Nehemiah 4:3
1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews
2 before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?”
Then 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!”
4 Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity.
5 Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from Your sight, for they have provoked the builders.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Then 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!”
- KJV
- Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
- WEB
- Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, “What they are building, if a fox climbed up it, he would break down their stone wall.”
- ASV
- Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.
- DARBY
- And Tobijah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox went up, it would break down their stone wall.
- BLB
- And Tobiah the Ammonite [was] beside him, and he said, “Even whatever they are building, if a fox goes up [on it], it will break down the wall of their stones.”
- ÅB
- Og ammonitten Tobias, som sto ved siden av ham, sa: La dem bygge så meget de vil - bare en rev hopper opp på deres stenmur, så river den den ned.
- OTB
- Tobija ammonitten, som var ved siden av ham, sa: "Det de bygger—selv om en rev skulle klatre opp på det, ville det bryte ned steinmuren deres!"
- B1930
- Og ammonitten Tobias, som stod ved siden av ham, sa: La dem bygge så meget de vil - bare en rev hopper op på deres stenmur, så river den den ned.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Nehemiah 2:19
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?”
Read in contextNehemiah 2:10
But 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.
Read in context1 Kings 20:10
Then Ben-hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if enough dust remains of Samaria for each of my men to have a handful.”
Read in context1 Kings 20:18
“If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive.”
Read in context2 Kings 18:23
Now, therefore, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you two thousand horses—if you can put riders on them!
Read in contextNehemiah 6:1
When 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—
Read in contextLamentations 5:18
because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, patrolled by foxes.
Read in context