Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.
NEHEMIAH 6:10KJVWhat does Nehemiah 6:10 mean?
Nehemiah 6:10 describes how Nehemiah visited the house of Shemaiah, who was confined indoors, and heard Shemaiah urge him to hide in the temple because people were coming to kill him at night. The verse shows a moment where Nehemiah is warned of a threat to his life and is advised to seek safety in the temple.
Nehemiah himself is the one visiting Shemaiah, who is described as being "shut up"—likely meaning he was staying inside, perhaps to appear trustworthy or to set the scene for his warning. Shemaiah tells Nehemiah they should meet together inside the temple and shut its doors, claiming that Nehemiah's enemies plan to kill him that night. This event takes place while Nehemiah is leading the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls, and it is part of a series of attempts to frighten or stop him.
The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 6:10
- בֵּית (bêṯ, "house"): This word is used twice—first for Shemaiah's house and then for the "house of God," the temple. The repetition highlights the shift from a private home to the sacred temple, emphasizing the seriousness of the proposed hiding place.
- נִסְגָּר (nisgar, "shut up"): This word means "confined" or "shut in." Shemaiah's state of being "shut up" may have been meant to create an atmosphere of urgency or secrecy, making his warning seem more credible.
- הֵיכָל (heikhal, "temple"): This word refers specifically to the temple building itself, not just the temple area. The suggestion to hide in the heikhal was significant because only priests were allowed inside, so this advice would have put Nehemiah in a compromising position.
Why Nehemiah 6:10 matters
- The verse reveals a subtle attempt to trap Nehemiah, not just a straightforward warning—Shemaiah’s advice would have led Nehemiah to break the law by entering the temple, undermining his leadership and reputation.
- Nehemiah 6:10 connects to the larger theme of opposition and deception faced by Nehemiah as he works to rebuild Jerusalem, showing that threats sometimes come in the form of seemingly friendly advice.
- Understanding the details of the temple (heikhal) and who could enter helps clarify why Shemaiah’s suggestion was not just about safety but also about tempting Nehemiah to act wrongly.