What Does Nehemiah 4:1 Mean in the King James?

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

Nehemiah 4:1 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The Hebrew root for “heard” also forms the word for a report: the rebuilding first reaches Sanballat as news, then becomes the object of his contempt.

THE MEANING

Your rebuilding can be underway while someone else’s response is already contempt. Hearing that repair is happening does not ensure its meaning is received: the news becomes anger and mockery. Another person’s ridicule names their response, not the worth of the work.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

Ridicule does not prove that the rebuilding is foolish or without value.

THE ROOT

שָׁמַע

shamaʿ

GROWS FROM

שמע

Hear, listen, heed.

The root ⁨שמע⁩ joins hearing with ⁨שְׁמוּעָה⁩, a report or tidings: the hearing and what is heard share the same seed. Here the report of rebuilding reaches Sanballat, but it does not become understanding; it turns into anger and mockery.

ALSO GROWS

shemuʿah: A report, tidings; something heard.

שְׁמוּעָה

The rebuilding reaches Sanballat as a report before it reaches him as a shared purpose.

Shimʿon: Simeon; a name connected with being heard.

שִׁמְעוֹן

This name also carries the consonants ⁨ש־מ־ע⁩, keeping the idea of hearing within the name itself.

THE PATTERN

Visible work that restores what is broken can draw resistance as it becomes known.

Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

Ezra 4:4 · KJVAs rebuilding becomes visible, others answer the work by trying to weaken those doing it.

And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Acts 4:18 · KJVPublic testimony meets a command to stop when its message reaches those who resist it.

THE THREAD

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

Deuteronomy 6:4 · KJV

Both verses use ⁨שמע⁩ (shamaʿ, hear). Deuteronomy opens with hearing as a call to attend, while Nehemiah shows news being heard and answered with contempt.

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