Nehemiah 4:2

Translations

Modern

…before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?”

Traditional

And 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?

Literal

And he spoke before the face of his brothers and the force of Samaria and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of the rubble—and they are burned?”

Latin

…et dixit coram fratribus suis, et frequentia Samaritanorum: Quid Judæi faciunt imbecilles? num dimittent eos gentes? num sacrificabunt, et complebunt in una die? numquid ædificare poterunt lapides de acervis pulveris, qui combusti sunt?

Original

Hebrew

English

…before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?”

Notes

Nehemiah 4:2

The Persians placed Samarian army officers in Jerusalem to maintain peace.
feeble Jews: Sanballat's mockery had some truth. The Jews were not wealthy, powerful, or numerous. However, Sanballat did not understand the strength of the God the Jews served.
Can they restore...Will they offer sacrifices?: Sanballat might have mocked the sudden increase in sacrifices at the temple as the Israelites dedicated their work to the Lord.
burnt stones...mounds of rubble: When fire destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC, it heated the stones, causing some to crack and crumble. The people used these stones to rebuild the walls.

Theme notes and profiles

Nehemiah Samaritans Dealing with Conflict Jerusalem Persecution Rebuilding of Jerusalem

Related verses

1 Corinthians 1:27
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
Ezra 4:9–10
From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,
1 Samuel 17:43–44
“Am I a dog,” he said to David, “that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
Zechariah 12:8
On that day the LORD will defend the people of Jerusalem, so that the weakest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD going before them.
Nehemiah 4:10
Meanwhile, the people of Judah said: “The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.”
Ezekiel 37:3–13
Then He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones come to life?” “O Lord GOD,” I replied, “only You know.”
Nehemiah 12:43
On that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar.
Habakkuk 3:2
O LORD, I have heard the report of You; I stand in awe, O LORD, of Your deeds. Revive them in these years; make them known in these years. In Your wrath, remember mercy!
Nehemiah 12:27
At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from all their homes and brought to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.
1 Samuel 14:11–12
So the two of them showed themselves to the outpost of the Philistines, who exclaimed, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they were hiding!”

People

Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province

Places

Samaria: Capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel; Samaritan inhabitants

Glossary

Book of Nehemiah Jew Nehemiah (Person) Persia, Persians Postexilic Period Samaritans Sanballat

Topics

Armies: March in Ranks: Fortifications Character of the Wicked: Despising Saints Character of the Wicked: Despising the Works of the Faithful Contempt: Sanballat Fortresses: Places Used as Cities Modern Samaria: Inhabitants of Opposed the Jews After Their Return from Captivity Sarcasm: Sanballat's Address to the Army of Samaria

Nehemiah 4:2

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

People

Places

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Related verses

Glossary

Topics