Nehemiah 6:7

Easy-to-Read Version

And the rumor is that you have chosen prophets to announce this about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!' "Now I warn you, Nehemiah, King Artaxerxes will hear about this. So come, let's meet and talk about this together."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
and have even set up the prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: “There is a king in Judah.” These rumors will be heard by the king. So come, let’s confer together.

Hebrew Names Version
You have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Yerushalayim, saying, There is a king in Yehudah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

King James Version
And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

English Standard Version
And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.' And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together."

New Century Version
and that you have appointed prophets to announce in Jerusalem: "There is a king of Judah!" The king will hear about this. So come, let's discuss this together.

New English Translation
You have also established prophets to announce in Jerusalem on your behalf, ‘We have a king in Judah!' Now the king is going to hear about these rumors. So come on! Let's talk about this."

Amplified Bible
"Also [it is reported that] you have appointed prophets to make a proclamation concerning you in Jerusalem, saying, 'There is a king in Judah!' And now these things will be reported to the [Persian] king. So come now, and let us consult together."

New American Standard Bible
"You have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, 'A king is in Judah!' And now it will be reported to the king according to these reports. So come now, let's consult together."

World English Bible
You have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Thou hast also ordeyned the Prophets to preach of thee at Ierusalem, saying, There is a King in Iudah: and nowe according to these wordes it shall come to the Kings eares: come now therefore, and let vs take counsell together.

Legacy Standard Bible
You have also set up prophets to call out in Jerusalem concerning you, ‘A king is in Judah!' So now it will be heard by the king according to these words. So now, come, let us take counsel together."

Berean Standard Bible
and you have even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: 'There is a king in Judah.' Soon these rumors will reach the ears of the king. So come, let us confer together."

Contemporary English Version
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.

Complete Jewish Bible
"moreover, that you have also appointed prophets to proclaim about you in Yerushalayim, ‘There is a king in Y'hudah!' A report along these lines is now going to be made to the king. Come now, therefore, and let's discuss this."

Darby Translation
And thou hast also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning thee at Jerusalem saying, There is a king in Judah! And now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

George Lamsa Translation
And you have also appointed prophets to prophesy concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, Behold, there is a king in Judah; and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now, therefore, and let us take counsel together.

Good News Translation
and that you have arranged for some prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem that you are the king of Judah. His Majesty is certain to hear about this, so I suggest that you and I meet to talk the situation over."

Lexham English Bible
You have also set up prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah.' And now it will be proclaimed to the king according to these words. Now, come and we will plan together."

Literal Translation
And you have also set up prophets to preach about you at Jerusalem, saying, A king in Judah! And now it shall be reported to the king according to these words. Therefore, come now and let us consult together.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and hast ordeyned the prophetes to preach of the at Ierusalem, and to saye: He is kynge of Iuda. Now shal this come to the kynges eares: come now therfore, and let us take oure councell together.

American Standard Version
And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

Bible in Basic English
And that you have prophets preaching about you in Jerusalem, and saying, There is a king in Judah: now an account of these things will be sent to the king. So come now, and let us have a discussion.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And hast ordayned the prophetes to preache of thee at Hierusalem, and to say, He is king of Iuda. And now shall this come to the kinges eares: come now therefore, and let vs take our counsell together.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And thou hast also appointed prophets to proclaim of thee at Jerusalem, saying: There is a king in Judah; and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.'

King James Version (1611)
And thou hast also appointed Prophets to preach of thee at Ierusalem, saying, There is a King in Iudah. And now shall it be reported to the king, according to these wordes. Come now therefore, and let vs take counsell together.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And moreover thou has appointed prophets to thyself, that thou mightest dwell in Jerusalem as a king over Juda: and now these words will be reported to the king. Now then, come, let us take counsel together.

English Revised Version
And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
for which cause also thou hast set profetis, that prechen of thee in Jerusalem, and seien, A king is in Jerusalem; the king schal here these wordis; therfor come thou now, that we take counsel togidere.

Update Bible Version
And you have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now it shall be reported to the king according to these words. So now, come and let us take counsel together.

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, [There is] a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

New King James Version
And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, "There is a king in Judah!" Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together.

New Living Translation
He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!' "You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me."

New Life Bible
You have also chosen men who tell what will happen to speak to the people in Jerusalem about you, saying, ‘A king is in Judah!' Now this will be told to the king. So come now, let us meet to speak with each other."

New Revised Standard
You have also set up prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, ‘There is a king in Judah!' And now it will be reported to the king according to these words. So come, therefore, and let us confer together."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Moreover also, prophets, hast thou set up to make proclamation concerning thee in Jerusalem, saying, He hath become king in Judah! Now, therefore, will it he reported to the king, according to these words. Now, therefore, come, and let us take counsel together.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou hast also set up prophets, to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying: There is a king in Judea. The king will hear of these things: therefore come now, that we may take counsel together.

