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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Nehemiah 4:3–8

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
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.
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
¶ But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

30 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 3

  1. Nehemiah 2:19Rank 1 from verse 3
    Open

    19But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?

  2. 1 Kings 20:10Rank 2 from verse 3
    Open

    10And Ben-hadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.

  3. 1 Kings 20:18Rank 3 from verse 3
    Open

    18And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.

  4. 2 Kings 18:23Rank 4 from verse 3
    Open

    23Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

  5. Nehemiah 2:10Rank 5 from verse 3
    Open

    10When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

From verse 4

  1. Psalms 79:12Rank 1 from verse 4
    Open

    12And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

  2. Psalms 123:3–4Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    3Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

    4Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.

  3. Proverbs 3:34Rank 3 from verse 4
    Open

    34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

  4. Hosea 12:14Rank 4 from verse 4
    Open

    14Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.

  5. 1 Samuel 17:26Rank 5 from verse 4
    Open

    26And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

From verse 5

  1. Jeremiah 18:23Rank 1 from verse 5
    Open

    23Yet, Lord, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger.

  2. Psalms 109:14Rank 2 from verse 5
    Open

    14Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the Lord; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.

  3. Psalms 69:27–28Rank 3 from verse 5
    Open

    27Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.

    28Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

  4. 2 Timothy 4:14Rank 4 from verse 5
    Open

    14Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

  5. Isaiah 44:22Rank 5 from verse 5
    Open

    22I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

From verse 6

  1. Philippians 2:13Rank 1 from verse 6
    Open

    13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

  2. 1 Chronicles 29:3Rank 2 from verse 6
    Open

    3Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

  3. Hebrews 13:21Rank 3 from verse 6
    Open

    21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

  4. Nehemiah 6:15Rank 4 from verse 6
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    15¶ So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.

  5. 1 Chronicles 29:14Rank 5 from verse 6
    Open

    14But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

From verse 7

  1. Nehemiah 2:10Rank 1 from verse 7
    Open

    10When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

  2. Nehemiah 4:1Rank 2 from verse 7
    Open

    1BUT it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

  3. Acts 4:17–18Rank 3 from verse 7
    Open

    17But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

    18And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

  4. Acts 5:33Rank 4 from verse 7
    Open

    33¶ When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

  5. Amos 1:13Rank 5 from verse 7
    Open

    13¶ Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:

From verse 8

  1. Psalms 83:3–11Rank 1 from verse 8
    Open

    3They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.

    4They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

    5For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:

    6The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;

    7Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

    8Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.

    9Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:

    10Which perished at En-dor: they became as dung for the earth.

    11Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:

  2. Acts 23:12–13Rank 2 from verse 8
    Open

    12And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

    13And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

  3. Isaiah 8:9–10Rank 3 from verse 8
    Open

    9¶ Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.

    10Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

  4. Jeremiah 20:10Rank 4 from verse 8
    Open

    10¶ For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

  5. Psalms 2:1–3Rank 5 from verse 8
    Open

    1WHY do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

    2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,

    3Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Nehemiah 4:3

COMBINED MEANING

even

↗

1. Used to emphasize, include, or precisely identify what is meant: indeed, precisely, or namely. 2. Used to mark a boundary, endpoint, or full reach in place, time, or degree: up to, as far as, or through. 3. In ‘even as,’ ‘even so,’ and like constructions, just as, exactly so, or in the same manner. 4. The evening, or close of day. 5. Equal, level, identical, balanced, or uniform.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fox

↗

1. A wild animal. 2. Figuratively, a person likened to a fox.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

break

↗

1. To separate, fracture, burst, or open. 2. To interrupt or violate. 3. To subdue. 4. To burst forth.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

stone

↗

Sense 1: A piece or mass of rock. Sense 2: To strike or kill with stones.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wall

↗

Sense 1: A structure raised to enclose, divide, or defend a place. Sense 2: Figuratively, a defense or protection.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Nehemiah 4:4

