The Meaning of Nehemiah 4:3 Explained

Nehemiah 4:3

KJV: Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

YLT: And Tobiah the Ammonite is by him and saith, 'Also, that which they are building -- if a fox doth go up, then it hath broken down their stone wall.'

Darby: And Tobijah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox went up, it would break down their stone wall. --

ASV: Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.

Discover Nehemiah 4:3

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Nehemiah 4:3?

MEANING: What does Nehemiah 4:3 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Nehemiah 4:3 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Nehemiah 4:3?

What is the context of Nehemiah 4:3?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

What does Nehemiah 4:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 4:1-12 - Braving Ridicule And Treachery

Suspicion, Nehemiah 2:12-20. Sanballat was probably a Moabite, a native of Horonaim; Tobiah had been a slave. There are many descendants of these two men in all our Christian communities today, hindering God's work. This heroic soul met their scorn and the depression of the people by unwavering faith and calm confidence in the good hand of God, Nehemiah 2:18. How small do our difficulties seem when brought into the sight of the God of heaven!

Reproach, Nehemiah 4:1-6. Whenever God's work revives, there is sure to be evil-speaking and reproach. It is a mistake to reply. Let us hand over our cause to God, and go on with His work. It matters very little what men say, as long as He is pleased. Had Nehemiah had the message of Christ he would not have prayed as in Nehemiah 2:5. Our Lord taught us to intercede for our enemies, Matthew 5:44. But let us emulate Nehemiah's zeal for the name of God, and let us remember that increased light means increased responsibility, Matthew 11:11.

Active opposition, Nehemiah 2:7-12. In time of hostility, our friends and allies are apt to grow discouraged and to advise the suspension of our work. "We are not able;" but faith looks to God alone and triumphantly holds on its way. [source]

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 4

¹ While the enemies scoff, Nehemiah prays and continues the work
⁷ Understanding the wrath and secrets of the enemy, he sets a watch
¹³ He arms the laborers
¹⁹ and gives military precepts

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 4:3 mean?

and Tobiah [was] the Ammonite beside him and he said even whatever they build if goes up [on it] a fox and even he will break down wall their stone -

וְטוֹבִיָּ֥ה הָעַמֹּנִ֖י אֶצְל֑וֹ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר גַּ֚ם אֲשֶׁר־ הֵ֣ם בּוֹנִ֔ים אִם־ יַעֲלֶ֣ה שׁוּעָ֔ל וּפָרַ֖ץ חוֹמַ֥ת אַבְנֵיהֶֽם פ

וְטוֹבִיָּ֥ה	and Tobiah [was]
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: טֹובִיָּה Sense: head of a family who returned from exile with Zerubbabel but who were unable to prove their connection with Israel.
הָעַמֹּנִ֖י	the Ammonite
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: עַמֹּונִי Sense: descendants of Ammon and inhabitants of Ammon.
אֶצְל֑וֹ	beside him
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular Root: אֵצֶל Sense: beside, by, near, nearness, joining, proximity subst.
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר	and he said
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
גַּ֚ם	even
Parse: Conjunction Root: גַּם Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
אֲשֶׁר־	whatever
Parse: Pronoun, relative Root: אֲשֶׁר Sense: (relative part.).
בּוֹנִ֔ים	build
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural Root: בָּנָה Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
יַעֲלֶ֣ה	goes up [on it]
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: סָלַק Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
שׁוּעָ֔ל	a fox
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: שׁוּעָל Sense: fox, a burrower.
וּפָרַ֖ץ	and even he will break down
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular Root: פָּרַץ Sense: to break through or down or over, burst, breach.
חוֹמַ֥ת	wall
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct Root: חֹומָה Sense: wall.
אַבְנֵיהֶֽם	their stone
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural Root: אֶבֶן Sense: stone (large or small).
פ	-
Parse: Punctuation

What are the major concepts related to Nehemiah 4:3?

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Similar Scriptures for Nehemiah 4:3

		Nehemiah 2:10 [3]
		Lamentations 5:18 [2]
		Nehemiah 2:19 [2]
		Nehemiah 6:1 [2]
		1 Kings 20:18 [2]
		2 Kings 18:23 [2]
		1 Kings 20:10 [2]