Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, July 27th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Read the Bible
Christian Standard Bible ®
Nehemiah 4:3
Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “Indeed, even if a fox climbed up what they are building, he would break down their stone wall!”
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- InternationalParallel Translations
Hebrew Names Version
Now Toviyah the `Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.
Now Toviyah the `Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.
King James Version
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
English Standard Version
Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!"
Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!"
New Century Version
Tobiah the Ammonite, who was next to Sanballat, said, "If a fox climbed up on the stone wall they are building, it would break it down."
Tobiah the Ammonite, who was next to Sanballat, said, "If a fox climbed up on the stone wall they are building, it would break it down."
New English Translation
Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was close by, said, "If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!"
Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was close by, said, "If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!"
Amplified Bible
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Even what they are building—if a fox should get up on it, he would break down their stone wall."
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Even what they are building—if a fox should get up on it, he would break down their stone wall."
New American Standard Bible
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him, and he said, "Even what they are building—if a fox were to jump on it, it would break their stone wall down!"
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him, and he said, "Even what they are building—if a fox were to jump on it, it would break their stone wall down!"
World English Bible
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and said, Although they buylde, yet if a foxe goe vp, he shall euen breake downe their stonie wall.
And Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and said, Although they buylde, yet if a foxe goe vp, he shall euen breake downe their stonie wall.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, "Even what they are building—if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!"
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, "Even what they are building—if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!"
Berean Standard Bible
Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, "If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!"
Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, "If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!"
Contemporary English Version
Tobiah from Ammon was standing beside Sanballat and said, "Look at the wall they are building! Why, even a fox could knock over this pile of stones."
Tobiah from Ammon was standing beside Sanballat and said, "Look at the wall they are building! Why, even a fox could knock over this pile of stones."
Complete Jewish Bible
However, we prayed to our God and, because of them, organized a watch against them day and night.
However, we prayed to our God and, because of them, organized a watch against them day and night.
Darby Translation
And Tobijah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox went up, it would break down their stone wall.—
And Tobijah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox went up, it would break down their stone wall.—
Easy-to-Read Version
Tobiah the Ammonite was with Sanballat. Tobiah said, "What do these Jews think they are building? If even a small fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!"
Tobiah the Ammonite was with Sanballat. Tobiah said, "What do these Jews think they are building? If even a small fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!"
George Lamsa Translation
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was standing by him, and he said, No matter how much they build, I know, if a fox climbs it, he shall break down their stone wall.
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was standing by him, and he said, No matter how much they build, I know, if a fox climbs it, he shall break down their stone wall.
Good News Translation
Tobiah was standing there beside him, and he added, "What kind of wall could they ever build? Even a fox could knock it down!"
Tobiah was standing there beside him, and he added, "What kind of wall could they ever build? Even a fox could knock it down!"
Lexham English Bible
Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him and said, "Their wall of stone that they are building would break down if a fox went on it!"
Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him and said, "Their wall of stone that they are building would break down if a fox went on it!"
Literal Translation
And Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox goes up, he will even break down their stone wall.
And Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox goes up, he will even break down their stone wall.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Tobias the Ammonite beside him saide: Let the builde on, yf a foxe go vp, he shall breake downe their stonye wall.
And Tobias the Ammonite beside him saide: Let the builde on, yf a foxe go vp, he shall breake downe their stonye wall.
American Standard Version
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.
Bible in Basic English
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Such is their building that if a fox goes up it, their stone wall will be broken down.
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Such is their building that if a fox goes up it, their stone wall will be broken down.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and sayde: Though they buyld, yet if a foxe go vp, he shall breake downe their stony wall.
And Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and sayde: Though they buyld, yet if a foxe go vp, he shall breake downe their stony wall.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
But we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
But we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
King James Version (1611)
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Euen that which they build, if a foxe goe vp, he shall euen breake downe their stone wall.
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Euen that which they build, if a foxe goe vp, he shall euen breake downe their stone wall.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Tobias the Ammanite came near to him, and said to them, Do they sacrifice or eat in their place? shall not a fox go up and pull down their wall of stones?
And Tobias the Ammanite came near to him, and said to them, Do they sacrifice or eat in their place? shall not a fox go up and pull down their wall of stones?
