Nehemiah 6 3

Nehemiah 6:3 kjv

And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

Nehemiah 6:3 nkjv

So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?"

Nehemiah 6:3 niv

so I sent messengers to them with this reply: "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?"

Nehemiah 6:3 esv

And I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?"

Nehemiah 6:3 nlt

so I replied by sending this message to them: "I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?"

Nehemiah 6 verses

Nehemiah 6 3 Meaning

Nehemiah 6:3 articulates Nehemiah's steadfast dedication and unwavering commitment to the work of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls, which he viewed as a great, divinely ordained task. In response to deceptive invitations from his adversaries, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, who sought to harm him by luring him away from his post, Nehemiah sent a concise, resolute refusal. His rhetorical question emphasizes that the significant work should not be interrupted or abandoned for a harmful distraction, thereby prioritizing God's sacred purpose above all else.

Nehemiah 6 3 Context

Nehemiah 6:3 falls within a pivotal phase of Jerusalem's wall rebuilding project, during which opposition escalated from mockery and threats to subtle, cunning deception. Chapters 4 and 5 detailed physical and internal challenges, with enemies Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem attempting to discourage, threaten attack, and stir internal strife through economic exploitation. By chapter 6, with the walls nearing completion and only the gates remaining, the adversaries shift tactics. Realizing direct confrontation was failing, they repeatedly invited Nehemiah to meet in Ono, a place known for potential ambush or at least removal from the work. Nehemiah's repeated, consistent, and concise refusal in this verse highlights his keen discernment of their malevolent intentions and his steadfast resolve to prioritize God's appointed task over any personal enticement or threat. He understood that engaging in their diversionary tactics would halt the vital construction, undermining divine purpose and endangering the fragile restoration of Jerusalem and its people.

Nehemiah 6 3 Word analysis

• And I sent messengers: Nehemiah acted with authority and intentionality. His direct response, though through emissaries, demonstrated his firm stance and clear communication, leaving no room for misunderstanding or prolonged negotiation with adversaries.
• to them: Refers specifically to Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem (mentioned in Neh 6:1), the primary external antagonists determined to obstruct Jerusalem's restoration.
• saying, 'I am doing a great work': This is Nehemiah's core declaration of purpose and commitment.
  • 'great work': Hebrew: מְלָאכָה גְדֹלָה (m'lakhah gedolah). M'lakhah refers to work, labor, or business, often encompassing tasks that require significant effort and are of importance. Gedolah means "great," "large," or "important." In this context, it signifies not merely a large construction project, but a divinely ordained, spiritually significant undertaking foundational to God's covenant people. It implied national and spiritual restoration beyond physical walls.
• and I cannot come down: This refusal is both literal and symbolic.
  • 'cannot come down': Hebrew: וְלֹא אֵכוֹל לָרֶדֶת (v'lo' ekol laredet). Laredet means "to go down," "descend." Physically, Nehemiah was likely supervising from an elevated position on the wall. Symbolically, "coming down" implies descending from a high calling or a position of integrity and focus. It suggests a spiritual compromise, a deviation from God's will, or a fall into a trap, relinquishing his consecrated purpose.
• Why should the work stop: This is a rhetorical question, powerfully conveying urgency and prioritizing the divine task.
  • 'Why should the work stop': Hebrew: לָמָה יִשְׁבֹּת הַמְּלָאכָה (lamah yishbot hamm'lakhah). Lamah means "why," a query. Yishbot comes from the root shavat, meaning "to cease," "rest," or "stop." It expresses Nehemiah's strong conviction that interrupting such a vital, divinely appointed project for personal distraction or danger would be irrational and detrimental. The very thought highlights the importance he placed on momentum and completion.
• while I leave it and come down to you?': This final phrase elaborates on the consequence of his "coming down."
  • 'while I leave it': To abandon, neglect, or forsake the crucial work.
  • 'and come down to you?': Highlights that meeting with his adversaries would inherently mean stepping away from his post and falling into their control or scheme. It underlines the stark choice between faithfully fulfilling God's mission and capitulating to distractions or danger.

Nehemiah 6 3 Bonus section

Nehemiah's response in this verse highlights his status as a spiritual leader firmly rooted in his calling. He recognized that the opposition's motive was not genuine communication but "to do me harm" (Neh 6:2). This deep understanding of spiritual warfare undergirds his decision. His clear, concise communication and steadfast refusal serve as a model for effective leadership that guards against compromise. The completion of the walls (Neh 6:15) within an astonishing fifty-two days is a testament to the power of such focused dedication. The incident demonstrates that the most significant obstacles to God's work are often not insurmountable physical barriers, but psychological warfare, discouragement, and diversionary tactics, all of which require discerning resolve.

Nehemiah 6 3 Commentary

Nehemiah 6:3 encapsulates the exemplary leadership qualities of Nehemiah: single-mindedness, unwavering commitment, and keen spiritual discernment. Facing escalating pressure and insidious schemes from Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, who shifted from direct opposition to cunning invitations intended to lure and harm him, Nehemiah refused to be distracted. His resolute message—"I am doing a great work and I cannot come down"—reveals his profound understanding that his task was not merely a physical construction project, but a sacred, divinely initiated work of restoring God's people and city.

He knew that "coming down" would entail more than a physical descent; it symbolized abandoning his high calling, compromising his integrity, and jeopardizing the progress of God's work. The rhetorical question, "Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" forcefully communicates the unassailable priority of the divine assignment. Nehemiah's focus was absolute; he saw any diversion as a threat to the greater purpose. This verse serves as a powerful biblical lesson for all believers to guard against distractions, temptations, and cunning devices that seek to deter them from their God-given tasks and calling. It calls for perseverance and discerning wisdom in the face of subtle opposition.

For practical usage, this verse instructs believers to:

• Identify the "great work" God has given them, whether it is raising a family, serving in a church, pursuing a vocation with integrity, or ministering to others.
• Remain focused on this primary calling, resisting invitations or pressures that would compromise or stop their faithful pursuit.
• Discern the true intent behind potential distractions, understanding that sometimes the most dangerous opposition comes not through open attack, but through deceptive enticements.