Nehemiah 6:19 · Bible study
Nehemiah 6:19 Commentary: The Double Game and Fear
Hebrew · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why nobles praised Tobiah to Nehemiah while feeding him information, and how Tobiah used letters to intimidate.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Nobles praised Tobiah to Nehemiah while leaking his words to Tobiah, who then sent letters to frighten him.
- Key words: 'good deeds' (טוֹבֹתָיו), a pun on Tobiah's name; 'sending out' (מוֹצִיאִים), continuous action of relaying information; 'to make afraid' (לְיָרְאֵנִי), the purpose of the letters.
- Main debate: Were the nobles trying to reconcile Nehemiah and Tobiah, or were they actively supplying ammunition for attacks? Cambridge and Keil lean toward the latter; Gill sees them as recommending Tobiah sincerely.
- Theological theme: The world opposes God's work through flattery and fear, but the faithful leader relies on God, not human praise.
- Best use: A case study in discerning duplicity and resisting intimidation in the midst of God's work.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me Tobiah’s good deeds, and they relayed my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
KJV King James Version 1769
Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Also they spake of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
also, his good deeds they have been saying before me, and my words they have been taking out to him; letters hath Tobiah sent to make me afraid.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. [And] Tobijah sent letters to put me in fear.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And they praised him also before me, and they related my words to him: And Tobias sent letters to put me in fear.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
También contaban delante de mí sus buenas obras, y referíanle mis palabras. Y enviaba Tobías cartas para atemorizarme.
Também contavam diante de mim suas boas obras, e levavam a ele minhas palavras. E Tobias me enviava cartas para me atemorizar.
Ils disaient même du bien de lui en ma présence, et ils lui rapportaient mes paroles. Tobija envoyait des lettres pour m’ effrayer.
Und sie sagten Gutes von ihm vor mir und brachten meine Reden aus zu ihm. So sandte denn Tobia Briefe, mich abzuschrecken.
Ook verhaalden zij zijn goeddadigheden voor mijn aangezicht, en mijn woorden brachten zij uit tot hem. Tobia dan zond brieven, om mij vreesachtig te maken.
Essi dicevan del bene di lui perfino in presenza mia, e gli riferivan le mie parole. E Tobia mandava lettere per impaurirmi.
Nadto i dobroczynność jego opowiadali przedemną, i słowa moje odnosili mu; a listy posyłał Tobijasz, aby mię straszył.
Даже о доброте его они говорили при мне, и мои слова переносились к нему. Товия присылал письма, чтоб устрашить меня.
他們常在我面前 說 多比雅的善行，也 將我的話 傳 與他。多比雅 又常寄 信來，要叫我懼怕。
And they said much before me of the good he had done, and gave him accounts of my words. And Tobiah sent letters with the purpose of causing me fear.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Nehemiah 6:19
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
The Cambridge Bible notes that the Hebrew verbs in this verse convey continuous action: the nobles were repeatedly telling Nehemiah about Tobiah's good deeds while also repeatedly sending out Nehemiah's words to Tobiah. The word for 'good deeds' (טובתיו) is likely a play on Tobiah's name (Cambridge). Gill states that the nobles recommended Tobiah as a worthy man, hoping Nehemiah would befriend him. Keil & Delitzsch agree that the nobles were in active correspondence with Tobiah, and by reporting Nehemiah's words they played into Tobiah's hands, supplying material for accusations or slanders. The Geneva Bible simply records the flattery and fear. Commentators concur that the nobles' actions were a coordinated attempt to undermine Nehemiah: praising Tobiah to his face while secretly aiding his enemy. Tobiah then escalated by sending letters designed to frighten Nehemiah, just as Sanballat had done earlier (Neh 6:5-8). The verse exposes the two-pronged attack of flattery and intimidation, and Nehemiah's ongoing resistance to both.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- The nobles were sincere mediators: Some readers (e.g., Gill) take their reporting of 'good deeds' at face value, seeing them as trying to build a bridge between Tobiah and Nehemiah. The leak of Nehemiah's words could be naive gossip rather than malice.
- The nobles were willing collaborators: The Cambridge Bible and Keil argue that the nobles' continuous reporting was deliberate, supplying Tobiah with material for accusations. Their oath to Tobiah (Neh 6:18) and the multiplication of letters suggest a coordinated campaign.
- A mix of both: they were caught in a web of conflicting loyalties: Some modern readers see the nobles as trapped between their oath to Tobiah and their duty to Nehemiah, leading to double-dealing that served Tobiah's intimidation efforts even if not fully intended.
