Nehemiah 2:10

Authorized King James Version

When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע
heard
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
#2
סַנְבַלַּ֣ט
When Sanballat
sanballat, a persian satrap of samaria
#3
הַחֹֽרֹנִ֗י
the Horonite
a choronite or inhabitant of choronaim
#4
וְטֽוֹבִיָּה֙
and Tobiah
tobijah, the name of three israelites and of one samaritan
#5
הָעֶ֣בֶד
the servant
a servant
#6
הָֽעַמֹּנִ֔י
the Ammonite
an ammonite or (the adjective) ammonitish
#7
וַיֵּ֥רַע
properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e., bad (physically, socially or morally)
#8
לָהֶ֖ם
they (only used when emphatic)
#9
רָעָ֣ה
them exceedingly
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
#10
גְדֹלָ֑ה
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
#11
אֲשֶׁר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#12
בָּ֥א
that there was come
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#13
אָדָ֔ם
a man
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
#14
לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ
to seek
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
#15
טוֹבָ֖ה
the welfare
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
#16
לִבְנֵ֥י
of the children
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#17
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Nehemiah Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection