Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, July 8th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Nehemiah 6:2

Then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message, asking me to meet with them in one of the villages in Ono Valley. I knew they were planning to harm me in some way.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Character;   Fellowship;   Geshem;   Ono;   Tobiah;   Thompson Chain Reference - Mischief;   Sanballat;   Treachery;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God;   Character of the Wicked;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Geshem or Gashmu;   Ono;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Geshem;   Plain;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Gashmu;   Ono;   Plains;   Villages;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Chephirim;   Geshem;   Goshen;   Lod;   Nehemiah;   Ono;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Geshem;   Nehemiah;   Plain;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Geshem ;   Ono ;   Sanballat ;   Tobiah ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Sanballat;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Jerusalem;   Ono;   Sanballat;   Smith Bible Dictionary - O'no;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Geshem;   Ono;   Village;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - City;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message: “Come, let’s meet together in the villages of the Ono Valley.” They were planning to harm me.
Hebrew Names Version
that Sanvallat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
King James Version
That 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.
English Standard Version
Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono." But they intended to do me harm.
New Century Version
So Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: "Come, Nehemiah, let's meet together in Kephirim on the plain of Ono." But they were planning to harm me.
New English Translation
Sanballat and Geshem sent word to me saying, "Come on! Let's set up a time to meet together at Kephirim in the plain of Ono." Now they intended to do me harm.
Amplified Bible
Sanballat and Geshem sent word to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono." But they were planning to harm me.
New American Standard Bible
Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, "Come, let's meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono." But they were plotting to harm me.
World English Bible
that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then sent Sanballat and Geshem vnto me, saying, Come thou that we may meete together in the villages in the plaine of Ono: and they thought to doe me euill.
Legacy Standard Bible
that Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono." But they were planning to do me harm.
Berean Standard Bible
Sanballat 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.
Complete Jewish Bible
Sanvalat and Geshem sent me a message which said, "Come, let's meet together in one of the villages of the Ono Valley." But they were planning to do me harm;
Darby Translation
that 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.
Easy-to-Read Version
So Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: "Come, Nehemiah, let's meet together. We can meet in the town of Kephirim on the plain of Ono." But they were planning to hurt me.
George Lamsa Translation
Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us go together and encamp as a troop in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me harm.
Good News Translation
So Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message, suggesting that I meet with them in one of the villages in the Plain of Ono. This was a trick of theirs to try to harm me.
Lexham English Bible
Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come and let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono." But they planned to do evil to me.
Literal Translation
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 evil to me.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Saneballat and Gosem sent vnto me, sayenge: Come and let us mete together in the vyllages vpon the playne of the cite Ono. Neuertheles they thoughte to do me euell.
American Standard Version
that 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.
Bible in Basic English
Sanballat and Geshem sent to me saying, Come, let us have a meeting in one of the little towns in the lowland of Ono. But their purpose was to do me evil.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Sanaballat and Gesem sent vnto me, saying: Come, that we may meete & take counsel together in the villages that are in the playne of the citie Ono. Neuerthelesse, they thought to do me euill.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
that 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.
King James Version (1611)
That Sanballat, and Geshem sent vnto me, saying, Come, let vs meet together in some one of the villages in the plaine of Ono: But they thought to doe me mischiefe.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
that Sanaballat and Gesam sent to me, saying, Come and let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono. But they were plotting to do me mischief.
English Revised Version
that 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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Sanaballath, and Tobie, and Gosem of Arabie senten to me, and seiden, Come thou, and smyte we boond of pees in calues, `in o feeld; forsothe thei thouyten for to do yuel to me.
Update Bible Version
that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do mischief to me.
Webster's Bible Translation
That Sanballat and Geshem sent to 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.
New King James Version
that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono." But they thought to do me harm.
New Living Translation
So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me,
New Life Bible
So Sanballat and Geshem sent word to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono." But they were planning to hurt or kill me.
New Revised Standard
Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come and let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono." But they intended to do me harm.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come! and let us meet together in the villages, in the valley of Ono, - But, they, were plotting to do me harm.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Sanaballat 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.
Revised Standard Version
Sanbal'lat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come and let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono." But they intended to do me harm.
Young's Literal Translation
that 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.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono." But they were planning to harm me.