What is clear: The nobles spoke well of Tobiah to Nehemiah while also reporting Nehemiah's words to Tobiah, and Tobiah sent letters designed to make Nehemiah afraid.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The intentions of the nobles in reporting Tobiah's good deeds | Christians agree that the nobles were in communication with Tobiah and reported Nehemiah's words to him, which put Nehemiah at risk. | Some, like Gill, suggest the nobles genuinely believed Tobiah was a worthy man and tried to broker a friendship. Others, like Cambridge and Keil, argue they were supplying material for slander and playing into Tobiah's hands. |
| The role of wordplay in 'good deeds' | Most scholars note that טוֹבֹתָיו sounds like 'Tobiah', creating a pun. | Some see it as a simple literary echo; others argue the nobles were intentionally using the name to flatter Tobiah. The degree of intentional wordplay is not universally agreed upon. |
| The effectiveness of Tobiah's fear tactics | Tobiah's letters were part of a sustained campaign to intimidate Nehemiah (Neh 6:5-9, 13). | Traditions differ on how much Nehemiah was personally afraid. Some emphasize Nehemiah's prayer and courage (Neh 6:9), while others note that fear was a real temptation he had to overcome. |
| Nehemiah's model of response | Nehemiah did not give in to the fear or the flattery, and he finished the wall. | Some traditions (especially Evangelical) focus on his immediate prayer and action; others (especially Reformed) emphasize his dependence on God's sovereignty in the face of human schemes. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The wall of Jerusalem was nearly complete, finished in fifty-two days (Neh 6:15). This rapid success infuriated Tobiah the Ammonite and his allies. Tobiah was no minor figure: he had married into influential Jewish families, including the son-in-law of Shecaniah and the daughter of Meshullam (Neh 6:18). Many nobles in Judah were bound to Tobiah by oath, creating a web of loyalty that conflicted with their duty to their governor, Nehemiah.
In the Persian period, letters were the standard means of long-distance communication among officials. Tobiah's 'letters to put me in fear' echo the open letter of Sanballat in verse 5, a technique of psychological warfare. The nobles played a double game: they praised Tobiah's 'good deeds' ( טובתיו ), a term that sounds like Tobiah's name itself ('Yahweh is good'), perhaps a subtle pun flattering the Ammonite. Meanwhile they 'brought out' Nehemiah's words to Tobiah, a phrase that in Hebrew (מוֹצִיאִים) suggests relaying his plans and statements, not just casual talk. The goal was to provide Tobiah with ammunition for charges he could bring before the Persian king, or for slanders that would weaken Nehemiah among the people.
The cultural setting is one of political intrigue: a rebuilt Jerusalem challenged the authority of regional officials like Sanballat and Tobiah, who used every tool, marriage alliances, letters, flattery, and fear, to stop the work. Nehemiah's steadfastness in the face of this two-faced opposition is the quiet but powerful thread running through the chapter.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries and translations show no significant textual variants for Nehemiah 6:19. The WEB, KJV, ASV, BSB, YLT, Darby, and Douay all render the verse consistently. The Hebrew text is stable. One minor variation is the presence or absence of 'And' at the beginning of the final clause: most English versions supply 'And' or omit it for style. The underlying Hebrew has the conjunction waw before 'Tobiah sent letters'. The verse is clean and well-attested.
Reception History
Nehemiah 6:19 has been read across Christian traditions as a vivid example of the opposition faced by those who lead God's work. Preachers from the Reformation onward (e.g., Matthew Henry) used it to illustrate the subtlety of Satan's attacks through flattery and fear. In the Puritan tradition, the verse was a warning against being naive about human motives. In modern biblical studies, the focus has been on the political dynamics of the Persian period and the internal conflicts within the Jewish community. The verse is less frequently quoted than the prayer 'strengthen my hands' (Neh 6:9), but it serves as a sobering reminder that even trusted allies may be compromised. It has been used in sermons on church leadership, discernment, and the cost of faithfulness.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The flattery of false friends. The nobles praised Tobiah's good deeds to Nehemiah, but their words were a cover for disloyalty. Proverbs 28:4 warns that those who forsake the law praise the wicked. Flattery can be a weapon of opposition.
- The leak of confidential information. They reported Nehemiah's words to Tobiah. This broke trust and supplied material for attacks. Nehemiah's response is not recorded here, but his earlier pattern shows he did not give in to fear (Neh 6:9, 13).
- The intimidation of letters. Tobiah sent letters designed to put Nehemiah in fear. Like Hezekiah spreading Sennacherib's letter before the Lord (Isa 37:14), Nehemiah likely took his fears to God rather than to the nobles.
