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,
NEHEMIAH 4:7KJVWhat does Nehemiah 4:7 mean?
Nehemiah 4:7 describes how several groups opposed to the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls became very angry when they heard that the gaps in the walls were being repaired. The verse lists these groups—Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites—as hearing about the progress and reacting with strong hostility.
In this part of Nehemiah, the Jewish people are working to rebuild Jerusalem’s defenses after returning from exile. The verse highlights the growing opposition from neighboring peoples who feel threatened by Jerusalem’s restoration. The anger of these groups sets the stage for the challenges and threats Nehemiah and his people will face as they continue their work.
The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 4:7
- The word for “heard” is שָׁמַע (shamaʿ), which means to hear or listen. This word often carries the sense of not just hearing a sound, but understanding and reacting to news, which explains the strong response from these groups.
- The word for “walls” is חוֹמָה (chomah), specifically referring to a protective city wall. The focus on the walls being “made up” shows the practical progress that threatened Jerusalem’s neighbors.
- The word for “breaches” is פֶּרֶץ (peretz), meaning a break or gap. The fact that these gaps were “began to be stopped” (סָתַם, satam) shows the restoration was actively underway, not just planned.
- The word for “very wroth” is חָרָה (charah), which means to be kindled with anger. The Hebrew emphasizes an intense emotional reaction, not just mild irritation.
Why Nehemiah 4:7 matters
- Nehemiah 4:7 clarifies that opposition to Jerusalem’s rebuilding was not just from one or two individuals, but from a coalition of surrounding peoples who felt threatened by the city’s revival.
- The verse highlights how progress in God’s work often brings increased resistance, a theme that runs throughout Nehemiah’s story.
- Understanding the specific groups and their anger helps explain the seriousness of the threats Nehemiah’s community faced and why later verses focus on defense and vigilance.