King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ But it came to pass, [that] when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
Complete Jewish Bible:
But when Sanvalat, Toviyah, the Arabs, the 'Amonim and the Ashdodim heard that the repairs on the walls of Yerushalayim were going forward, and the breaks were being filled in, they became very angry.
Berean Standard Bible:
When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious,
American Standard Version:
But it came to pass that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
But it came to pass, that when Sanballat{H5571}, and Tobiah{H2900}, and the Arabians{H6163}, and the Ammonites{H5984}, and the Ashdodites{H796}, heard{H8085} that the walls{H2346} of Jerusalem{H3389} were made up{H724}{H5927}, and that the breaches{H6555} began{H2490} to be stopped{H5640}, then they were very{H3966} wroth{H2734},
Cross-References (KJV):
Nehemiah 4:1
- ¶ But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
Nehemiah 2:10
- When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard [of it], it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Acts 5:33
- When they heard [that], they were cut [to the heart], and took counsel to slay them.
Amos 1:13
- Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:
Revelation 12:12
- ¶ Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Revelation 12:13
- And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man [child].
Acts 4:17
- But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Nehemiah 4:7
Nehemiah 4:7 captures a moment of tension and conflict in the historical narrative of the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls under the leadership of Nehemiah. The verse is set during the Persian period, specifically around 445 BCE, when Nehemiah, a Jewish official in the service of the Persian king Artaxerxes I, receives permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild its ruined walls. The walls were a symbol of the city's strength and the Jewish people's identity, having been destroyed decades earlier when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem.
In this verse, the theme of opposition is central. As the work on the walls progresses and the gaps (breaches) are being repaired, news reaches the surrounding nations and rulers, including Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite, and leaders of other neighboring peoples such as the Arabians, Ammonites, and Ashdodites. These groups are alarmed and become "very wroth" (angry or furious) because the fortification of Jerusalem poses a potential threat to their interests and regional influence. Their anger underscores the political and strategic significance of a fortified Jerusalem and sets the stage for further conflict and the need for vigilance and faith among the Jewish people as they strive to restore their holy city.
The verse reflects the broader themes of perseverance in the face of adversity, the importance of community solidarity, and divine providence in the historical account of Nehemiah. It also highlights the geopolitical dynamics of the time, where the re-emergence of a fortified Jewish stronghold was seen as a destabilizing factor by neighboring groups. This opposition would eventually lead to various plots against Nehemiah and the workers, necessitating a combination of strategic defense and trust in God to complete the monumental task of rebuilding the walls.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5571
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סַנְבַלַּט
Transliteration: Çanballaṭ
Pronunciation: san-bal-lat'
Description: of foreign origin; Sanballat, a Persian satrap of Samaria; Sanballat. - Strong's Number: H2900
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: טוֹבִיָּה
Transliteration: Ṭôwbîyâh
Pronunciation: to-bee-yaw'
Description: or טוֹבִיָּהוּ; from טוֹב and יָהּ; goodness of Jehovah; Tobijah, the name of three Israelites and of one Samaritan; Tobiah, Tobijah. - Strong's Number: H6163
There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֲרָבִי
Transliteration: ʻĂrâbîy
Pronunciation: ar-aw-bee'
Description: or עַרְבִי; patrial from עֲרָב; an Arabian or inhabitant of Arab (i.e. Arabia); Arabian. - Strong's Number: H5984
There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַמּוֹנִי
Transliteration: ʻAmmôwnîy
Pronunciation: am-mo-nee'
Description: patronymically from עַמּוֹן; an Ammonite or (the adjective) Ammonitish; Ammonite(-s). - Strong's Number: H796
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַשְׁדּוֹדִי
Transliteration: ʼAshdôwdîy
Pronunciation: ash-do-dee'
Description: patrial from אַשְׁדּוֹד; an Ashdodite (often collectively) or inhabitant of Asdod; Ashdodites, of Ashdod. - Strong's Number: H8085
There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמַע
Transliteration: shâmaʻ
Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. - Strong's Number: H2346
There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חוֹמָה
Transliteration: chôwmâh
Pronunciation: kho-maw'
Description: feminine active participle of an unused root apparently meaning to join; a wall of protection; wall, walled. - Strong's Number: H3389
There are 600 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם
Transliteration: Yᵉrûwshâlaim
Pronunciation: yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im
Description: rarely יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; a dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of יְרוּשָׁלֵם)); probably from (the passive participle of) יָרָה and שָׁלַם; founded peaceful; Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine; Jerusalem. - Strong's Number: H724
There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲרוּכָה
Transliteration: ʼărûwkâh
Pronunciation: ar-oo-kaw'
Description: or אֲרֻכָה; feminine passive participle of אָרַךְ (in the sense of restoring to soundness); wholeness (literally or figuratively); health, made up, perfected. - Strong's Number: H5927
There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָלָה
Transliteration: ʻâlâh
Pronunciation: aw-law'
Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work. - Strong's Number: H6555
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּרַץ
Transliteration: pârats
Pronunciation: paw-rats'
Description: lemma פּרַץ missing vowel, corrected to פָּרַץ; a primitive root; to break out (in many applications, direct and indirect, literal and figurative); [idiom] abroad, (make a) breach, break (away, down, -er, forth, in, up), burst out, come (spread) abroad, compel, disperse, grow, increase, open, press, scatter, urge. - Strong's Number: H2490
There are 131 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָלַל
Transliteration: châlal
Pronunciation: khaw-lal'
Description: a primitive root (compare חָלָה); also denominative (from חָלִיל); properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an 'opening wedge'); to play (the flute); begin ([idiom] men began), defile, [idiom] break, defile, [idiom] eat (as common things), [idiom] first, [idiom] gather the grape thereof, [idiom] take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound. - Strong's Number: H5640
There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָתַם
Transliteration: çâtham
Pronunciation: saw-tham'
Description: or שָׂתַם; (Numbers 24:15), a primitive root; to stop up; by implication, to repair; figuratively, to keep secret; closed up, hidden, secret, shut out (up), stop. - Strong's Number: H3966
There are 278 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְאֹד
Transliteration: mᵉʼôd
Pronunciation: meh-ode'
Description: from the same as אוּד; properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated); diligently, especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), [idiom] louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so) sore, utterly, very ([phrase] much, sore), well. - Strong's Number: H2734
There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָרָה
Transliteration: chârâh
Pronunciation: khaw-raw'
Description: a primitive root (compare חָרַר); to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy; be angry, burn, be displeased, [idiom] earnestly, fret self, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, [idiom] very, be wroth. See תַּחָרָה.