Five-point outline
- The nobles' strategy: praise and report. They spoke well of Tobiah while leaking Nehemiah's words. A two-faced approach to destabilise the leader.
- The root of their disloyalty: sworn allegiance to Tobiah. Many in Judah were bound by oath to Tobiah because of family ties (Neh 6:18). Their conflict of interest drove their actions.
- The multiplication of letters. Tobiah's letters were part of a sustained campaign: earlier Sanballat sent an open letter; now Tobiah used the same tactic to create fear.
- The weapon of fear. Tobiah aimed to weaken Nehemiah's hands from the work (Neh 6:9). Fear is a powerful tool of the enemy.
- Nehemiah's hidden response. Though the verse does not show his reply, the context reveals he did not stop the work nor compromise. He continued the great task, knowing the work was from God (Neh 6:16).
Illustration hooks
- Workplace duplicity: A colleague compliments you to your face but shares your private frustrations with a manager who wants you gone. The praise feels good, but it is a setup.
- Social media manipulation: An old acquaintance sends friendly messages while secretly screenshotting your posts to use against you. The letters of Tobiah have modern parallels.
- Family loyalty conflicts: A relative married into a family that opposes your faith. They speak well of both sides, but their real allegiance is to the other camp, and they feed them information that harms you.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I discern when someone's praise is genuine and when it is manipulation?
- What do I do when I discover that people I trusted are reporting my words to those who oppose God's work?
- How can I resist fear when I receive threats or intimidating messages?
Leading a Discussion
This verse shows how opposition to God's work can come through friendly faces. The nobles of Judah praised Tobiah to Nehemiah while secretly relaying his words to the enemy. It is a picture of divided loyalties and the weapon of fear. As a group, consider how Nehemiah navigated this pressure without the full story we have.
Discussion questions
- What do you notice about the verbs used in this verse? The Hebrew indicates continuous action, the nobles kept telling and kept sending out. Why is the ongoing nature of their actions significant?
- Why do you think the nobles praised Tobiah's 'good deeds'? Look at the meaning of Tobiah's name ('Yahweh is good') and the possible wordplay. What does this suggest about their intentions?
- How did Tobiah's letters differ from Sanballat's open letter in Nehemiah 6:5-8? What does the repetition of intimidation tactics tell you about the opposition?
- In Nehemiah 6:9, Nehemiah prays, 'Strengthen my hands.' How does this verse connect to the fear described in verse 19? What is Nehemiah's pattern when he is afraid?
- Have you ever experienced someone praising you to your face while working against you behind your back? How did you respond? What can we learn from Nehemiah's quiet perseverance?
- What does this verse teach about the cost of leadership? How should a Christian leader respond to flattery and fear?
- The world hates those who belong to Christ (John 15:19) and often uses both flattery and intimidation. How can this story equip you to stand firm without giving in to either?
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 6:9 | For 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. |
| Nehemiah 6:13 | 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. |
| Proverbs 28:4 | Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them. |
| Isaiah 37:10 | “Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, ‘Don’t let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, “Jerusalem won’t be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” |
| Isaiah 37:14 | Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to Yahweh’s house, and spread it before Yahweh. |
| John 7:7 | The world can’t hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil. |
| John 15:19 | If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. |
| Acts 4:18 | They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. |
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
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Hebrew shows the reporting was continuous, with the conspirators persistently praising Tobiah's sincerity to Nehemiah while passing all of Nehemiah's words and actions back to Tobiah. The phrase for his good deeds is likely a pun on Tobiah's name, suggesting their flattery was itself deceptive.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note highlights that Nehemiah's opponents used a double tactic: they praised Tobiah openly before Nehemiah and reported his words back to Tobiah, while Tobiah sent letters designed to frighten him. This coordinated effort aimed to undermine Nehemiah through intimidation.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Tobiah's friends praised Nehemiah's character to gain his trust, and "uttered my words" means they reported both his speech and his actions. Armed with this intelligence, Tobiah then sent threatening letters designed to frighten Nehemiah.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch stresses that the nobles of Judah who exchanged letters with Tobiah were not trying to reconcile Nehemiah and Tobiah, but were actually playing into Tobiah's hands by reporting Nehemiah's words to him. Their family ties and oaths with Tobiah compromised their loyalty.
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
Matthew Henry highlights that the enemies' boasts of stopping the work collapsed when the wall was finished in just fifty-two days, which humiliated them because they saw God's hand in it. He notes that threats only made the Jews work harder, turning intended harm into motivation.