Nehemiah 6:13

Fear Sin

¹¹ 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!”

¹² I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would sin by doing as he suggested, so they could give me a bad name in order to discredit me.

¹⁴ O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who tried to intimidate me.

¹⁵ So the wall was completed in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth of Elul.

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: He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would sin by doing as he suggested, so they could give me a bad name in order to discredit me.
KJV: Therefore 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.
WEB: He was hired so that I would be afraid, do so, and sin, and that they might have material for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
ASV: For this cause 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.
DARBY: Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have wherewith to spread an evil report, that they might reproach me.
BLB: For this purpose he [was] hired, that I should be afraid and act this way and sin, that it might be to them for an evil name, that they might reproach me.

ÅB: Han var leid for at jeg skulle bli redd og gjøre som han sa og forsynde meg, og de slik få satt ut et ondt rykte om meg, så de kunne håne meg.
OTB: Han ble leid for å skremme meg slik at jeg ville handle i frykt og synde, og de kunne ha grunnlag for en ond rapport for å vanære meg.
B1930: Han var leid forat jeg skulde bli redd og gjøre som han sa og forsynde mig, og de således få satt ut et ondt rykte om mig, så de kunde håne mig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 20:10
For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.”
Read in context
Proverbs 29:5
A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.
Read in context
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 become their king,
Read in context
2 Corinthians 11:12
But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.
Read in context
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
Read in context
James 4:17
Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.
Read in context
Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
Read in context
Matthew 26:59
Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death.
Read in context