Nehemiah 6 19

Nehemiah 6:19 kjv

Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

Nehemiah 6:19 nkjv

Also they reported his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.

Nehemiah 6:19 niv

Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.

Nehemiah 6:19 esv

Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.

Nehemiah 6:19 nlt

They kept telling me about Tobiah's good deeds, and then they told him everything I said. And Tobiah kept sending threatening letters to intimidate me.

Nehemiah 6 verses

Nehemiah 6 19 Meaning

Nehemiah 6:19 details the significant internal threat faced by Nehemiah after the completion of the wall. It reveals that the nobles of Judah, driven by their deep entanglement with Tobiah, actively advocated for him before Nehemiah, highlighting what they perceived as his "good deeds." Simultaneously, they acted as informants, relaying Nehemiah's confidential words and strategies back to Tobiah. This espionage allowed Tobiah to continue his campaign of intimidation against Nehemiah through correspondence, seeking to instill fear and disrupt his leadership. The verse underscores the pervasive influence of Nehemiah's enemies within the leadership of Jerusalem and the ongoing psychological warfare.

Nehemiah 6 19 Context

Nehemiah 6:19 is found near the end of the narrative detailing the reconstruction of Jerusalem's walls under Nehemiah's leadership. The chapter specifically recounts the various cunning plots and psychological warfare tactics employed by Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem after direct attacks and open mockery failed to deter the builders.

Prior to verse 19, Nehemiah has already faced attempts to lure him to a dangerous meeting (verses 2-4), an open letter falsely accusing him of rebellion (verses 5-7), and a plot involving a paid false prophet named Shemaiah to scare him into an act that would disgrace him (verses 10-13). With the wall completed or nearing completion (verse 15), the enemies escalated their tactics, particularly through Tobiah's established network.

Verse 17 introduces the significant point that many Judahite nobles maintained extensive correspondence and oaths with Tobiah due to marriage alliances (Tobiah being son-in-law to Shecaniah and his own son Johanan marrying the daughter of Meshullam). This revealed a deep-seated compromise and loyalty divide within Jerusalem's internal leadership, with some preferring connections to the powerful Tobiah rather than unwavering devotion to God's work. Verse 19 directly illustrates how this established influence manifested: the nobles publicly spoke well of Tobiah to Nehemiah, while secretly feeding him information about Nehemiah, enabling Tobiah to intensify his fear-mongering through continued letters. This verse highlights the profound spiritual danger of internal compromise and disloyalty within God's people.

Nehemiah 6 19 Word analysis

• Also they spoke: Hebrew: Gam dibberû (גַּם דִּבְּר֛וּ). The "they" here refers to the nobles of Judah mentioned in Nehemiah 6:17. This implies not just casual conversation but deliberate communication, perhaps attempts to persuade Nehemiah of Tobiah's supposed good character or influence, showing a bold allegiance to the enemy right in Nehemiah's presence.
• of his good deeds: Hebrew: ṭōḇōṯāw (טוֹבֹתָיו), literally "his good things" or "his benefits." This is highly ironic given Tobiah's role as a persistent adversary of God's people and His work. It suggests either utter spiritual blindness, intentional deception, or a calculation that Tobiah's patronage or political connections were advantageous. It speaks to a profound moral compromise, calling evil "good."
• before me: Hebrew: lāfānaī (לְפָנָֽי). This phrase emphasizes that these nobles openly championed Tobiah in Nehemiah's direct presence, showing their perceived comfort or daring in their duplicity. It's a personal affront and a bold act of undermining.
• and reported my words: Hebrew: wəḏəḇāray sippərû (וּדְבָרַי סִפְּר֛וּ). The verb sippərû comes from sāphar (סָפַר), meaning "to recount, relate, tell a story or report." This denotes a full and detailed account of Nehemiah's statements, plans, or observations. This reveals deliberate espionage and a deep betrayal of trust, serving as internal spies for the enemy.
• to him: Hebrew: lōw (לֽוֹ). Specifically to Tobiah.
• And Tobiah sent letters: Hebrew: wəṭôḇiyâ šālāḥ śəpārîm (וְטוֹבִיָּה שָׁלַח סְפָרִים). This indicates continued, formal communication. The plural "letters" suggests a sustained campaign, not a one-off attempt, signifying persistent psychological pressure and strategic use of information gathered from his informants.
• to frighten me: Hebrew: ləhaḥarîḏēynî (לְהַחֲרִידֵֽנִי). This is the Piel infinitive construct of ḥāraḏ (חָרַד), meaning "to tremble, be terrified, disturb, make afraid." The ultimate goal of all these actions – speaking well of Tobiah, reporting Nehemiah's words, and sending letters – was to instill fear in Nehemiah, to cause him to doubt, to make a misstep, or even abandon his divinely appointed task.

Words-group analysis:

• "They spoke of his good deeds before me and reported my words to him": This combined phrase highlights a dual act of deception and treachery by the Judahite nobles. On one hand, they openly endorsed an enemy in Nehemiah's presence; on the other, they secretly spied on him for the same enemy. This illustrates the insidious nature of internal opposition— appearing cooperative while actively undermining from within. It signifies a profound lack of spiritual discernment and allegiance to God, replacing it with loyalty to earthly power and self-interest, possibly to protect their influential positions or family ties as mentioned in the preceding verse.
• "And Tobiah sent letters to frighten me": This group shows the strategic objective of Tobiah's combined efforts. By leveraging internal connections for flattery and espionage, he gathered intelligence that allowed him to craft targeted messages aimed solely at breaking Nehemiah's spirit and disrupting his work through fear. It reveals a persistent, manipulative adversary who, unable to succeed through physical or political means, resorts to psychological warfare to demoralize God's servant. This reflects a common tactic of spiritual enemies—when direct assault fails, they seek to sow discouragement and fear.

Nehemiah 6 19 Bonus section

The struggle against Tobiah, particularly his entrenched influence within the temple and among key families, points to a recurring challenge for God's people: the need for continuous purification and vigilance against spiritual and moral compromise. Nehemiah's later actions, as described in Nehemiah chapter 13, where he personally casts out Tobiah from his quarters within the temple precincts and purifies the priesthood, underscore that building physical structures is only one part of the restoration. The deeper, more vital work involves confronting and removing the embedded spiritual and moral compromises within the community itself. This verse, therefore, is a poignant early indication of a more profound issue of faithfulness that Nehemiah would tirelessly address throughout his tenure.

Nehemiah 6 19 Commentary

Nehemiah 6:19 reveals the multi-faceted and persistent nature of opposition to God's work. Even after the successful completion of the wall, the battle continued, shifting from external physical threats to insidious internal machinations. Tobiah, having established deep ties through intermarriage and alliances within the noble families of Judah, expertly exploited these connections. The nobles, whether out of genuine misplaced admiration, fear of Tobiah’s power, or self-serving interests, became his unwitting or deliberate agents. Their public praise for Tobiah attempted to soften Nehemiah, while their secret reports allowed Tobiah to craft specific intimidation tactics through letters. This verse powerfully illustrates the danger of compromise within the community of faith, where internal loyalty can be divided and betrayals occur due to worldly entanglements. It serves as a reminder that spiritual warfare often includes psychological pressure and opposition from those who should be allies but have aligned with adversarial forces.