Nehemiah 6 7

Nehemiah 6:7 kjv

And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

Nehemiah 6:7 nkjv

And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, "There is a king in Judah!" Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together.

Nehemiah 6:7 niv

and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: 'There is a king in Judah!' Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together."

Nehemiah 6:7 esv

And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, 'There is a king in Judah.' And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together."

Nehemiah 6:7 nlt

He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, 'Look! There is a king in Judah!' "You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me."

Nehemiah 6 verses

Nehemiah 6 7 Meaning

Nehemiah 6:7 describes a specific tactic employed by Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem against Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. The enemies accuse Nehemiah of setting up prophets to proclaim him as king in Judah, thereby committing an act of rebellion against the Persian Emperor. This grave accusation is framed as something that "will be reported to the king" (Artaxerxes), a clear threat meant to intimidate Nehemiah into meeting with them to "take counsel," which was actually a ploy to harm him or stop the work. It is a carefully crafted slander aiming to incite imperial suspicion and leverage fear.

Nehemiah 6 7 Context

Nehemiah chapter 6 unfolds amidst intensified opposition to the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. After previous attempts to use intimidation, military threats, and mockery, Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and the Arabs shifted to deception and false accusations. They sought to lure Nehemiah away from the work four times, but he steadfastly refused, knowing their intent was to harm him (Neh 6:1-4). Having failed to physically incapacitate him, they resorted to psychological warfare and character assassination. This verse (Neh 6:7) details their specific and most dangerous accusation, implying treason against the Persian King Artaxerxes I. Such a charge, if believed by the emperor, could lead to Nehemiah's execution and the permanent cessation of the rebuilding work, appealing to the historical Persian fear of rebellious provincial leaders, a fear previously leveraged by enemies of the Jews to halt temple construction (Ezra 4).

Nehemiah 6 7 Word analysis

• And you have also set up prophets (וְגַם־נְבִיאִים הֶעֱמַדְתָּ לָךְ - ve'gam-nevi'im he'emadta lach): This is a direct, yet false, accusation against Nehemiah. The Hebrew term nevi'im refers to prophets. The verb he'emadta means "you caused to stand up" or "appointed," implying deliberate action on Nehemiah's part. This was a grave accusation, suggesting Nehemiah was not only raising an army but also cultivating a religious-political cult around himself. The inclusion of "prophets" lends a religious veneer to the political conspiracy they alleged, adding credibility to their "report" among those who might fear such influence. It points to a cynical manipulation of prophetic tradition for political ends.
• to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem (לִקְרֹא עָלֶיךָ בִירוּשָׁלַיִם - likro alecha birushalayim): Likro means "to call out" or "proclaim." The enemies suggest Nehemiah was publicly establishing his kingly claims within the holy city itself. This implies open rebellion and highlights their effort to portray him as overtly challenging imperial authority.
• saying, 'There is a king in Judah!' (לֵאמֹר מֶלֶךְ בִּיהוּדָה - lemor melech biYehudah!): This is the core of the accusation. Melech means "king," and Yehudah is "Judah." This claim of Nehemiah seeking to become "a king in Judah" directly invokes the Persian Empire's primary fear: insubordination and the rise of local potentates who could challenge central authority. For a Jewish leader in a Persian satrapy to be accused of kingly aspirations was highly dangerous, as it immediately invited severe imperial intervention. Historically, Judah had a king before the exile, and this charge would stir imperial paranoia about a restoration of an independent Judean monarchy.
• And now it will be reported to the king according to these words (וְעַתָּה יִשָּׁמַע לַמֶּלֶךְ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה - ve'attah yishama` lammellech haddevarim ha'elleh): This is the overt threat. Yishama means "it will be heard" or "reported." "The king" refers to Artaxerxes I Longimanus, the Great King of Persia. This part of the message is a clear declaration that the fabricated charges would be conveyed to the highest authority, implying dire consequences for Nehemiah and Jerusalem. It leverages the formidable power of the Persian Empire as a tool of intimidation.
• Come now, let us take counsel together (לְכָה עַתָּה וְנִֽוָּעֲצָה יַחְדָּו - lecha attah venivvatza` yachdav): Lecha attah means "come now." Nivvatza means "let us counsel" or "consult," and yachdav means "together." This invitation appears innocuous but is a trap. Given the previous attempts on Nehemiah's life and the seriousness of the accusations, this proposed "counsel" was anything but benevolent. It was an attempt to get Nehemiah into a vulnerable position where they could either kill him (as stated in Neh 6:2), extract concessions, or perhaps force a confession under duress, thereby stopping the wall construction and undermining Nehemiah's leadership and the divine mandate of the work.

Nehemiah 6 7 Bonus section

The adversaries of Nehemiah employed a range of psychological warfare tactics: mockery and ridicule to discourage (Neh 4:1-3), military threats to instill fear (Neh 4:7-8), and then progressive forms of deception and intimidation, culminating in the "open letter" with fabricated treasonous claims. This strategic escalation aimed not only to physically stop the wall's construction but also to break Nehemiah's spirit and undermine his authority among the people. The choice of "prophets" in the false accusation suggests that these enemies might have manipulated some within the Jewish community, potentially false prophets who could be bribed or coerced, demonstrating their willingness to corrupt even spiritual figures to achieve their aims. The narrative underscores that leaders engaged in God's work must often face politically charged and spiritually malicious opposition, requiring not just physical strength but immense spiritual discernment and integrity.

Nehemiah 6 7 Commentary

Nehemiah 6:7 reveals the desperation and cunning of Nehemiah's adversaries. Unable to stop the work through direct force or mockery, they pivot to a more insidious tactic: character assassination through an accusation of treason. The specific charge of setting up "prophets" to proclaim Nehemiah as "king" was highly potent. It tapped into Artaxerxes' natural suspicion of provincial governors assuming too much power, a historical fear for any vast empire. The enemies understood the volatile nature of the Persian Empire's stance on any potential uprising. This accusation, coupled with the threat of direct communication to the King, was designed to panic Nehemiah into either abandoning his work or rushing into a compromised "counsel" to defend himself.

Nehemiah, however, recognized this as a transparent trap, driven by malice and a desire to paralyze God's work. This situation highlights the spiritual warfare aspect of the rebuilding project; Satan always seeks to undermine God's will, often using human agents, deceit, and false narratives. Nehemiah's steadfast response throughout this chapter (and previously in Neh 4) exemplifies faith and wisdom in discerning enemy tactics. He would not be deterred or tricked into defending himself against blatant falsehoods in a compromised setting. His ultimate response, not giving heed to their ploys, ensured the continuation of the divine mission. This verse reminds us that true spiritual leadership often involves confronting lies with truth, refusing to be drawn into pointless or dangerous disputes, and remaining focused on the divine task at hand.