Nehemiah 2:19
What does Nehemiah 2:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 2:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 2:19 means
As soon as the rebuilding gains traction, opposition hardens. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem mock and despise the effort, framing it as rebellion against the king. Their tactic is classic: ridicule to sap morale and a political accusation to frighten leaders. They aim to delegitimize the work by suggesting it violates imperial authority. The verse warns that even lawful, God-honoring endeavors attract slander. The enemies’ question is not sincere inquiry but intimidation. It seeks to stall the work before it starts, exploiting fear of treason charges in a province under Persian control.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
KJV
King James Version · 1611But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, hearing of it, made sport of us, laughing at us and saying, What are you doing? will you go against the king?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Sanballat the Horonite heareth, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, and they mock at us, and despise us, and say, `What <FI>is<Fi> this thing that ye are doing? against the king are ye rebelling?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But Sanaballat the Horonite, and Tobias the servant, the Ammonite, and Gossem the Arabian heard of it, and they scoffed at us, and despised us, and said: What is this thing that you do? are you going to rebel against the king?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobijah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it; and they mocked us and despised us, and said, What is this thing which ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
Context
This challenge comes right after the people commit to build. The timing underscores that momentum invites resistance. The accusation of rebellion contrasts sharply with the king’s letters and favor reported earlier. This tension prepares for Nehemiah’s firm reply in the next verse, where he will ground the project’s legitimacy in God’s sovereignty and deny the opponents any claim within Jerusalem.
v.18And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also of the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
v.19This passage
v.20Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 19:12
Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Cæsar’s friend: every one that maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar.
- Job 30:1
But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, Whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
- Nehemiah 6:1
Now it came to pass, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and unto the rest of our enemies, that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein (though even unto that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),
- Nehemiah 6:9
For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands.
- Nehemiah 4:1
But it came to pass that, when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
- Hebrews 11:36
and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
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