Nehemiah 6 10

Nehemiah 6:10 kjv

Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.

Nehemiah 6:10 nkjv

Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you."

Nehemiah 6:10 niv

One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you?by night they are coming to kill you."

Nehemiah 6:10 esv

Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night."

Nehemiah 6:10 nlt

Later I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, "Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight."

Nehemiah 6 verses

Nehemiah 6 10 Meaning

Nehemiah 6:10 details a critical moment during the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, where Nehemiah, the leader, faces a deceptive scheme by his adversaries. Shemaiah, a man pretending to be a prophet, attempts to lure Nehemiah into the temple's innermost sanctuary—a place only Levitical priests were permitted to enter. Shemaiah fabricates a threat of assassination, urging Nehemiah to seek refuge and "close the doors of the temple" for safety. The true intention of this fabricated prophecy was to cause Nehemiah to commit a sin of sacrilege by violating temple law, thus discrediting him, sowing fear, and potentially stopping the rebuilding effort by undermining his divine mandate. Nehemiah, however, discerning the deceit, rejects this counsel.

Nehemiah 6 10 Context

Nehemiah chapter 6 unfolds with Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem escalating their opposition as the wall-building nears completion. Their previous tactics—ridicule (ch. 4), conspiracy to attack (ch. 4), false accusations of rebellion (ch. 6:5-9)—had failed. Having been unsuccessful in luring Nehemiah outside the city walls for an ambush, their final, more subtle, and insidious attempt is to compromise him spiritually. Shemaiah's false prophecy in verse 10 is part of this strategic shift from physical and political threats to spiritual warfare, aimed at defiling Nehemiah's character, disgracing him, and ultimately stopping the work by sowing fear and disobedience. The immediate context of Nehemiah's leadership emphasizes his reliance on God, his courage, and his unwavering commitment to the law of God amidst constant pressure.

Nehemiah 6 10 Word analysis

• Afterward: Implies a progression in the enemy's strategy. This deceptive encounter followed previous failed attempts (Neh 6:1-9). It signals a new, more insidious type of attack.
• Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel: This identifies the false prophet by his lineage. His connection might have lent him a degree of credibility among some, making his deception more potent.
• who was shut in: Hebrew atsur (עָצוּר). This term suggests confinement or seclusion. It could imply Shemaiah was isolated in a room as prophets often were when receiving divine revelation, lending a false air of legitimacy and spiritual authority to his "message." Alternatively, it might imply self-imposed confinement to avoid public contact or to appear to be seeking divine guidance intensely.
• Let us meet together: Shemaiah’s invitation sounds collaborative and fraternal, designed to build false trust and urgency with Nehemiah. It presents a veneer of concern and shared interest in Nehemiah’s safety.
• in the house of God: Hebrew beit ha-Elohim (בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים), referring to the Temple building. This invokes a sacred, inviolable space, making the suggested refuge seem spiritually sound at first glance.
• within the temple: Hebrew heykal (הֵיכָל), specifically denoting the main sanctuary or inner part of the Temple, including the Holy Place. This distinction is crucial; only priests were permitted here. Shemaiah's counsel, therefore, was a direct invitation for Nehemiah, a lay leader, to violate a sacred command.
• close the doors of the temple: The action suggested would reinforce the appearance of urgency and security, a "natural" response to an imminent threat. It was to appear as an act of piety and self-preservation.
• for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you: This constitutes the core of Shemaiah’s fear-mongering tactic. The repetition of "kill you" and specification of "at night" ("at night" for added secrecy/imminent danger) amplify the sense of danger and create immediate, intense fear, pressing Nehemiah for a hasty decision based on terror rather than discernment.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple": This phrase encapsulates the insidious nature of the plot. It presents a religious solution (entering the "house of God" for protection) to a supposed threat, but it cloaks a temptation to spiritual transgression. Seeking refuge in the sanctuary would require Nehemiah to violate God's law regarding the Holy Place, exposing him to divine judgment (cf. 2 Chr 26). This would both defile him and undermine his God-given authority in the eyes of the people, making him appear faithless or sacrilegious.
• "for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you": This repeated, urgent threat highlights the enemy’s psychological warfare. Its purpose is to incite paralyzing fear, compelling Nehemiah to react out of terror rather than acting with courageous discernment and trust in God's protection, which he had demonstrated consistently. This tactic aims to make a good man appear cowardly or irreligious.

Nehemiah 6 10 Bonus section

• The fact that Shemaiah was paid by Tobiah and Sanballat (Neh 6:12-13) reveals that his prophecy was not just mistaken, but intentionally malicious and a premeditated trap. This elevates the spiritual warfare from mere human opposition to demonic strategy employing human agents.
• Nehemiah, though not a priest, was called by God to lead a massive undertaking. His steadfast refusal to enter the temple demonstrated his profound respect for God's laws, distinguishing him from disobedient kings like Uzziah (2 Chr 26). This reinforced his integrity as a leader whose primary loyalty was to God and His commandments, even at perceived personal risk.
• This verse provides a clear example of how true prophets are distinguished from false ones: true prophecy aligns with God's established word and character, strengthens believers in righteous living, and brings honor to God, while false prophecy often contradicts divine law, induces unholy fear, or seeks personal gain/compromise.
• The opponents' scheme reflects a common tactic in spiritual warfare: to tempt a person into compromising their walk with God, knowing that moral failure or fear can nullify their spiritual influence and leadership.

Nehemiah 6 10 Commentary

Nehemiah 6:10 marks a spiritual turning point in the opposition to the wall rebuilding. The enemies had exhausted physical threats and political accusations; now, they resorted to subtle spiritual sabotage through a false prophet. Shemaiah’s counsel, seemingly pious—suggesting safety in the "house of God"—was a deadly snare. By proposing entry into the heykal (Holy Place), a layperson's forbidden zone, Shemaiah sought to make Nehemiah sin grievously, thereby defiling him, invalidating his leadership, and portraying him as fearful and lacking faith in God's public protection outside the sanctuary.

Nehemiah's response, though detailed in the subsequent verses (6:11-12), stems from the deep discernment highlighted here. He immediately understood that such advice could not be from God because it contradicted God's own laws and did not align with his courageous calling. Shemaiah’s fear-mongering, wrapped in spiritual language, aimed to compromise Nehemiah’s integrity and trust in Yahweh. This episode serves as a powerful reminder for believers to test all spiritual advice (1 Jn 4:1) and to stand firm against fear-based manipulation, especially when it encourages compromising biblical principles.

• Practical Usage: Be vigilant against advice that, while sounding spiritual or "wise," subtly encourages disobedience to God's clear commands or compromise of one's God-given responsibilities out of fear. Discern if a suggestion, even from a seemingly "spiritual" source, aims to draw you into sin or discredit your integrity for the sake of supposed "safety."