Nehemiah 13:7
New International Version
and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God.

New Living Translation
When I arrived back in Jerusalem, I learned about Eliashib’s evil deed in providing Tobiah with a room in the courtyards of the Temple of God.

English Standard Version
and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

Berean Standard Bible
to return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of the house of God.

King James Bible
And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

New King James Version
and I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.

New American Standard Bible
and I came to Jerusalem and learned about the evil that Eliashib had committed for Tobiah, by preparing a room for him in the courtyards of the house of God.

NASB 1995
and I came to Jerusalem and learned about the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.

NASB 1977
and I came to Jerusalem and learned about the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.

Legacy Standard Bible
and I came to Jerusalem and discerned the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by preparing a chamber for him in the courts of the house of God.

Amplified Bible
and I came to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil [thing] that Eliashib had done for Tobiah by preparing a room for him in the courtyards of the house of God.

Christian Standard Bible
so I could return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of God’s house.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
so I could return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of God’s house.

American Standard Version
and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

Contemporary English Version
to return to Jerusalem. Only then did I find out that Eliashib had done this terrible thing of letting Tobiah have a room in the temple.

English Revised Version
and I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I went to Jerusalem and discovered the evil thing Eliashib had done by providing Tobiah with a room in God's temple.

Good News Translation
and returned to Jerusalem. There I was shocked to find that Eliashib had allowed Tobiah to use a room in the Temple.

International Standard Version
to return to Jerusalem. I learned of the evil thing that Eliashib had done for Tobiah in furnishing him with a room in the courts of the Temple of God.

Majority Standard Bible
to return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of the house of God.

NET Bible
and I returned to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah by supplying him with a storeroom in the courts of the temple of God.

New Heart English Bible
and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a room in the courts of God's house.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

World English Bible
and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a room in the courts of God’s house.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and I come to Jerusalem, and understand concerning the evil that Eliashib has done for Tobiah, to make to him a chamber in the courts of the house of God,

Young's Literal Translation
and I come in to Jerusalem, and understand concerning the evil that Eliashib hath done for Tobiah, to make to him a chamber in the courts of the house of God,

Smith's Literal Translation
And I shall come to Jerusalem, and I shall understand upon the evil which Eliashib did for Tobiah to prepare for him a cell in the enclosures of the house of God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I came to Jerusalem, and I understood the evil that Eliasib had done for Tobias, to make him a storehouse in the courts of the house of God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I went to Jerusalem, and I understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, such that he would make him a storeroom in the vestibules of the house of God.

New American Bible
and returned to Jerusalem, where I discovered the evil thing that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in setting aside for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

New Revised Standard Version
and returned to Jerusalem. I then discovered the wrong that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah, preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah in preparing for him a chamber in the court of the house of the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I came to Jerusalem and I inspected the evil that Elishab did for Tobia, for he made him a house in the court of LORD JEHOVAH.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and I came to Jerusalem, and I understood the mischief which Eliasib had done in the case of Tobias, in making for him a treasury in the court of the house of God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Temple Cleansed
6While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to Artaxerxes king of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. Some time later I obtained leave from the king 7to return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of the house of God. 8And I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room.…

Cross References
Nehemiah 2:10
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.

Nehemiah 2:19
But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”

Nehemiah 4:1-3
Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews / before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” / Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”

Nehemiah 6:1-2
When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates— / Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me.

Nehemiah 6:14
O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who tried to intimidate me.

Ezra 9:1-2
After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. / Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”

Ezra 10:18-19
Among the descendants of the priests who had married foreign women were found these descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. / They pledged to send their wives away, and for their guilt they presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.

Malachi 2:11
Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.

Deuteronomy 23:3-4
No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation. / For they did not meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you.

1 Kings 11:1-2
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.

2 Kings 23:7
He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the house of the LORD, where the women had woven tapestries for Asherah.

2 Chronicles 29:5
“Listen to me, O Levites,” he said. “Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove from the Holy Place every impurity.

2 Chronicles 29:16
So the priests went inside the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and they brought out to the courtyard all the unclean things that they found in the temple of the LORD. Then the Levites took these things and carried them out to the Kidron Valley.

2 Chronicles 36:14
Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, following all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the house of the LORD, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.

Matthew 21:12-13
Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. / And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”


Treasury of Scripture

And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

understood.

Ezra 9:1
Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

1 Corinthians 1:11
For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

in preparing.

Nehemiah 13:1,5
On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; …

Lamentations 1:10
The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.

