Nehemiah 6:5
in Nehemiah 6The fifth time, Sanballat sent me this same message by his young servant, who had in his hand an unsealed letter
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,
KJV
Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;
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This verse in Nehemiah 6
Commentary
6 notes on this verseThen sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time,.... In his own name, neither Tobiah nor Geshem joining with him, he being more solicitous and anxious to get him into his hands than any of them; and it may be, as some think, pretending more friendship for him than the rest, and therefore writes alone, as if they knew nothing of his writing: with an open letter in his hand: which having in it an intimation of Nehemiah being guilty of treason, anyone that would might read it, and so spread the defamation.
This site's exposition
an unsealed letter
on Nehemiah 6:5-7
The fifth approach drops the pretense of friendliness. Sanballat's servant carries "an unsealed letter," open for any hand to read. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown and Gill both note that an open letter was a form used for inferiors, so its missing seal was an insult.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The best men, even in their most innocent and excellent performances, have lain under this imputation. This is written to him in an open letter, as a thing generally known and talked of, that it was reported among the nations, and Gashmu will aver it for truth, that Nehemiah was aiming to make himself king and to shake off the Persian yoke.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Letters were, and are still, sent to persons of distinction in a bag or purse, and even to equals they are enclosed--the tie being made with a colored ribbon. But to inferiors, or persons who are to be treated contemptuously, the letters were sent open--that is, not enclosed in a bag.
With an open letter in his hand - This was an insult to a person of Nehemiah’s quality: as letters sent to chiefs and governors in the East are always carefully folded up, and put in costly silken bags, and these carefully sealed. The circumstance is thus marked to show the contempt he (Sanballat) had for him.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The letter was “open,” in order that the contents might be generally known, and that the Jews, alarmed at the threats contained in it, might refuse to continue the work.
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery 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.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ | vaiyishlach | and he sent | H7971 → | 845 times |
| אֵלַ֨י | ʾelai | to me | H413 → | 5510 times |
| סַנְבַלַּ֜ט | sanvalat | Sanballat | H5571 → | 10 times |
| כַּדָּבָ֥ר | kadavar | according to the manner | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| הַזֶּ֛ה | hazeh | <the> this | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| פַּ֥עַם | paam | a time | H6471 → | 118 times |
| חֲמִישִׁ֖ית | chamishit | fifth | H2549 → | |
| אֶֽת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| נַעֲר֑וֹ | naaro | servant his | H5288 → | 239 times |
| וְאִגֶּ֥רֶת | veigeret | and a letter | H107 → | 10 times |
| פְּתוּחָ֖ה | petuchah | open | H6605 → | 144 times |
| בְּיָדֽוֹ׃ | beyado | [was] in hand his | H3027 → | 1618 times |
וַיִּשְׁלַח֩and he sent
vaiyishlachH7971 →845 times
אֵלַ֨יto me
ʾelaiH413 →5510 times
סַנְבַלַּ֜טSanballat
sanvalatH5571 →10 times
כַּדָּבָ֥רaccording to the manner
kadavarH1697 →1440 times
הַזֶּ֛ה<the> this
hazehH2088 →1180 times
פַּ֥עַםa time
paamH6471 →118 times
חֲמִישִׁ֖יתfifth
chamishitH2549 →
אֶֽת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
נַעֲר֑וֹservant his
naaroH5288 →239 times
וְאִגֶּ֥רֶתand a letter
veigeretH107 →10 times
פְּתוּחָ֖הopen
petuchahH6605 →144 times
בְּיָדֽוֹ׃[was] in hand his
beyadoH3027 →1618 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Ephesians 6:11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 10:4
The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
- Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
- Ephesians 6:13
Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:8
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.
- 1 Peter 5:8
Through
2 Corinthians 2:11in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:11–12
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
- 2 Corinthians 11:3
I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.
- Luke 22:31
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.
- Ephesians 6:11–12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About Nehemiah
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.