶּ֣רdib·berVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1696 speak
prophecyהַנְּבוּאָה֙han·nə·ḇū·’āhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH5016 prophecy
against meעָלַ֔י‘ā·layPreposition; first person common singularH5921 height
becauseכִּ֤יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
Tobiahוְטוֹבִיָּ֥הwə·ṭō·w·ḇî·yāhConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH2900 Tobijah
and Sanballatוְסַנְבַלַּ֖טwə·san·ḇal·laṭConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH5571 Sanballat
had hired himשְׂכָרֽוֹ׃śə·ḵā·rōwVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singularH7936 hire

Nehemiah 6:13

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Heה֔וּאhūPronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
had been hiredשָׂכוּר֙śā·ḵūrVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularH7936 hire
toלְמַ֤עַןlə·ma·‘anPrepositionH4616 purpose, intent
intimidate meאִירָ֥א’î·rāVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH3372 fear
so that I would sinוְחָטָ֑אתִיwə·ḥā·ṭā·ṯîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularH2398 miss
by doingוְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־wə·’e·‘ĕ·śeh-Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singularH6213 do, make
as he suggestedכֵּ֖ןkênAdverbH3651 right, veritable, honest
so they could give meוְהָיָ֤הwə·hā·yāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a badרָ֔עrā‘Adjective - masculine singularH7451 bad, evil
nameלְשֵׁ֣םlə·šêmPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singularH8034 name
in order toלְמַ֖עַןlə·ma·‘anConjunctionH4616 purpose, intent
discredit meיְחָֽרְפֽוּנִי׃פyə·ḥā·rə·p̄ū·nîVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; first person common singularH2778 reproach

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Nehemiah 6:6 Nehemiah 2:19 · Romans 3:8 · 1 Peter 3:16 · Ezra 4:12

Nehemiah 6:7 Proverbs 26:24–26

Nehemiah 6:8 Psalm 52:2 · Job 13:4

Nehemiah 6:9 Psalm 138:3 · 2 Corinthians 12:9 · 1 Samuel 30:6 · Ephesians 6:10 · 1 Peter 5:10 · Philippians 4:13 · Nehemiah 4:10–14 · Isaiah 41:10 · Ephesians 3:16 · Hebrews 12:12 · Isaiah 35:3–4 · 2 Chronicles 15:7

Nehemiah 6:10 Jeremiah 36:5 · Matthew 7:15 · Psalm 37:12

Nehemiah 6:11 Proverbs 28:1 · Psalm 11:1–2 · Acts 21:13 · Philippians 2:17 · Psalm 112:6 · Acts 20:24 · Psalm 112:8 · Luke 13:31–33

Nehemiah 6:12 Ezekiel 13:22

Nehemiah 6:13 Jeremiah 20:10 · James 4:17 · 2 Corinthians 11:12 · 2 Timothy 1:7 · Nehemiah 6:6 · Proverbs 29:5 · 1 Timothy 5:14 · Isaiah 57:11 · Jeremiah 18:18 · Matthew 22:15 · Matthew 10:28 · Revelation 21:8

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.