The Meaning of Nehemiah 6:11 Explained

Nehemiah 6:11

KJV: And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

YLT: And I say, 'A man such as I -- doth he flee? and who as I, that doth go in unto the temple, and live? -- I do not go in.'

Darby: And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, could go into the temple, and live? I will not go in.

ASV: And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And I said,  Should such  a man  as I flee?  and who [is there], that, [being] as I [am], would go  into the temple  to save his life?  I will not go in. 

What does Nehemiah 6:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 6:1-19 - A Great Task-A Safeguard From Danger
How often Satan tries to call us off from our work for God! He cannot endure to see us engaged so eagerly on our Master's business and therefore raises up all sorts of hindrances and hostilities. Amid all these we have but one duty to perform. We must lose ourselves in our work. Ours to reply, "I am doing a great work, I cannot come down; why should the work cease?" If we will see to God's business, He will see to our safety. False friends, who prophesy in God's name, are more to be dreaded than open foes. We must learn to discern the spirits. The counsel which savors of self is always to be suspected. Note that Nehemiah considered that to have fear would have been to sin. But God was with the little band through dangers, and the wall was finished in spite of all opposition, 1 Corinthians 15:58. [source]

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 6

1  Sanballat practices by craft, by rumors, and by hired prophecies, to terrify Nehemiah
15  The work is finished, to the terror of the enemies
17  Secret intelligence passes between the enemies and the nobles of Judah

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 6:11 mean?

And I said Should such a man as I flee and who [is there] such as I who would go into the temple and to save his life not I will go in
וָאֹמְרָ֗ה הַאִ֤ישׁ כָּמ֙וֹנִי֙ ؟ יִבְרָ֔ח וּמִ֥י כָמ֛וֹנִי אֲשֶׁר־ יָב֥וֹא אֶל־ הַהֵיכָ֖ל ؟ וָחָ֑י לֹ֖א אָבֽוֹא

וָאֹמְרָ֗ה  And  I  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַאִ֤ישׁ  Should  such  a  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
כָּמ֙וֹנִי֙  as  I 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: כְּמֹו  
Sense: like, as, the like of which conj.
؟ יִבְרָ֔ח  flee 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּרַח 
Sense: to go through, flee, run away, chase, drive away, put to flight, reach, shoot (extend), hurry away.
וּמִ֥י  and  who  [is  there] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
כָמ֛וֹנִי  such  as  I 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: כְּמֹו  
Sense: like, as, the like of which conj.
יָב֥וֹא  would  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֶל־  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הַהֵיכָ֖ל  the  temple 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: הֵיכָל  
Sense: palace, temple, nave, sanctuary.
؟ וָחָ֑י  and  to  save  his  life 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
אָבֽוֹא  I  will  go  in 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.