The Meaning of Nehemiah 6:19 Explained

Nehemiah 6:19

KJV: Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

YLT: also, his good deeds they have been saying before me, and my words they have been taking out to him; letters hath Tobiah sent to make me afraid.

Darby: Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. And Tobijah sent letters to put me in fear.

ASV: Also they spake of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Also they reported  his good deeds  before  me, and uttered  my words  to him. [And] Tobiah  sent  letters  to put me in fear. 

What does Nehemiah 6:19 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 6:19 mean?

Also his good [deeds] they reported they reported before me and my words are reported to him letters sent Tobiah to frighten me
גַּ֣ם טוֹבֹתָ֗יו הָי֤וּ אֹמְרִים֙ לְפָנַ֔י וּדְבָרַ֕י הָי֥וּ מוֹצִיאִ֖ים ל֑וֹ אִגְּר֛וֹת שָׁלַ֥ח טוֹבִיָּ֖ה לְיָֽרְאֵֽנִי

גַּ֣ם  Also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
טוֹבֹתָ֗יו  his  good  [deeds] 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
הָי֤וּ  they  reported 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
אֹמְרִים֙  they  reported 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לְפָנַ֔י  before  me 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וּדְבָרַ֕י  and  my  words 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
מוֹצִיאִ֖ים  reported 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
ל֑וֹ  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
אִגְּר֛וֹת  letters 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: אִגֶּרֶת  
Sense: letter, missive.
שָׁלַ֥ח  sent 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
טוֹבִיָּ֖ה  Tobiah 
Parse: 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.
לְיָֽרְאֵֽנִי  to  frighten  me 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.