The Meaning of Nehemiah 4:7 Explained

Nehemiah 4:7

KJV: But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

YLT: And it cometh to pass, when Sanballat hath heard, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, that lengthening hath gone up to the walls of Jerusalem, that the breeches have begun to be stopped, then it is very displeasing to them,

Darby: And it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobijah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being repaired, that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

ASV: But it came to pass that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But it came to pass, [that] when Sanballat,  and Tobiah,  and the Arabians,  and the Ammonites,  and the Ashdodites,  heard  that the walls  of Jerusalem  were made up,  [and] that the breaches  began  to be stopped,  then they were very  wroth, 

What does Nehemiah 4:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 4:1-12 - Braving Ridicule And Treachery
Suspicion, Nehemiah 2:12-20. Sanballat was probably a Moabite, a native of Horonaim; Tobiah had been a slave. There are many descendants of these two men in all our Christian communities today, hindering God's work. This heroic soul met their scorn and the depression of the people by unwavering faith and calm confidence in the good hand of God, Nehemiah 2:18. How small do our difficulties seem when brought into the sight of the God of heaven!
Reproach, Nehemiah 4:1-6. Whenever God's work revives, there is sure to be evil-speaking and reproach. It is a mistake to reply. Let us hand over our cause to God, and go on with His work. It matters very little what men say, as long as He is pleased. Had Nehemiah had the message of Christ he would not have prayed as in Nehemiah 2:5. Our Lord taught us to intercede for our enemies, Matthew 5:44. But let us emulate Nehemiah's zeal for the name of God, and let us remember that increased light means increased responsibility, Matthew 11:11.
Active opposition, Nehemiah 2:7-12. In time of hostility, our friends and allies are apt to grow discouraged and to advise the suspension of our work. "We are not able;" but faith looks to God alone and triumphantly holds on its way. [source]

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 4

1  While the enemies scoff, Nehemiah prays and continues the work
7  Understanding the wrath and secrets of the enemy, he sets a watch
13  He arms the laborers
19  and gives military precepts

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 4:7 mean?

And it came to pass when heard Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites that went [were being] restored the walls of Jerusalem and were beginning the gaps to be closed that became angry they very
וַיְהִ֣י כַאֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁמַ֣ע סַנְבַלַּ֡ט וְ֠טוֹבִיָּה וְהָעַרְבִ֨ים וְהָעַמֹּנִ֜ים וְהָאַשְׁדּוֹדִ֗ים כִּֽי־ עָלְתָ֤ה אֲרוּכָה֙ לְחֹמ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם כִּי־ הֵחֵ֥לּוּ הַפְּרֻצִ֖ים לְהִסָּתֵ֑ם וַיִּ֥חַר לָהֶ֖ם מְאֹֽד

וַיְהִ֣י  And  it  came  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
שָׁמַ֣ע  heard 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
סַנְבַלַּ֡ט  Sanballat 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: סַנְבַלַּט  
Sense: a Moabite of Horonaim and the opponent of Nehemiah and the returned exiles in their goal of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.
וְ֠טוֹבִיָּה  and  Tobiah 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: טֹובִיָּה 
Sense: head of a family who returned from exile with Zerubbabel but who were unable to prove their connection with Israel.
וְהָעַרְבִ֨ים  and  the  Arabs 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַרְבִי 
Sense: an inhabitant of Arabia.
וְהָעַמֹּנִ֜ים  and  the  Ammonites 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַמֹּונִי  
Sense: descendants of Ammon and inhabitants of Ammon.
וְהָאַשְׁדּוֹדִ֗ים  and  the  Ashdodites 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: אַשְׁדֹּודִי  
Sense: an inhabitant of Ashdod.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
עָלְתָ֤ה  went 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
אֲרוּכָה֙  [were  being]  restored 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲרוּכָה  
Sense: healing, restoration.
לְחֹמ֣וֹת  the  walls 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: חֹומָה  
Sense: wall.
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם  of  Jerusalem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
הֵחֵ֥לּוּ  were  beginning 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: חָלַל 
Sense: to profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, begin.
הַפְּרֻצִ֖ים  the  gaps 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine plural
Root: פָּרַץ  
Sense: to break through or down or over, burst, breach.
לְהִסָּתֵ֑ם  to  be  closed 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct
Root: סָתַם 
Sense: to stop up, shut up, keep close.
וַיִּ֥חַר  that  became  angry 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָרָה  
Sense: to be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled.
מְאֹֽד  very 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.