Revised Standard Version
And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, 'There is a king in Judah.' And now it will be reported to the king according to these words. So now come, and let us take counsel together."

Young's Literal Translation
And also, prophets thou hast appointed to call for thee in Jerusalem, saying, A king [is] in Judah, and now it is heard by the king according to these words; and now come, and we take counsel together.'

THE MESSAGE
"I'm Doing a Great Work; I Can't Come Down" When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that there were no more breaks in it—even though I hadn't yet installed the gates— Sanballat and Geshem sent this message: "Come and meet with us at Kephirim in the valley of Ono." I knew they were scheming to hurt me so I sent messengers back with this: "I'm doing a great work; I can't come down. Why should the work come to a standstill just so I can come down to see you?" Four times they sent this message and four times I gave them my answer. The fifth time—same messenger, same message—Sanballat sent an unsealed letter with this message: "The word is out among the nations—and Geshem says it's true—that you and the Jews are planning to rebel. That's why you are rebuilding the wall. The word is that you want to be king and that you have appointed prophets to announce in Jerusalem, ‘There's a king in Judah!' The king is going to be told all this—don't you think we should sit down and have a talk?"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"You have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, 'A king is in Judah!' And now it will be reported to the king according to these reports. So come now, let us take counsel together."

Contextual Overview

¹ Then Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and our other enemies heard that I had built the wall. We repaired all the holes in the wall, but we had not yet put the doors in the gates. ² 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. ³ So I sent messengers to them with this answer: "I am doing important work, so I cannot come down. I don't want the work to stop just so I can come down and meet with you." ⁴ Sanballat and Geshem sent the same message to me four times, and I sent the same answer back to them each time. ⁵ Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his helper to me with the same message. And he had a letter in his hand that was not sealed. ⁶ This is what the letter said: "There is a rumor going around. People are talking about it everywhere. And, by the way, Geshem says it is true. People are saying that you and the Jews are planning to turn against the king. This is why you are building the wall of Jerusalem. People are also saying that you will be the new king of the Jews. ⁷ And the rumor is that you have chosen prophets to announce this about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!' "Now I warn you, Nehemiah, King Artaxerxes will hear about this. So come, let's meet and talk about this together." ⁸ So I sent this answer back to Sanballat: "Nothing you are saying is happening. You are just making all that up in your own head." ⁹ Our enemies were only trying to make us afraid. They are thinking to themselves, "The Jews will be afraid and too weak to keep on working. Then the wall will not be finished." But I prayed, "God, make me strong."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

appointed: Nehemiah 6:12, Nehemiah 6:13

a king: 2 Samuel 15:10-12, 1 Kings 1:7, 1 Kings 1:18, 1 Kings 1:25, 1 Kings 1:34

Come now: Proverbs 26:24-26, Acts 23:15

Reciprocal: Ecclesiastes 1:1 - the Preacher

Cross-References

Genesis 6:1
The number of people on earth continued to increase. When these people had daughters, the sons of God saw how beautiful they were. So they chose the women they wanted. They married them, and the women had their children. Then the Lord said, "People are only human. I will not let my Spirit be troubled by them forever. I will let them live only 120 years." During this time and also later, the Nephilim people lived in the land. They have been famous as powerful soldiers since ancient times.

Genesis 6:20
Two of every kind of bird, animal, and creeping thing will come to you so that you might keep them alive.

Genesis 6:22
Noah did everything God commanded him.

Psalms 37:20
But evil people are the Lord 's enemies, and they will be destroyed. Their valleys will dry up and burn. They will be destroyed completely.

Proverbs 10:27
Respect for the Lord will add years to your life, but the wicked will have their lives cut short.

Proverbs 16:4
The Lord has a plan for everything. In his plan, the wicked will be destroyed.

Hosea 4:3
So the country is like someone crying for the dead, and all of its people are weak. Even the animals of the field, the birds of the sky, and the fish in the sea are dying.

Zephaniah 1:3
I will destroy all the people and all the animals. I will destroy the birds in the air and the fish in the sea. I will destroy the evil people and everything that makes them sin. I will remove all people from the earth." This is what the Lord said.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem,.... This he said to cover what he and Tobiah had been doing, tampering with, corrupting, and hiring the prophets to discourage him, and put him upon methods, whereby the work would cease:

saying, there is a king in Judah; besides Artaxerxes, whose yoke they were casting off, having got a king of their own, and among them:

and now shall it be reported to the king, according to these words; such a report as this, and in those very words, will soon reach the ears of the king of Persia:

come now, therefore, and let us take counsel together; contrive the best method to put a stop to this report, if a false one, and to wipe off the reproach that is upon thee, and may affect us; and thus partly terrifying him, and partly pretending friendship to him, hoped to get him into his hands.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Nehemiah 6:7. Thou hast also appointed prophets — Persons who pretend to be commissioned to preach to the people, and say, Nehemiah reigneth!

Come now therefore, and let us take counsel — Come and justify yourself before me. This was a trick to get Nehemiah into his power.