COMBINED MEANING

hear

↗

Sense 1: To perceive sound or spoken words. Sense 2: To receive or learn by report. Sense 3: To listen to, regard, or heed. Sense 4: To attend favourably to a request.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

turn

↗

Sense 1: To change direction, position, condition, purpose, or allegiance; to cause such a change. Sense 2: One’s time or occasion in an order or succession.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

reproach

↗

Sense 1: Shame, disgrace, dishonour, contempt, blame, reviling, or taunt. Sense 2: As a verb, to shame, insult, blame, or speak contemptuously against.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

upon

↗

1. Marks the person, place, thing, or basis to which something is related: on or onto; above or over; toward or against as the target of action, speech, thought, attention, or force; resting on, assigned to, or affecting as a state, gift, burden, duty, guilt, or judgment; supported by or based on; or one placed, added, or repeated on or after another. 2. With a stated time or occasion, or a preceding event, at that time or point, or at or after that event: on, at, when, then, or following it.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

head

↗

The upper part of the body; a chief, source, summit, or leading position.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

prey

↗

1. A person, animal, possession, or spoil seized or pursued to be taken, plundered, or devoured. 2. To seize, plunder, or take by force.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

land

↗

Sense 1: The ground or earth; a country, territory, or region. Sense 2: To set or come on shore.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Nehemiah 4:5

COMBINED MEANING

iniquity

↗

Wickedness, unrighteousness, transgression, or sin; the guilt or burden of such wrongdoing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

let

↗

Sense 1: To allow or permit; in older KJV use, also to hinder or restrain. Sense 2: To lower or send down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sin

↗

1. Wrongdoing against God and his law; transgression or unrighteousness. 2. The guilt or burden of such wrongdoing, or the inward principle so named. 3. As a verb, to commit such wrongdoing.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

blotted

↗

Wiped out, erased, removed, or cancelled from sight, record, remembrance, or account.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

before

↗

Earlier than in time; in front of; in the presence of; or prior in order or rank.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

provoked

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of provoke, meaning to stir up or incite, whether to anger or to action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

anger

↗

Sense 1: Strong displeasure or indignation. Sense 2: As a verb, to provoke to such displeasure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Nehemiah 4:6

COMBINED MEANING

wall

↗

Sense 1: A structure raised to enclose, divide, or defend a place. Sense 2: Figuratively, a defense or protection.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

joined

↗

Connected, fastened, united, associated, attached, adjoining, or brought together.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

people

↗

Persons collectively; a nation, community, or group considered as a body.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mind

↗

Sense 1: The inward faculty and activity of understanding, thought, memory, attention, judgment, intention, purpose, desire, disposition, resolve, or consent; what one thinks, wills, regards, or sets attention upon. Sense 2: To mind is to attend to, regard, remember, purpose, or be disposed toward something.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

work

↗

Sense 1: Labour, occupation, an assigned task, or service. Sense 2: An action, deed, operation, effect, product, thing made, or manner of workmanship. Sense 3: To labour, act, operate, perform, make, produce, accomplish, or bring about.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Nehemiah 4:7

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

pass

↗

To go by, through, over, or beyond; to happen, cease, or be transferred.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heard

↗

Sense 1: Perceived by the ear. Sense 2: Received or learned by report. Sense 3: Listened to, regarded, or heeded. Sense 4: Favourably attended to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

made

↗

Formed, caused, prepared, appointed, or brought into a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

began

↗

Past-tense or past-participial form of begin (to have an original or first existence; to take rise; to commence).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

stopped

↗

Closed, blocked, obstructed, restrained, intercepted, or silenced so that flow, passage, action, or reply could not continue.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

very

↗

Sense 1: Truly, actually, exactly, or the same in identity. Sense 2: To a great or marked degree, used to intensify the quality named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Nehemiah 4:8

COMBINED MEANING

fight

↗

Sense 1: A battle, struggle, or contest. Sense 2: As a verb, to contend.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

against

↗

Opposed to, contrary to, facing, toward, or in contact with; in some settings, exposed to or ready for a stated time.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

hinder

↗

Sense 1: To obstruct, prevent, delay, restrain, or make progress difficult Sense 2: as a description of position, rear, back, later, or opposite the former or forepart.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

Choose a connected KJV word or phrase to find where it appears in scripture.

READ THE PASSAGE

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Suggested context · Nehemiah 4:1–12

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

4:1BUT it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

4:2And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

4:3Now 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.

Selected passage

4:4Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

Selected passage

4:5And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.

Selected passage

4:6So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

Selected passage

4:7¶ But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

Selected passage

4:8And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

Selected passage

4:9Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

4:10And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

4:11And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

4:12And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.

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