Contextual Overview

1 Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and our other enemies learned that I had completely rebuilt the wall. All I lacked was hanging the doors in the gates. 2 Then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message, asking me to meet with them in one of the villages in Ono Valley. I knew they were planning to harm me in some way. 3 So I sent messengers to tell them, "My work is too important to stop now and go there. I can't afford to slow down the work just to visit with you." 4 They invited me four times, but each time I refused to go. 5 Finally, Sanballat sent an official to me with an unsealed letter, 6 which said: A rumor is going around among the nations that you and the other Jews are rebuilding the wall and planning to rebel, because you want to be their king. And Geshem says it's true! 7 You even have prophets in Jerusalem, claiming you are now the king of Judah. You know the Persian king will hear about this, so let's get together and talk it over. 8 I sent a message back to Sanballat, saying, "None of this is true! You are making it all up." 9 Our enemies were trying to frighten us and to keep us from our work. But I asked God to give me strength.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Come: They wished to get him out of Jerusalem, from his friends, that they might either carry him off or murder him. 2 Samuel 3:27, 2 Samuel 20:9, Psalms 37:12, Proverbs 26:24-26, Ecclesiastes 4:4

Ono: Nehemiah 11:35, 1 Chronicles 8:12

they thought: Psalms 12:2, Psalms 37:12, Psalms 37:32, Jeremiah 41:2, Ezekiel 33:31, Micah 7:4, Micah 7:5, Luke 20:19-21

Reciprocal: Genesis 4:8 - talked Ezra 2:33 - Lod Nehemiah 2:19 - Sanballat Nehemiah 3:22 - the men of the plain Nehemiah 6:6 - Gashmu Nehemiah 6:16 - when all our enemies Nehemiah 7:37 - Lod Nehemiah 12:28 - plain

Cross-References

Genesis 3:6
The woman stared at the fruit. It looked beautiful and tasty. She wanted the wisdom that it would give her, and she ate some of the fruit. Her husband was there with her, so she gave some to him, and he ate it too.
Genesis 4:26
Later, Seth had a son and named him Enosh. About this time people started worshiping the Lord .
Genesis 6:1
More and more people were born, until finally they spread all over the earth. Some of their daughters were so beautiful that supernatural beings came down and married the ones they wanted.
Genesis 6:3
Then the Lord said, "I won't let my life-giving breath remain in anyone forever. No one will live for more than one hundred twenty years."
Genesis 6:4
The children of the supernatural beings who had married these women became famous heroes and warriors. They were called Nephilim and lived on the earth at that time and even later.
Genesis 6:6
He was very sorry that he had made them,
Genesis 6:7
and he said, "I'll destroy every living creature on earth! I'll wipe out people, animals, birds, and reptiles. I'm sorry I ever made them."
Genesis 6:8
But the Lord was pleased with Noah,
Genesis 6:13
So he told Noah: Cruelty and violence have spread everywhere. Now I'm going to destroy the whole earth and all its people.
Genesis 6:14
Get some good lumber and build a boat. Put rooms in it and cover it with tar inside and out.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me,.... Messengers:

saying, come, let us meet together in some one of the villages; in Cephirim, which Jarchi takes to be the name of a place, perhaps the same with Cephirah, a city in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:26

in the plain of Ono; which was in the same tribe, see 1 Chronicles 8:12, they might pretend a friendly meeting, to accommodate differences between them, or to converse together about the general interest of the king of Persia in those parts:

but they thought to do me mischief; to kill him, or at least to confine him; this he either conjectured from their general character and behaviour, or he had intelligence of their design.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The choice made of Ono, on the skirts of Benjamin, 25 or 30 miles from Jerusalem, as the meeting-place, was, no doubt, in order to draw Nehemiah to a distance from his supporters, that so an attack might be made on him with a better chance of success.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Nehemiah 6:2. Come, let us meet together in - the plain of Ono. — They wished to get him out of Jerusalem from among his friends, that they might either carry him off, or murder him. Ono is supposed to have been in the tribe of Benjamin, near Jordan.


 
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