Nehemiah 4:2

What does Nehemiah 4:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Nehemiah 4:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Nehemiah 4:2 means

Sanballat publicly belittles the Jews before his allies, calling them “feeble” and questioning every dimension of their effort—whether they can defend themselves, worship rightly, finish quickly, or reclaim ruined materials. His questions are not honest inquiries but intended to plant doubts. He attacks their capability, faith, timetable, and resources. The burned stones and heaps of rubbish symbolize years of devastation, seemingly beyond recovery. Yet the questions highlight the very things God will enable them to do: fortify, sacrifice, complete, and rebuild from ruins. Opposition often exaggerates obstacles and ignores God’s help, but the taunts inadvertently frame the miracle that perseverance will display.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burned?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And in the hearing of his countrymen and the army of Samaria he said, What are these feeble Jews doing? will they make themselves strong? will they make offerings? will they get the work done in a day? will they make the stones which have been burned come again out of the dust?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and saith before his brethren and the force of Samaria, yea, he saith, `What <FI>are<Fi> the weak Jews doing? are they left to themselves? do they sacrifice? do they complete in a day? do they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish? --and they burnt!'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And said before his brethren, and the multitude of the Samaritans: What are the silly Jews doing? Will the Gentiles let them alone? will they sacrifice and make an end in a day? are they able to raise stones out of the heaps of the rubbish, which are burnt?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? shall they be permitted to go on? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, when they are burned?

Context

Following the initial mockery of verse 1, verse 2 records the content of Sanballat’s scornful rhetoric, delivered “before his brethren and the army of Samaria,” raising the stakes by rallying a crowd. This prepares for Tobiah’s added insult in verse 3. The narrative builds a stack of derision before showing Nehemiah’s answer—not by trading insults, but by turning to God in prayer (verses 4–5). The reader should note how the verbal assault targets morale, setting up the counter-move of prayerful resolve and continued work in verse 6.

v.1But 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.

v.2This passage

v.3Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1 Samuel 17:43
And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
1 Corinthians 1:27
but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;
Ezekiel 37:3
And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord Jehovah, thou knowest.
Zechariah 12:8
In that day shall Jehovah defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of Jehovah before them.
Habakkuk 3:2
O Jehovah, I have heard the report of thee, and am afraid: O Jehovah, revive thy work in the midst of the years; In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.
Ezra 4:9
then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,

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