Nehemiah 6:1-9 · Bible study
Nehemiah 6:1-9 Commentary: The Great Work and the Open Letter
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Nehemiah faces a trap, an open letter accusing rebellion, and prays for strength. This study examines the opposition and his faithful response.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Nehemiah resists a trap and slander by staying focused on his God-given work and turning to prayer.
- Key words: 'great work' (melakhah gedolah), 'open letter' (iggeret petukhah), 'inventing' (boda), 'strengthen my hands' (khazek yadai).
- Main debate: Why include the parenthetical about the gates? The consensus sees it as a mark of honesty and a clue that the wall was still vulnerable.
- Theological theme: God's servants must combine practical wisdom with prayerful dependence in the face of opposition.
- Best use: Preached as a model for maintaining God's priorities under social and political pressure, and for responding to slander with truth and prayer.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
1When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates—
2Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me.
3So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you?”
4Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.
5The fifth time, Sanballat sent me this same message by his young servant, who had in his hand an unsealed letter
6that read: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king,
7and you have even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ Soon these rumors will reach the ears of the king. So come, let us confer together.”
8Then I sent him this reply: “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.”
9For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.
WEB World English Bible 2000
1Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),
2Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come! Let’s meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to harm me.
3I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?”
4They sent to me four times like this; and I answered them the same way.
5Then Sanballat sent his servant to me the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,
6in which was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall. You would be their king, according to these words.
7You have also appointed prophets to proclaim of you at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let’s take counsel together.”
8Then I sent to him, saying, “There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart.”
9For they all would have made us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done.” But now, strengthen my hands.
KJV King James Version 1769
1Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)
2That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
4Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
5Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;
6Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.
7And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
9For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
1Now it came to pass, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and unto the rest of our enemies, that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein (though even unto that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),
2that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
4And they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
5Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,
6wherein was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause thou art building the wall: and thou wouldest be their king, according to these words.
7And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
9For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
1And it cometh to pass, when it hath been heard by Sanballat, and Tobiah, and by Geshem the Arabian, and by the rest of our enemies, that I have builded the wall, and there hath not been left in it a breach, (also, till that time the doors I had not set up in the gates,)
2that Sanballat sendeth, also Geshem, unto me, saying, `Come and we meet together in the villages, in the valley of Ono;' and they are thinking to do to me evil.
3And I send unto them messengers, saying, `A great work I am doing, and I am not able to come down; why doth the work cease when I let it alone, and have come down unto you?'
4and they send unto me, according to this word, four times, and I return them word according to this word.
5And Sanballat sendeth unto me, according to this word, a fifth time, his servant, and an open letter in his hand;
6it is written in it, `Among the nations it hath been heard, and Gashmu is saying: Thou and the Jews are thinking to rebel, therefore thou art building the wall, and thou hast been to them for a king--according to these words!
7And also, prophets thou hast appointed to call for thee in Jerusalem, saying, A king is in Judah, and now it is heard by the king according to these words; and now come, and we take counsel together.'
8And I send unto him, saying, `It hath not been according to these words that thou art saying, for from thine own heart thou art devising them;'
9for all of them are making us afraid, saying, `Their hands are too feeble for the work, and it is not done;' and now, strengthen Thou my hands.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
1And it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobijah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),
2that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down. Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it and come down to you?
4And they sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them in the same manner.
5Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in this manner the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand,
6in which was written: It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says [it, that] thou and the Jews think to rebel, for which cause thou buildest the wall, and according to these words thou wilt become their king.
7And thou hast also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning thee at Jerusalem saying, There is a king in Judah! And now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8And I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
9For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be slackened from the work, that it be not carried out. — Now therefore strengthen my hands!
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
1And it came to pass, when Sanaballat, and Tobias, and Gossem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it, (though at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates,)
2Sanaballat and Gossem sent to me, saying: Come, and let us make a league together in the villages, in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3And I sent messengers to them, saying: I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down, lest it be neglected whilst I come, and go down to you.
4And they sent to me according to this word, four times: and I answered them after the same manner.
5And Sanaballat sent his servant to me the fifth time according to the former word, and he had a letter in his hand written in this manner:
6It is reported amongst the Gentiles, and Gossem hath said it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel, and therefore thou buildest the wall, and hast a mind to set thyself king over them: for which end
7Thou hast also set up prophets, to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying: There is a king in Judea. The king will hear of these things: therefore come now, that we may take counsel together.
8And I sent to them, saying: There is no such thing done as thou sayest: but thou feignest these things out of thy own heart.
