Nehemiah 6:17 Meaning: Why Did Judah's Nobles Write to Tobiah?
Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.
Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.
Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.
Also, in those days the freemen of Judah are multiplying their letters going unto Tobiah, and those of Tobiah are coming in unto them;
Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobijah, and those of Tobijah came to them.
Meaning in one sentence
Nehemiah 6:17 reveals the hidden correspondence between Judah's nobles and the enemy Tobiah. Learn why this betrayal happened and its warning for us today.
Context
Nehemiah has just recorded the completion of the wall in fifty-two days. The enemies who had tried to stop the work lost their confidence, because they saw that God was with the builders. But the chapter does not end with a clean victory. In verse 17, Nehemiah adds a troubling detail: the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and his letters came back to them. Tobiah was an Ammonite who had repeatedly plotted against the rebuilding. These letters were not innocent. They were part of a network of betrayal that ran through the highest circles in Judah.
Key Words
The Hebrew verb behind ‘multiplying’ (mar·Bim) is used in the text: the nobles were making many letters, more and more. This was not a single exchange but a steady flow of communication, a relationship being tended. The word for ‘nobles’ (chor) means a freeborn person of rank, someone who should have led with integrity. And the word ‘letters’ (ig.ge.ret) is a missive, often official or important. Together they paint a picture: the very people entrusted with leadership were using their position to stay connected to an enemy. It is a reminder that influence can be used to quietly undermine what God is doing, even while appearing loyal.
How Christians Read This Verse
Across Christian traditions, commentators read this verse as a record of internal betrayal. Adam Clarke, a Methodist writer, calls it a “treacherous correspondence.” The Cambridge Bible, representing Anglican scholarship, agrees: it was a treasonable exchange. Matthew Henry, from the Reformed tradition, points out that Tobiah had family ties in Judah through marriage, which gave him access. The Baptist commentator John Gill notes that the letters informed Tobiah of Nehemiah’s progress and allowed him to advise against the nation’s true interest. All these voices affirm that the nobles were false friends, a sobering warning that opposition can come from within.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers skim this verse as a simple report of communication. In fact, the surrounding verses and commentaries make clear this was a betrayal. The nobles were secretly allied with an enemy of God’s work. This was not neutral correspondence; it was an active conspiracy that threatened the rebuilding effort from inside the community.
Living This Out
Have you ever found yourself maintaining a connection that quietly undermines what you know is right? Maybe it is a friendship that pulls you away from your commitments, or a business relationship that asks you to compromise. The nobles of Judah did not break openly with the builders. They just kept writing letters. This week, ask yourself whether any of your regular communications, emails, texts, calls, are linking you to something that opposes God’s purposes. You do not have to break ties dramatically. But you may need to stop sending those letters.
Main takeaway: Even the leaders closest to God’s work can be quietly undermining it; stay alert and keep your heart loyal.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Some important people in Judah were writing letters to the bad guy. That was wrong. We should always be loyal to God and His people.
For ages 9, 12
Nehemiah had just finished the wall, but the trouble was not over. Even the nobles of Judah, the leaders who should have helped, were secretly writing to Tobiah, an enemy. They were betraying God’s work by staying friends with someone who wanted to stop it. Sometimes the people who seem closest to us can be the ones who lead us away from what is right. Be careful who you listen to and who you trust.
Questions People Ask
Why did the nobles of Judah write to Tobiah?
The nobles wrote to Tobiah because he was connected to them through marriage. Tobiah was married to a Jewish woman from a respected family, and his son married the daughter of a Jewish noble. These family ties made the nobles feel obligated to stay in contact, but the letters became a way for Tobiah to learn about Nehemiah’s plans and spread fear.
What does 'multiplying their letters' mean?
The Hebrew verb means that the nobles were sending many letters repeatedly. It was not a single note but an ongoing, growing correspondence. This shows that the relationship with Tobiah was active and cultivated, not a one-time event.
Who was Tobiah in the book of Nehemiah?
Tobiah was an Ammonite official who, along with Sanballat and others, opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. He used mockery, threats, and schemes to stop the work. Despite being an enemy, he had family ties in Jerusalem through marriage, which gave him a foothold among the Jewish nobles.
Why is Nehemiah 6:17 important for understanding the whole story?
This verse reveals that the biggest threat to Nehemiah’s work came from inside the community, not just from outside enemies. It shows that even leaders can be drawn into betrayal through relationships and that God’s work can succeed despite internal opposition.
What can we learn from this verse today?
We learn to examine our own relationships. Some connections may seem harmless, like sending letters, but they can slowly align us with those who oppose God’s purposes. We are called to be discerning about who we trust and how we use our influence.
For pastors & researchers
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