Nehemiah 6:11 - On the noun אִישׁ

(The above rendering is the RJPS translation, an adaptation of the NJPS translation. Before accounting for this rendering, I will analyze the plain sense of the Hebrew term containing אִישׁ, by employing a situation-oriented construal as outlined in this introduction, pp. 11–16.)

The clause under study is the speaker’s first question: הַאִישׁ כָּמוֹנִי יִבְרָח. As usual, the situating noun אִישׁ is used to put attention on a situation of interest, while succinctly depicting that situation schematically. Its use calls attention to the situation—a fact that is the key to the proper understanding of this verse.

The clause’s wording must be attended to carefully. Nehemiah frames his question in terms of what someone else (אִישׁ) would do in my situation (כָּמוֹנִי). That is, he is pointing to his central position in the tense situation—which includes his standing in the community. If he were to go on the run, he would not only betray the mission to which he was assigned, but also lose his standing as an effective leader.

This construal is to be contrasted with a possible alternative framing of the matter, namely in terms of the speaker himself—his own nature or character. That is not what Nehemiah is talking about here. He cannot be the referent of אִישׁ as it is used in his sentence. Moreover, that noun has nothing to do with manliness in this usage (or anywhere in the Bible—but that’s for another occasion).

Several commentators have correctly understood this point. As Malbim paraphrases, שבזה אתראה כירא ורך הלבב וזה לא יאות לאיש כמוני “As a result, I’d be seen as fearful and tender-hearted, and that would not suit someone in my position.” Likewise Fensham (NICOT) notes, “it would have been a humiliation to him as governor to flee from his enemies in such an undignified manner.” And thus Blenkinsopp (OTL) renders “Should one in my position run away?” while noting that “Nehemiah’s answer shows that he understood Shemaiah’s message as an attempt to expose him to the charge of cowardice.” Likewise the NLT: “Should someone in my position run from danger?”

These construals are to be distinguished from two that miss the mark, namely the rendering in GNTD (“I’m not the kind of person that runs and hides”), and the comment in the UBS Translator’s Handbook (“the emphasis is on Nehemiah as a courageous and honorable man whose nature would not be to run away in the face of danger”); boldface added.

Unfortunately, the NJPS rendering “…a man like me…” (so also NRSV) is nowadays liable to be misconstrued as an appeal to manliness, and as being about Nehemiah’s own character. To that extent, it is misleading and ought to be eschewed—especially given that such a construal is not uncommon. Hence the revised rendering “…someone in my position…” removes the temptations to read his question in terms of manliness and/or character; it is intended as an NJPS copyediting correction.