9For all these men thought to frighten us, thinking that our hands would cease from the work, and that we would leave off. Wherefore I strengthened my hands the more:
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Nehemiah 6:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this passage records a critical shift in the enemies' strategy. After failing to stop the wall through mockery and force, Sanballat and his allies turned to deception. Keil & Delitzsch note the invitation to the plain of Ono was designed to draw Nehemiah away from his supporters and harm him. Adam Clarke explains they intended to capture or murder him. When Nehemiah refused four times, Sanballat escalated to an open letter, an unsealed message meant to become public. Barnes observes that this method aimed to spread fear and create a reputation of rebellion. The parenthetical detail 'though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates' is regarded by Gill as showing the work was largely complete, thereby intensifying the enemies' alarm. Matthew Henry highlights Nehemiah's wise dismissal: 'I am doing a great work.' The commentators unanimously see Nehemiah's repeated refusal and brief denial as signs of discernment. The prayer in verse 9 is universally seen as a turning to God for strength when faced with intimidation.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Nehemiah completed the wall despite sustained deception and slander, relying on prayer and steadfast focus on the work God had given him.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The invitation to the plain of Ono | Sanballat and Geshem's invitation was a deception (v.2: 'they intended to harm me'). All commentators agree it was a trap. | Adam Clarke reads it as an attempt to murder Nehemiah, while Matthew Henry sees it primarily as a tactic to interrupt the building work. Both motives may have been at play. |
| The purpose of the open letter | The unsealed letter was designed to intimidate Nehemiah and the Jews and to spread false accusations. | Barnes emphasizes that the open letter was meant to frighten the general population into abandoning the work; Adam Clarke stresses that the open format was a deliberate insult to Nehemiah's dignity. |
| The parenthetical about the gates (v.1) | The note that the doors were not yet hung is historically accurate and was included for precision. | Some note that it shows the wall was functionally complete (Gill), intensifying the enemies' desperation. Others note that the lack of doors left the city vulnerable, explaining why the enemies still hoped to stop the project before full fortification (Cambridge). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Nehemiah served as cupbearer to Artaxerxes I of Persia and was appointed governor of Judah around 445 BC. He returned to Jerusalem with royal backing to rebuild the city walls, a project that directly threatened the regional power of Sanballat, governor of Samaria; Tobiah, the Ammonite official; and Geshem the Arabian. These men had opposed Nehemiah from the start (Nehemiah 2:10, 19). By chapter 6, the wall had been built up to half its height (Nehemiah 4:6) and the breaches were filled, though the gates still lacked doors. This progress stirred the enemies to more desperate measures.
The plain of Ono, about 25, 30 miles from Jerusalem in Benjaminite territory (Joshua 18:26), was far from Nehemiah's supporters. Adam Clarke notes that inviting him to 'the villages' (Hebrew keferim) was a way to isolate him for ambush. The four repeated requests show persistent pressure. On the fifth attempt, Sanballat sent an open letter, unsealed, as an insult. In Persian custom, letters to dignitaries were sealed and enclosed in a bag; an open letter signalled contempt (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). Its content was intended to become public knowledge, spreading fear among the workers. The accusation of rebellion was the most serious charge a Persian governor could face, since earlier revolts had been crushed ruthlessly.
This historical setting clarifies why Nehemiah refused to leave the city and why he answered so briefly. The parenthetical note about the gates is not trivial: it confirms the wall was built but not yet secure. The enemies saw an opportunity to strike before the fortifications were fully operational. Nehemiah's caution saved his life and kept the work moving.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Nehemiah 6:1, 9. The passage is stable across manuscript traditions, and the few differences among English translations reflect translation choices rather than underlying textual disagreements.
Reception History
Early Jewish and Christian tradition viewed Nehemiah as a model of faithful leadership who combined political skill with prayer. In the Reformation period, Protestants used this passage to illustrate the priority of God’s work over worldly distractions and the proper response to false accusation. The Puritan commentator Matthew Henry, in his widely used exposition, highlighted Nehemiah’s refusal to be diverted and his immediate turn to prayer as patterns for believers facing opposition. In modern preaching, this passage has been a source of encouragement for Christians facing workplace slander or political pressure, emphasizing that steadfast focus and honest prayer outlast intimidation.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Trap of Distraction (vv.1, 2). The enemies used a seemingly friendly invitation to draw Nehemiah away from his post. His refusal shows that not every request for dialogue is innocent.
- The Weapon of Slander (vv.3, 7). The open letter spread lies about rebellion and royal ambitions. Slander aimed to weaken the workers’ resolve and discredit Nehemiah before the Persian king.
- The Resource of Prayer (vv.8, 9). Nehemiah denied the charges plainly and then cried out to God, 'strengthen my hands.' The battle was both practical and spiritual.
Five-point outline
- The Enemy's Desperation (v.1). The wall’s completion (even without gates) drove opponents to extreme measures.
- The Invitation to Compromise (v.2). 'Let’s meet together' was a ruse to isolate and harm Nehemiah.
