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Nehemiah 2:19

in Nehemiah 2

But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But 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

But 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?

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This verse in Nehemiah 2

Commentary

3 notes on this verse
Geshem the Arabian - The discovery that Sargon populated Samaria in part with an Arab colony explains why Arabs should have opposed the fortification of Jerusalem.

This site's exposition

laughed us to scorn

on Nehemiah 2:19-20

A third adversary joins the first two: Geshem the Arabian stands with Sanballat and Tobiah, and together they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, framing the whole rebuilding as rebellion against the king who had just granted it in writing. Nehemiah answers by drawing the line the chapter has been building toward, 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. The refusal echoes the one Zerubbabel gave the Samaritans a century earlier in Ezra 4:3, the returned community guarding a charter these three men, whatever their office under Persia, do not share. Wesley reads memorial as no claim by birth, by religion, or by kindness done, a threefold answer to a threefold mockery.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

on Nehemiah 2:19-20

They represented the undertaking also as a wicked thing, no better than treason: Will you rebel against the king? Because this was the old invidious charge, though now they had a commission from the king and were taken under his protection, yet still they must be called rebels. [2.] See also with what good reason the Jews slighted these discouragements.

The words behind it

23 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיִּשְׁמַע֩and he heard

    vaiyishma'H8085 →1159 times

  • סַנְבַלַּ֨טSanballat

    sanvalatH5571 →10 times

  • הַחֹרֹנִ֜יthe Horonite

    hachoroniH2772 →3 times

  • וְטֹבִיָּ֣ה׀and Tobiah

    vetoiyahH2900 →18 times

  • הָעֶ֣בֶדthe servant

    haevedH5650 →799 times

  • הָֽעַמּוֹנִ֗יthe Ammonite

    haamoniH5984 →21 times

  • וְגֶ֙שֶׁם֙and Geshem

    vegeshemH1654 →4 times

  • הָֽעַרְבִ֔יthe Arab

    haarviH6163 →9 times

  • וַיַּלְעִ֣גוּand they mocked

    vaiyaliguH3932 →

  • לָ֔נוּ<to> us

    lanu

  • וַיִּבְז֖וּand they despised

    vaiyivzuH959 →

  • עָלֵ֑ינוּ<on> us

    ʾaleinuH5921 →5755 times

  • וַיֹּאמְר֗וּand they said

    vaiyomeruH559 →5305 times

  • מָֽה־what?

    mah-H4100 →752 times

  • הַדָּבָ֤ר[is] the thing

    hadavarH1697 →1440 times

  • הַזֶּה֙<the> this

    hazehH2088 →1180 times

  • אֲשֶׁ֣רwhich

    ʾasherH834 →5497 times

  • אַתֶּ֣םyou

    ʾatemH859 →1094 times

  • עֹשִׂ֔ים[are] doing

    ʾosimH6213 →2628 times

  • הַעַ֥ל¿ on

    haalH5921 →5755 times

  • הַמֶּ֖לֶךְthe king

    hamelekhH4428 →2525 times

  • אַתֶּ֥ם[are] you

    ʾatemH859 →1094 times

  • מֹרְדִֽים׃rebelling

    moredimH4775 →25 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Nehemiah 6:6that read: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king,9 worksNehemiah 2:10But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.6 worksNehemiah 6:1When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates—6 worksNehemiah 4:1Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews5 worksPsalms 44:13–14You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, a mockery and derision to those around us.4 works1 Samuel 17:10Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man to fight!”4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Nehemiah 13:28Even one of the sons of Jehoiada son of Eliashib the high priest had become a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I drove him away from me.4 worksMark 5:40And they laughed at Him. After He had put them all outside, He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and went in to see the child.3 worksPsalms 80:6You make us contend with our neighbors; our enemies mock us.3 worksNehemiah 4:3Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”3 worksPsalms 123:4We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.3 worksJeremiah 41:10Then Ishmael took captive all the remnant of the people of Mizpah—the daughters of the king along with all the others who remained in Mizpah—over whom Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set off to cross over to the Ammonites.3 worksJohn 19:12From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”2 worksNehemiah 6:9For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.2 worksPsalms 79:4We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those around us.2 worksEzra 4:15–16that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.2 worksJob 30:1“But now they mock me, men younger than I am, whose fathers I would have refused to entrust with my sheep dogs.2 worksLuke 23:2And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Psalms 80:6

    You make us contend with our neighbors; our enemies mock us.

    it leads to

    • Psalms 79:4

      We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those around us.

  • Through

    Nehemiah 6:6

    that read: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to…

    it leads to

    • Romans 3:8

      Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved!

    • Ezra 4:12

      Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing…

    • 1 Peter 3:16

      keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.

  • Through

    Mark 5:40

    And they laughed at Him. After He had put them all outside, He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and went in to see the child.

    it leads to

    • Matthew 7:6

      Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

    • Luke 16:14

      The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus.

    • Genesis 19:14

      So Lot went out and spoke to the sons-in-law who were pledged in marriage to his daughters. “Get up,” he said. “Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the…

    • Acts 17:32

      When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock him, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this topic.”

Where this verse is studied

On this page

Studies2

On this verse

On this chapter

About Nehemiah

Nehemiah Views the Ruins of Jerusalem's Walls — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Nehemiah Views the Ruins of Jerusalem's Walls — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Nehemiah: the study guide →Read Nehemiah 2 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

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