Nehemiah 6:13 Meaning: The Sin They Wanted Him to Commit
He was hired so that I would be afraid, do so, and sin, and that they might have material for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
For this cause was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
so that he is an hireling, that I may fear and do so, and I had sinned, and it had been to them for an evil name that they may reproach me.
Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have wherewith to spread an evil report, that they might reproach me.
Meaning in one sentence
Why would hiding in the temple be a sin? Nehemiah 6:13 shows how his enemies used fear to try to make him break God's law.
Context
Nehemiah was rebuilding Jerusalem's wall, and the enemies of Israel had tried everything to stop him: mockery, threats, even a rumor that he planned to rebel against Persia. When none of that worked, they hired a false prophet named Shemaiah. Shemaiah pretended to be a friend, warning Nehemiah that assassins were coming at night. He urged Nehemiah to flee with him into the temple and lock the doors. Nehemiah saw the trap. He knew God had not sent this message, the enemy was using fear to make him do something foolish.
Key Words
The Hebrew word for hired here is sakur. It means a mercenary, someone paid to do a dirty job for wages. Shemaiah was not a genuine prophet; he was on the payroll of Tobiah and Sanballat. The word for afraid is yare, the same word used for the fear of the Lord. But here it is twisted: the enemies wanted Nehemiah to fear men more than God, to let terror drive his decisions. And the word for sin is chata, which means to miss the mark, to go off the path. Nehemiah would have missed the path of obedience by entering the temple as a layman, a serious violation of God's holiness laws. Fear would have led him straight into sin.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse with the same question: what exactly would the sin have been? Many Protestant commentators, like Matthew Henry and John Wesley, point out that entering the temple itself was forbidden to anyone not a priest, it would have been a clear violation of the law. Catholic and Orthodox readers note the same: the sanctuary was sacred, and Nehemiah, as governor and a layman, had no right to go there. Others emphasize the sin of cowardice and distrust: by fleeing in fear, Nehemiah would have doubted God's protection and given the enemies grounds to mock God's people. Both readings hold together: the trap was spiritual and practical at once.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume the sin here was merely being afraid, as if Nehemiah would have sinned by feeling fear. In fact, the sin was the action fear would have led him to take: entering the temple unlawfully. Fear itself is not the sin in this verse; the planned disobedience was. Nehemiah was afraid (as anyone would be), but he refused to let fear drive him to break God's command.
Living This Out
You may never face a false prophet inviting you into the temple, but you will face moments when fear tries to push you into something wrong. A friend warns you that someone is spreading rumors, and your first instinct is to defend yourself by bending the truth. A colleague pressures you to cut a corner at work, saying everyone does it. Fear of losing approval, safety, or reputation can make a wrong choice look like the only way out. Nehemiah shows you a different path: pause, ask whether God is in this advice, and trust that obedience, even when it feels risky, is the truly safe place to stand.
Main takeaway: Fear can be a trap, but discerning God's voice and obeying His commands keeps you from the sin that fear wants to lead you into.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Nehemiah was building a wall. Bad people wanted him to stop. They told him to hide in God's special house, but that would have been wrong. Nehemiah knew God wanted him to stay at his work, so he did not listen to them.
For ages 9, 12
Nehemiah's enemies hired a fake friend to warn him that assassins were coming. The fake friend said, “Hide in the temple so you'll be safe.” But Nehemiah knew that going into the temple was against God's law for someone who wasn't a priest. He realized that fear was being used to make him disobey. He chose to trust God and keep working. Sometimes people try to scare you into doing something you know is wrong. Remember Nehemiah: ask whether God would approve of what they're asking, then do what is right even if you're afraid.
Questions People Ask
Why would going into the temple have been a sin for Nehemiah?
Only priests were allowed to enter the inner parts of the temple. Nehemiah was the governor and a layman. Entering the sanctuary would have violated God's law about the holiness of the temple, a serious act of disobedience.
Who was Shemaiah and why was he hired?
Shemaiah was a prophet, but not a true one. He was hired by Nehemiah's enemies Tobiah and Sanballat. His job was to trick Nehemiah into sinning by hiding in the temple, so the enemies could spread an evil report and ruin Nehemiah's reputation.
What does 'an evil report' or 'evil name' mean in this verse?
It means a bad reputation. The enemies wanted to give Nehemiah a reputation as someone who broke God's law and was a coward. If he had fled into the temple, they could accuse him of rebellion or unfaithfulness, discrediting him before the people and the Persian king.
Does this verse mean we should never be afraid?
No. Nehemiah probably felt afraid, but he did not let fear control his actions. The sin was not the feeling of fear, but the decision to disobey God because of fear. Christians are called to acknowledge fear honestly, then choose obedience anyway.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study