Matthew 21:12,13
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, …

Jump to Previous
Buildings Chamber Clear Courts Discovered Eliashib Eli'ashib Evil House Jerusalem Learned Making Observed Preparing Providing Ready Room Tobiah Tobi'ah Understand Understood
Jump to Next
Buildings Chamber Clear Courts Discovered Eliashib Eli'ashib Evil House Jerusalem Learned Making Observed Preparing Providing Ready Room Tobiah Tobi'ah Understand Understood
Nehemiah 13
1. Upon the reading of the law, separation is made from the mixed multitude.
4. Nehemiah, at his return, causes the chambers to be cleansed.
10. He reforms the offices in the house of God;
15. the violation of the Sabbath;
23. and the marriages with the strange wives.














and I arrived in Jerusalem
This phrase marks Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem after a period of absence. The Hebrew root for "arrived" is "בּוֹא" (bo), which often signifies coming or entering with purpose. Nehemiah's return is not merely a physical journey but a spiritual mission to restore order and holiness. Historically, this reflects the ongoing struggle to maintain the sanctity of Jerusalem amidst external influences and internal corruption.

and learned about the evil
The word "learned" comes from the Hebrew "יָדַע" (yada), meaning to know or perceive. Nehemiah's awareness of the situation is not just intellectual but deeply discerning, recognizing the moral and spiritual implications. The "evil" (רָעָה, ra'ah) here is not just wrongdoing but a violation of the covenantal relationship with God, highlighting the seriousness of the offense.

that Eliashib had done for Tobiah
Eliashib, the high priest, is implicated in this wrongdoing. His actions are particularly grievous because of his position of spiritual leadership. The name "Eliashib" means "God restores," which is ironic given his role in compromising the temple's sanctity. Tobiah, an Ammonite official, represents foreign influence and opposition to God's people. Historically, Tobiah's presence in the temple courts symbolizes the infiltration of secular and pagan elements into sacred spaces.

by providing him with a room
The provision of a room (חֶדֶר, cheder) in the temple courts is a significant breach of holiness. The temple is meant to be a place set apart for worship and the presence of God. By allowing Tobiah to reside there, Eliashib desecrates what is holy. This act reflects a broader theme of compromise and the need for vigilance in maintaining spiritual purity.

in the courts of the house of God
The "courts" (חָצֵר, chatser) of the temple are areas designated for worship and offerings. The "house of God" (בֵּית אֱלֹהִים, Beit Elohim) is a term that underscores the temple's sacredness as the dwelling place of the Divine. This phrase reminds us of the centrality of the temple in Jewish worship and identity. Nehemiah's reaction to this situation is rooted in a deep reverence for God's holiness and a commitment to restoring the temple's sanctity.

Verse 7. - A chamber in the courts of the house of God. It would seem by this expression that the chamber made over to Tobiah was not part of the main building of the temple, but a portion of some detached building belonging to the "courts." This, no doubt, made the desecration less flagrant, but was far from justifying it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
to return
וָאָב֖וֹא (wā·’ā·ḇō·w)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to Jerusalem.
לִֽירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (lî·rū·šā·lim)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

Then I discovered
וָאָבִ֣ינָה (wā·’ā·ḇî·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

the evil
בָרָעָ֗ה (ḇā·rā·‘āh)
Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

that
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

Eliashib
אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ (’el·yā·šîḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 475: Eliashib -- 'God restores', the name of several Israelites

had done
עָשָׂ֤ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

on behalf of Tobiah
לְט֣וֹבִיָּ֔ה (lə·ṭō·w·ḇî·yāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2900: Tobiah -- 'Yah is my good', three Israelites, also an Ammonite

by providing
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

him a room
נִשְׁכָּ֔ה (niš·kāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5393: A chamber

in the courts
בְּחַצְרֵ֖י (bə·ḥaṣ·rê)
Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 2691: A yard, a hamlet

of the house
בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of God.
הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


Links
Nehemiah 13:7 NIV
Nehemiah 13:7 NLT
Nehemiah 13:7 ESV
Nehemiah 13:7 NASB
Nehemiah 13:7 KJV

Nehemiah 13:7 BibleApps.com
Nehemiah 13:7 Biblia Paralela
Nehemiah 13:7 Chinese Bible
Nehemiah 13:7 French Bible
Nehemiah 13:7 Catholic Bible

OT History: Nehemiah 13:7 And I came to Jerusalem and understood (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 13:6
Top of Page
Top of Page