Nehemiah 6 6

Nehemiah 6:6 kjv

Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.

Nehemiah 6:6 nkjv

In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king.

Nehemiah 6:6 niv

in which was written: "It is reported among the nations?and Geshem says it is true?that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king

Nehemiah 6:6 esv

In it was written, "It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king.

Nehemiah 6:6 nlt

and this is what it said: "There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king.

Nehemiah 6 verses

Nehemiah 6 6 Meaning

Nehemiah 6:6 details the content of an open letter sent by Sanballat to Nehemiah. This letter contains a grave and false accusation: that Nehemiah and the Jews are plotting to rebel against the Persian king, and that the construction of the wall is evidence of this rebellion, serving as a prelude to Nehemiah declaring himself king. It presents a public, widely-circulated rumor, reinforced by the alleged testimony of Geshem, designed to intimidate Nehemiah and halt the wall-building project through fear of imperial reprisal.

Nehemiah 6 6 Context

Nehemiah chapter 6 chronicles the final, intense efforts by Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and their allies to halt the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, which are nearing completion. Having failed with armed threats and repeated invitations to harmful meetings, the enemies resort to a more insidious tactic: an open letter. This letter is sent to Nehemiah, intentionally unsealed for public reading, to spread rumors and implicate Nehemiah in treason against the Persian Empire. This specific verse, Nehemiah 6:6, presents the core false accusation that Nehemiah is aspiring to become a king, a charge that could incite immediate and severe reprisal from the reigning king Artaxerxes. The timing is crucial as the walls are nearly finished, forcing the enemies to take desperate measures. The broader historical context is post-exilic Judah under Persian rule, a period when local autonomy was often suspected of being a precursor to rebellion, especially in regions with a history of self-governance or kingly lineage.

Nehemiah 6 6 Word analysis

• In it was written: (כָּתוּב katuv) Implies a passive construction, the letter itself carried the written content. It was a formal document, intended to lend gravity and wide dissemination to the slander. This wasn't a casual whisper but a documented accusation.
• It is reported: (נִשְׁמָע nishmā') Means "it is heard" or "it is rumored." This points to a widespread public rumor, presented as common knowledge, not as a direct accusation from Sanballat, thus lending it greater credibility. It aims to manipulate public opinion and pressure.
• among the nations: (בַגּוֹיִם ba-goyim) Refers to the Gentile peoples surrounding Judah, especially those under Persian control, like the Samaritans and Arabs. This emphasizes the breadth and public nature of the false rumor, aiming to make Nehemiah feel isolated and scrutinized by the broader populace and potentially the Persian authorities.
• and Geshem also says it: (וְגֶשֶׁם אֹמֵר ve-Geshem omer) Geshem the Arab was a prominent enemy and ally of Sanballat. His endorsement added significant weight and credibility to the rumor, given his influence and reach, especially among Arab tribes and in Transjordan. This was a strategic namedrop to bolster the accusation.
• that you and the Jews: This directly targets Nehemiah as the leader and the entire Jewish community working with him. It paints the project not as sanctioned religious activity, but as a collective treasonous plot.
• are planning to rebel: (חֹשְׁבִים לִמְרֹד khoshevim limrod) "Planning" indicates premeditation, a serious intent to defy Persian rule. "Rebel" (מָרַד marad) denotes sedition or insurgency, the most severe political crime against the Persian Empire, punishable by death. This was the central, devastating charge.
• therefore you are building the wall: This frames the construction of Jerusalem's wall as proof of the rebellion, an overt act of defiance. The wall, intended for defense, is twisted into evidence of aggressive intent and a fortified position for insurrection.
• that you may be their king: (לְמֶלֶךְ le-melekh) The ultimate aim imputed to Nehemiah. This accusation specifically exploits Jewish messianic hopes and history (of having a Davidic king) to make the charge plausible to Persian ears, who would be highly suspicious of any re-establishment of a monarchy in a conquered territory. It implies personal ambition, not divine will.

Nehemiah 6 6 Bonus section

Sanballat's open letter, also known as a papyrus or letter without a seal, was highly unusual for formal communication of such gravity. Its unsealed nature ensured the letter's content would become public knowledge, allowing rumors to spread rapidly throughout the region even before reaching Nehemiah. This calculated act suggests a well-informed understanding of public manipulation and political pressure within the Persian system. The explicit naming of "Geshem" further added weight due to his widespread network and influence among Arabian tribes and potentially in Egypt. The accusation of Nehemiah becoming a "king" not only struck at Persian fears of rebellion but also subtly aimed to disrupt any lingering Jewish hopes of restored monarchy, making Nehemiah suspect to his own people if they harbored such nationalistic aspirations independent of Persian rule. This charge was designed to isolate Nehemiah from both his imperial superiors and his own people.

Nehemiah 6 6 Commentary

Nehemiah 6:6 reveals Sanballat's desperate and calculated tactic of employing fear and calumny as the walls of Jerusalem neared completion. His "open letter" was an astute political move, contrasting with typical sealed correspondence. This ensured public exposure and maximum alarm, intended to force Nehemiah to drop his project out of fear of repercussions from the Persian king. The accusation of rebellion and kingly ambition was strategically chosen to tap into existing Persian anxieties about provincial uprisings, especially from former kingdoms. Sanballat leverages supposed popular sentiment ("reported among the nations") and the credible witness of a key ally, Geshem, to amplify the rumor's impact. The verse highlights that service to God often encounters fierce, often deceitful, opposition that twists good motives and actions into malevolent ones. It demonstrates how enemies of God's work aim to dishearten, distract, and discredit those who faithfully obey His call. Nehemiah, recognizing the lie, firmly refutes it in the following verse, showing steadfast faith.