Nehemiah 6 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Conspiracy Against Nehemiah

6 Now it happened (A)when Sanballat, Tobiah, [a]Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (B)(though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), 2 that Sanballat and [b]Geshem (C)sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together [c]among the villages in the plain of (D)Ono.” But they (E)thought to do me harm.

3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”

4 But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner.

5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written:

It is reported among the nations, and [d]Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, (F)that you may be their king. 7 And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!” Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together.

8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.”

9 For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.”

Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

10 Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the [e]temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.”

11 And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!” 12 Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that (G)he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

14 (H)My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the (I)prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid.

The Wall Completed

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And it happened, (J)when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for (K)they perceived that this work was done by our God.

17 Also in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them. 18 For many in Judah were pledged to him, because he was the (L)son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of (M)Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and reported my [f]words to him. Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 6:1 Or Gashmu
  2. Nehemiah 6:2 Or Gashmu
  3. Nehemiah 6:2 Or in Kephirim, exact location unknown
  4. Nehemiah 6:6 Heb. Gashmu
  5. Nehemiah 6:10 Lit. house
  6. Nehemiah 6:19 Or affairs

Cross references

  1. Nehemiah 6:1 : Neh. 2:10, 19; 4:1, 7; 13:28
  2. Nehemiah 6:1 : Neh. 3:1, 3
  3. Nehemiah 6:2 : Prov. 26:24, 25
  4. Nehemiah 6:2 : 1 Chr. 8:12; Neh. 11:35
  5. Nehemiah 6:2 : Ps. 37:12, 32
  6. Nehemiah 6:6 : Neh. 2:19
  7. Nehemiah 6:12 : Ezek. 13:22
  8. Nehemiah 6:14 : Neh. 13:29
  9. Nehemiah 6:14 : Ezek. 13:17
  10. Nehemiah 6:16 : Neh. 2:10, 20; 4:1, 7; 6:1
  11. Nehemiah 6:16 : Ps. 126:2
  12. Nehemiah 6:18 : Neh. 13:4, 28
  13. Nehemiah 6:18 : Ezra 10:15; Neh. 3:4

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Nehemiah 6 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

6 And it cometh to pass, when it hath been heard by Sanballat, and Tobiah, and by Geshem the Arabian, and by the rest of our enemies, that I have builded the wall, and there hath not been left in it a breach, (also, till that time the doors I had not set up in the gates,) 2 that Sanballat sendeth, a...
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Nehemiah 6 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

6 Forsooth it was done, when Sanballat had heard, and Tobiah, and Geshem of Arabia, and our other enemies, that I had builded (again) the wall, and no more breaking was therein; and unto that time I had not set up the leaves of shutting of the gates; (And it was done, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and...
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Nehemiah 6 - World English Bible (WEB)

6 Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates) 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come! Let’s m...
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Nehemiah 6 - The Voice (VOICE)

6 Once again, we found that our progress had been reported to our enemies. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab (as well as the rest of our adversaries) heard that under my leadership the wall had been rebuilt. Not one gap remained (though the doors still had to be hung on the gates). 2 Sanballat...
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Nehemiah 6 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Attempts to Intimidate Nehemiah6 Now it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and no breach remained in it—even though at that time I had not positioned the doors in the gates. 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent word to me, saying, “...
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Nehemiah 6 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Intrigues of Enemies Foiled6 Now when it was reported to Sanbal′lat and Tobi′ah and to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanbal′lat and Geshem sent to...
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Nehemiah 6 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Intrigues of Enemies Foiled6 Now when it was reported to Sanbal′lat and Tobi′ah and to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanbal′lat and Geshem sent to...
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Nehemiah 6 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Intrigues of Enemies Foiled6 Now when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah and to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that there was no gap left in it (though up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, say...
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Nehemiah 6 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Intrigues of Enemies Foiled6 Now when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah and to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that there was no gap left in it (though up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),(A)2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, sa...
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Nehemiah 6 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Continued Opposition to Rebuilding6 Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one ...
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Nehemiah 6 - New Life Version (NLV)

Neighbors Do Not Want the Wall Built6 It was told to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and to the rest of those who hated us that I had built the wall again. They were told that the wall had no more open places, but I had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent word ...
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Nehemiah 6 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Conspiracy Against Nehemiah6 Now it happened (A)when Sanballat, Tobiah, [a]Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (B)(though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), 2 that Sanballat and [b]Geshem (C)sent ...
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Nehemiah 6 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Further opposition to the rebuilding6 When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it – though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates – 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: ‘Come, let us ...
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Nehemiah 6 - New International Version (NIV)

Further Opposition to the Rebuilding6 When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah,(A) Geshem(B) the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates— 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let u...
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Nehemiah 6 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Nehemiah’s Enemies Continue to Oppose the Rebuilding6 Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem, the Arab, heard about what I had done. So did the rest of our enemies. All of them heard I had rebuilt the wall. In fact, they heard there weren’t any gaps left in it. But up to that time I hadn’t put up the gates at...
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Nehemiah 6 - New English Translation (NET)

Opposition to the Rebuilding Efforts Continues6 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and no breach remained in it (even though up to that time I had not positioned doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent word to me saying, “...
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