Nehemiah 6:8 Meaning and Explanation
“Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Nehemiah flatly denies the charges, naming them inventions of Sanballat's own mind.
What Does Nehemiah 6:8 Mean?
Nehemiah's reply is brief and unflinching. He does not negotiate or grovel; he simply states the truth: none of these things are happening. The accusations, he says, are fabricated out of Sanballat's own heart, conceived from nothing real.
There is freedom in a clear conscience. Because Nehemiah has done nothing of what he is accused, he can answer slander with a single honest sentence and return to his work. He does not let a lie set the terms of his life. To name falsehood plainly as falsehood, without rage and without fear, and then to keep going, is one of the quiet powers of integrity.
Nehemiah 6:8 in the Original Language
bada' (בָּדָא), 'feignest' -- to invent or devise something out of one's own imagination.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nehemiah 6:8
What does Nehemiah 6:8 mean?
Nehemiah flatly denies the charges, naming them inventions of Sanballat's own mind.