But I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!”
Parallel translations
- WEB I said, “Should a man like me flee? Who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.”
- KJV And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.
- BSB But 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!”
- NKJV 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!”
- NASB But I said, “Should a man like me flee? And who is there like me who would go into the temple to save his own life? I will not go in.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Nehemiah refuses to flee, declaring that a man like him will not cowardly hide or unlawfully enter the temple to save his life. He chooses faith and integrity over fear.
Overview
Nehemiah rejects both cowardice and sin: fleeing would betray his leadership, and a layman entering the temple sanctuary would violate God's law. His courageous integrity exposes the snare for what it is. This refusal to sin in order to gain safety reflects the conviction that obedience to God matters more than self-preservation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Ps 11:1–2For the Chief Musician. By David. In Yahweh, I take refuge. How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain!”
- Prov 28:1The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
- Acts 21:13Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
- Ps 112:8His heart is established. He will not be afraid in the end when he sees his adversaries.
- Ps 112:6For he will never be shaken. The righteous will be remembered forever.
- Phil 2:17Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all.
- Acts 20:24But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.
- Luke 13:31–33On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out of here, and go away, for Herod wants to kill you.”
- Phil 2:30because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.
- Neh 6:3I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?”
- 1 Sam 19:5for he put his life in his hand, and struck the Philistine, and Yahweh worked a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?”
- Num 32:7–9Why do you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which Yahweh has given them?
- Job 4:3–6Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.
- Neh 6:9For they all would have made us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done.” But now, strengthen my hands.
- Heb 11:27By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
- Eccl 10:1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
- Acts 8:1Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.
- Isa 10:18He will consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body. It will be as when a standard bearer faints.
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Christ at the center
The rebuilt walls and renewed covenant community foreshadow the greater builder who gathers and secures a people for God, the one who declares 'I will build my church.'
How Nehemiah 6:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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