English Revised Version
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But also Tobie Amanytes, his neiybore, seide, Bilde thei; if a fox stieth, he schal `skippe ouer the stony wal `of hem.
But also Tobie Amanytes, his neiybore, seide, Bilde thei; if a fox stieth, he schal `skippe ouer the stony wal `of hem.
Update Bible Version
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox goes up, he shall break down their stone wall.
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox goes up, he shall break down their stone wall.
Webster's Bible Translation
Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox should go up, he would even break down their stone wall.
Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox should go up, he would even break down their stone wall.
New King James Version
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall."
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall."
New Living Translation
Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, "That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!"
Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, "That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!"
New Life Bible
Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and said, "If a fox would jump on what they build, he would break their stone wall down!"
Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and said, "If a fox would jump on what they build, he would break their stone wall down!"
New Revised Standard
Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "That stone wall they are building—any fox going up on it would break it down!"
Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "That stone wall they are building—any fox going up on it would break it down!"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, Tobiah the Ammonite, was beside him, - so he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox should go up, he would break down their stone wall!
Now, Tobiah the Ammonite, was beside him, - so he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox should go up, he would break down their stone wall!
Douay-Rheims Bible
Tobias also the Ammonite who was by him said: Let them build: if a fox go up, he will leap over their stone wall.
Tobias also the Ammonite who was by him said: Let them build: if a fox go up, he will leap over their stone wall.
Revised Standard Version
Tobi'ah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, "Yes, what they are building--if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!
Tobi'ah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, "Yes, what they are building--if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!
Young's Literal Translation
And Tobiah the Ammonite [is] by him and saith, `Also, that which they are building -- if a fox doth go up, then it hath broken down their stone wall.'
And Tobiah the Ammonite [is] by him and saith, `Also, that which they are building -- if a fox doth go up, then it hath broken down their stone wall.'
THE MESSAGE
At his side, Tobiah the Ammonite jumped in and said, "That's right! What do they think they're building? Why, if a fox climbed that wall, it would fall to pieces under his weight."
At his side, Tobiah the Ammonite jumped in and said, "That's right! What do they think they're building? Why, if a fox climbed that wall, it would fall to pieces under his weight."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, "Even what they are building—if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!"
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, "Even what they are building—if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!"
Contextual Overview
1When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews 2before his colleagues and the powerful men of Samaria, and said, “What are these pathetic Jews doing? Can they restore it by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they ever finish it? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” 3Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “Indeed, even if a fox climbed up what they are building, he would break down their stone wall!”4Listen, our God, for we are despised. Make their insults return on their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. 5Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from your sight, because they have angered the builders. 6So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had the will to keep working.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Tobiah: Nehemiah 2:10, Nehemiah 2:19, Nehemiah 6:1, 1 Kings 20:10, 1 Kings 20:18, 2 Kings 18:23
Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 23:3 - Ammonite 2 Samuel 6:20 - glorious 2 Samuel 10:2 - show kindness 1 Chronicles 19:2 - the children Ezra 9:1 - Ammonites Nehemiah 13:1 - Moabite Ezekiel 13:15 - The wall Ezekiel 25:6 - rejoiced Micah 7:11 - the day
Cross-References
Genesis 4:1
The man was intimate with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the Lord’s help.”
The man was intimate with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the Lord’s help.”
Genesis 4:11
So now you are cursed, alienated from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed.
So now you are cursed, alienated from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed.
Numbers 18:12
I am giving you all the best of the fresh oil, new wine, and grain, which the Israelites give to the Lord as their firstfruits.
I am giving you all the best of the fresh oil, new wine, and grain, which the Israelites give to the Lord as their firstfruits.
1 Kings 17:7
After a while, the wadi dried up because there had been no rain in the land.
After a while, the wadi dried up because there had been no rain in the land.
Nehemiah 13:6
While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. It was only later that I asked the king for a leave of absence
While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. It was only later that I asked the king for a leave of absence
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him,.... Who was one of his brethren he spake before, Nehemiah 4:2,
and he said; in the like contemptuous and scoffing manner;
even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall; signifying not only that it was so low that a fox could easily get up to it, or leap over it; but that the materials were so bad, and the work so poorly done, that the weight of a fox would break it down; of which creatures many were thereabout, since Jerusalem was desolate, see Lamentations 5:18.
