Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
Parallel translations
- WEB Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
- BSB Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me Tobiah’s good deeds, and they relayed my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.
- NKJV Also they reported his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.
- NASB Moreover, they were speaking about his good deeds in my presence, and were reporting my words to him. Then Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.
- NLT They kept telling me about Tobiah’s good deeds, and then they told him everything I said. And Tobiah kept sending threatening letters to intimidate me.
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
Tobiah's allies praise him to Nehemiah and report Nehemiah's words back to Tobiah, who keeps sending letters to intimidate him. The pressure continues from within and without.
Overview
The compromised nobles acted as a channel between Nehemiah and his enemy, even relaying his words to Tobiah, who persisted in attempts to frighten him. The chapter closes with the opposition unrelenting despite the completed wall. It underscores that vigilance must continue, for the enemies of God's people rarely cease their efforts.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- John 7:7The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
- Acts 4:18–21And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
- Neh 6:13Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
- Prov 28:4They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
- John 15:19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
- Neh 6:9For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
- 1 Jn 4:5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
- Isa 37:10–14Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 6:19 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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