Nehemiah 4 1

Nehemiah 4:1 kjv

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 4:1 nkjv

But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews.

Nehemiah 4:1 niv

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews,

Nehemiah 4:1 esv

Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews.

Nehemiah 4:1 nlt

Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews,

Nehemiah 4 verses

Nehemiah 4 1 Meaning

Nehemiah 4:1 describes the immediate and intense reaction of Sanballat, a key adversary, upon hearing about the significant progress of the Jews in rebuilding Jerusalem's defensive wall. His response escalated from general opposition to severe anger, marked by strong indignation and open ridicule against the Jewish people. This signals a shift from internal organizational efforts to external conflict, initiating a period of psychological and physical resistance against God's work.

Nehemiah 4 1 Context

Nehemiah 4:1 follows Nehemiah chapter 3, which details the meticulous process of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls, section by section, involving various families and guilds working together. The reconstruction of the walls was crucial for the returning exiles not only for physical security against external threats but also as a powerful symbol of restored national identity, sovereignty, and faithfulness to God's covenant. For neighboring groups like the Samaritans, Ammonites, and Arabs, led by figures such as Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, a strong Jerusalem represented a threat to their regional influence and possibly their own commercial interests, as they had benefited from Judah's weakened state. This verse marks the shift from the joyous, cooperative building phase to a direct confrontation with the deep-seated animosity of these adversaries, setting the stage for ongoing opposition throughout the rest of the book. The restoration of Judah’s spiritual and national life was a direct challenge to the powers aligned against God's purposes for His people.

Nehemiah 4 1 Word analysis

• When Sanballat heard:

  • Hebrew: וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁמַע סַנְבַלַּט (Vayehi ka'asher shama Sanbalat).
  • "Heard" (שָׁמַע, shama) denotes not merely incidental knowledge but understanding the full weight and implications of the activity. Sanballat, the governor of Samaria, possessed political acumen. He grasped the strategic importance of the wall for Jerusalem’s future autonomy and its challenge to his own regional dominance. This highlights that opposition often strengthens when divine work achieves visible progress.
  • Sanballat, as the primary antagonist, embodied the long-standing hostility of the northern neighbors toward a re-established Judah. His motivation stemmed from a mix of political rivalry, economic concern, and likely religious antagonism against the monotheistic Jews and their God.

• that we were rebuilding the wall:

  • Hebrew: כִּי בּוֹנִים אֲנַחְנוּ אֶת־הַחוֹמָה (ki bonim anachnu et-hachoma).
  • "Rebuilding" (בּוֹנִים, bonim) signifies a work of restoration, returning to a prior, more secure state. It emphasizes active, continuous construction.
  • "The wall" (הַחוֹמָה, hachoma) is specific and central. More than just brick and stone, it symbolized renewed security, national honor, divine favor, and the re-establishment of a sovereign entity after exile. The act of rebuilding was itself an act of faith and defiance against the forces that sought to keep Judah subservient.
  • "We" (אֲנַחְנוּ) underscores the unified, corporate effort of the Jewish people under Nehemiah's leadership, which stood in stark contrast to the singular focus of Sanballat's antagonism. This collective resolve strengthened the project.

• he became angry and was greatly incensed:

  • Hebrew: חָרָה לוֹ וַיִּקְצֹף הַרְבֵּה (charah lo vayiktsaof harbeh).
  • "Became angry" (חָרָה, charah): Implies a burning or kindling of rage, indicating intense, internal emotional heat. It’s a deep personal reaction, often uncontrolled.
  • "Was greatly incensed" (וַיִּקְצֹף הַרְבֵּה, vayiktsaof harbeh): "Qatsaph" (קָצַף) signifies raging, fuming, expressing wrath. The modifier "harbeh" (הַרְבֵּה, greatly/much) emphasizes the extreme, disproportionate nature of his fury. This wasn't merely displeasure but an eruption of uncontrolled malice. Such intense emotional reaction is often seen in the Bible as a characteristic of those who oppose God’s plans (Acts 5:33).
  • This dual expression of anger highlights the depth of Sanballat's rage. It signifies a significant shift from the contemptuous ridicule of Nehemiah 2:19 to a furious, volatile state, driven by the realization that the Jewish efforts were truly succeeding.

• He ridiculed the Jews:

  • Hebrew: וַיַּלְעֵג לַיְּהוּדִים (vayil'eg layehudim).
  • "Ridiculed" (לָעַג, la'ag): Means to mock, scoff, deride, or stammer in a derogatory way. It’s an active, vocal expression of scorn, intended to demean and demoralize. Mockery aims to make the workers doubt themselves, to undermine their dignity, and to suggest that their work is futile or foolish in the eyes of others.
  • "The Jews" (לַיְּהוּדִים, layehudim): The target is explicitly the entire community engaged in the work, demonstrating Sanballat's broad hatred and strategic intent to discourage all participants. Mockery served as a psychological weapon, preceding and accompanying any physical threats. It’s a common tactic used by the spiritual enemies of God to deter His people.

Nehemiah 4 1 Bonus section

• The Spiritual Nature of Opposition: Sanballat's outrage wasn't merely political. The rebuilding of the wall symbolized the restoration of Judah as a distinct, covenant community under God, which was inherently offensive to pagan adversaries. This mirrors the enduring spiritual conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world.
• Psychological Warfare: Sanballat's immediate tactic of mockery was a form of psychological warfare designed to instill doubt, shame, and fear among the Jewish workers. This tactic seeks to erode morale from within, making physical defense less necessary if the workers simply give up.
• Progression of Opposition: The progression from initial scorn (Neh 2:19) to intense anger and ridicule (Neh 4:1) illustrates a common pattern in spiritual warfare. When God's people advance, the enemy escalates their attacks from dismissive sneering to more overt and virulent hostility.
• Significance of the Wall: The wall's restoration was not just for physical defense but symbolized the clear distinction and setting apart of God's people in Jerusalem, enabling them to live in accordance with His Law, free from ungodly external influences. This "separation" provoked further antagonism.

Nehemiah 4 1 Commentary

Nehemiah 4:1 succinctly captures the intensified animosity faced by God's people when progress is made in His work. Sanballat's initial scoffing transforms into volcanic anger, not merely at the physical construction but at the spiritual implications of a strengthened Judah. His mockery aimed to break the morale of the laborers, presenting their formidable task as foolish and impossible in the eyes of men. This verse exemplifies the spiritual truth that effective kingdom work will always encounter strong, often irrational, opposition from those aligned against God's purposes. The adversaries' fury confirms that the work being done was indeed significant and threatening to their dominion, calling God's people to persist with a combination of prayer and vigilance.