- The Priority of the Great Work (vv.3, 4). Nehemiah’s repeated reply: 'I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down.' The work mattered more than the conference.
- The Attack of the Open Letter (vv.5, 7). The accusation of rebellion was designed to frighten the people and alert the king.
- The Steadfast Denial and the Prayer (vv.8, 9). Nehemiah answered the lie with fact and then turned to God for strength.
Illustration hooks
- A parent trying to finish a home project while children keep calling for attention. The request seems reasonable, but the timing is meant to stop progress.
- A colleague who repeatedly schedules meetings during your focused work time to slow your output, polite on the surface, but calculated underneath.
- A Christian facing rumors at work or church that question their motives, accusations that seem too convenient to be coincidental.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I tell when an invitation is actually a trap?
- What should I do when my reputation is attacked with false accusations?
- How do I pray when I feel overwhelmed by persistent opposition?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows Nehemiah's sharp discernment and his habit of turning to God. As you discuss in your small group, explore how you can respond when your priorities are challenged and your character is slandered.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What did Sanballat and Geshem propose to Nehemiah? (vv.1, 2)
- Observation: How many times did they send the same request, and how did Nehemiah respond each time? (vv.3, 4)
- Observation: What specific accusations did the open letter contain? (vv.6, 7)
- Interpretation: Why do you think Nehemiah called his work 'a great work'? What does that reveal about his view of the task?
- Interpretation: The parenthetical note that the doors were not yet installed (v.1) seems like a small detail. How does it affect your view of the enemies' urgency?
- Interpretation: Nehemiah did not give a long defense; he simply denied the charge and prayed. What does this teach about responding to slander?
- Application: In a situation today, when might you need to say 'I cannot come down' to protect a God-given responsibility?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Nehemiah 2:10 | When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. |
| Nehemiah 2:19 | But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they ridiculed us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?” |
| Nehemiah 3:1 | Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate. They sanctified it, and set up its doors. They sanctified it even to the tower of Hammeah, to the tower of Hananel. |
| Nehemiah 3:3 | The sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. |
| Nehemiah 3:6 | Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the old gate. They laid its beams and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. |
| Nehemiah 4:1 | But when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and was very indignant, and mocked the Jews. |
| Nehemiah 4:6 | So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. |
| Nehemiah 4:7 | But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be filled, they were very angry; |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights how Sanballat's open letter was a calculated insult, since Eastern governors always received sealed dispatches in silk bags. He also praises Nehemiah's refusal as the perfect model for any leader distracted by petty attacks: "I am doing a great work, so I cannot stoop to your nonsense." The invitation was merely a trap to seize or kill him.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes interprets the phrase as "in the gates," noting the work would be delayed until the end. The choice of Ono, far from Jerusalem, was a trap to isolate Nehemiah from his supporters. The open letter aimed to spread alarm among the Jews and stop the rebuilding.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible commentary argues that Nehemiah's response to his enemies' intimidation is best read as a personal resolution, not a prayer. The Hebrew verb is more naturally taken as an infinitive expressing determination: "I will strengthen my hands." Supplying "O God" would be an interpretive addition not present in the original text.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights Nehemiah’s refusal to be lured away from the wall by Sanballat’s repeated invitations. His stated reason—that the great work would cease if he left—was genuine, but he also suspected the meetings were a trap to kill or imprison him. Nehemiah saw that finishing God’s work mattered more than entertaining such dangerous proposals.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Nehemiah's repeated refusal to meet Sanballat was driven less by the press of work and more by a well-founded fear that seizure or murder would halt the fortifications. He also highlights the insult of the unsealed letter and Nehemiah's blunt denial of the invented rumors.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch emphasizes that Nehemiah refused the enemies' invitations not merely from suspicion but because his presence was essential for the uninterrupted work. They see the open letter as a calculated tactic to force a meeting, but Nehemiah recognized the accusation as entirely invented. The abrupt prayer "strengthen my hands" records his immediate turn to God for help.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that Nehemiah's most dangerous enemies were not the open opponents but false brethren who pretended friendship while serving the enemy. Their aim was to lure him into compromising his great work under the guise of safety or cooperation. Nehemiah's steadfast refusal to "come down" is the model for resisting such enticements.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights two distinct attacks against Nehemiah: a plot to lure him into a deadly trap and a later slander campaign. He shows that Nehemiah’s steady refusal to leave his God-given work, paired with a blunt denial of false charges, frustrated both schemes through a blend of providence and prudence.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that when the same temptation returns, we must resist it with the same steady reason and resolution, never letting importunity push us into anything ill or imprudent. He highlights the prayer "strengthen my hands" as a fitting petition when stepping into any particular service or conflict in the Christian life.