Bible Strands
Nehemiah 4:1
Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Nehemiah 4:1 records Sanballat’s reaction upon hearing that the Jews were rebuilding the wall. He voices his anger and mockery openly before his associates and the army of Samaria.
The words — The Hebrew verb שָמַע (sha.Ma') denotes Sanballat’s direct perception of the construction, while בוֹנִים (vo.Nim) specifies the ongoing action of rebuilding. These terms anchor the narrative in a concrete historical moment of opposition.
The thread — The passage echoes Nehemiah 2:10, where Sanballat and Tobiah initially react with disturbance to the same project. It also aligns with the pattern of opposition described in Psalms 35:15 and Hebrews 11:36, where adversaries gather to mock those engaged in faithful work.
Why it lands — The text documents how external mockery accompanies obedience to a divine mandate. It requires the reader to recognize that opposition is a recorded reality of faithful action, not a sign of divine abandonment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
Cross-references
- Nehemiah 2:10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.
- Hebrews 11:36 Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
- Psalms 35:15 But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.
- Nehemiah 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”
- Acts 5:17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out
- Matthew 27:29 And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
- Ezra 4:1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,
- Psalms 44:13 You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, a mockery and derision to those around us.