Nehemiah 6:11
New International Version
But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!”

New Living Translation
But I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!”

English Standard Version
But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.”

Berean Standard Bible
But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Should one like me go into the temple to save his own life? I will not go!”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!”

New American Standard Bible
But I said, “Should a man like me flee? And who is there like me who would go into the temple to save his own life? I will not go in.”

NASB 1995
But I said, “Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.”

NASB 1977
But I said, “Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But I said, “Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple just to live? I will not go in.”

Amplified Bible
But I said, “Should a man like me flee [in fear and hide]? Should someone like me enter the temple [for sanctuary] to save his life? I will not go.”

Christian Standard Bible
But I said, “Should a man like me run away? How can someone like me enter the temple and live? I will not go.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But I said, “Should a man like me run away? How can I enter the temple and live? I will not go.”

American Standard Version
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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And I said: “Should one flee to a man like you? God forbid me that I would flee and I would enter the temple!”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I said, Who is the man that shall enter into the house, that he may live?

Contemporary English Version
I answered, "Why should someone like me have to run and hide in the temple to save my life? I won't go!"

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

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But I asked, "Should a man like me run away? Would a man like me go into the temple to save his life? I won't go."

Good News Translation
I answered, "I'm not the kind of person that runs and hides. Do you think I would try to save my life by hiding in the Temple? I won't do it."

International Standard Version
But I asked him, "Should a man like me run? Should someone like me run into the Temple to save his life? I won't go there!"

JPS Tanakh 1917
And I said: 'Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being such as I, could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.'

Literal Standard Version
And I say, “A man such as I—does he flee? And who as I, that goes into the temple, and lives? I do not go in.”

Majority Standard Bible
But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Should one like me go into the temple to save his own life? I will not go!”

New American Bible
My answer was: “A man like me take flight? Should a man like me enter the temple to save his life? I will not go!”

NET Bible
But I replied, "Should a man like me run away? Would someone like me flee to the temple in order to save his life? I will not go!"

New Revised Standard Version
But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Would a man like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!”

New Heart English Bible
I said, "Should such a man as I flee? Who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in."

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
I said, “Should a man like me flee? Who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.”

Young's Literal Translation
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.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sanballat's Conspiracy
10Later, I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his house. He said: “Let us meet at the house of God inside the temple. Let us shut the temple doors because they are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you!” 11But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Should one like me go into the temple to save his own life? I will not go!” 12I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.…

Cross References
Nehemiah 6:12
I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

Proverbs 28:1
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

Should such

Nehemiah 6:3
And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

1 Samuel 19:5
For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

Job 4:3-6
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands…

would go

Nehemiah 6:9
For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

Numbers 32:7-9
And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them? …

Ecclesiastes 10:1
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

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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














(11) Should such a man as I flee?--First, the expression of personal dignity. Then of fear: "Who, being as I am" (a layman), "would go into the Temple to save his life?" Rather, and live? (Numbers 18:7).

Verse 11. - Should such a man as I flee? i.e. Should a man in my position, the head of the state, bound to set an example to others, fly from danger and hide myself? Surely not. And who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? Rather, "could go into the temple and live?" Dean Stanley compares Becket's noble words, - "I will not turn the cathedral into a castle," - but the parallel is not close. Nehemiah feels, not that he would profane the temple by making it into a place of refuge, but that he would break the law by simply entering it. Ewald shows that he has caught the point of the objection when he says, "Nehemiah thought that, as a layman, he must not break the Divine command by entering the sanctuary itself" ('History of Israel,' vol. 5. p. 157).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But I replied,
וָאֹמְרָ֗ה (wā·’ō·mə·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Should a man
הַאִ֤ישׁ (ha·’îš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

like me
כָּמ֙וֹנִי֙ (kā·mō·w·nî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 3644: Like, as, when

run away?
יִבְרָ֔ח (yiḇ·rāḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1272: To bolt, to flee suddenly

Should
וּמִ֥י (ū·mî)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

one like me
כָמ֛וֹנִי (ḵā·mō·w·nî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 3644: Like, as, when

go
יָב֥וֹא (yā·ḇō·w)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

into
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the temple
הַהֵיכָ֖ל (ha·hê·ḵāl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1964: A large public building, palace, temple

to save his own life?
וָחָ֑י (wā·ḥāy)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2425: To live, to revive

I will not
לֹ֖א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

go!”
אָבֽוֹא׃ (’ā·ḇō·w)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go


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OT History: Nehemiah 6:11 I said Should such a man as (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 6:10
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