Nehemiah

Nehemiah 1:2–7

²Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

³And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

⁴When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

⁵Then I said:

“O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion^b with those who love Him and keep His commandments, ⁶let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites.

I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. ⁷We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses.

Footnotes

b 1:5 Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

Read all of Nehemiah 1

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Nehemiah 1:2

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Hanani	חֲנָ֜נִי	ḥă·nā·nî	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H2607 Chanani
one	אֶחָ֧ד	’e·ḥāḏ	Number - masculine singular	H259 one
of my brothers	מֵאַחַ֛י	mê·’a·ḥay	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H251 brother
arrived	וַיָּבֹ֨א	way·yā·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
with men	וַאֲנָשִׁ֖ים	wa·’ă·nā·šîm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
from Judah	מִֽיהוּדָ֑ה	mî·hū·ḏāh	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah
So I questioned them	וָאֶשְׁאָלֵ֞ם	wā·’eš·’ā·lêm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person masculine plural	H7592 ask, inquire
about	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the remnant	הַפְּלֵיטָ֛ה	hap·pə·lê·ṭāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H6413 escape
of the Jews	הַיְּהוּדִ֧ים	hay·yə·hū·ḏîm	Article; Noun - proper - masculine plural	H3064 Jewish
who	אֲשֶֽׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
had survived	נִשְׁאֲר֥וּ	niš·’ă·rū	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural	H7604 remain, be left over
the exile	הַשֶּׁ֖בִי	haš·še·ḇî	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H7628 captivity, captives
and also about	וְעַל־	wə·‘al-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H5921 height
Jerusalem	יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃	yə·rū·šā·lim	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3389 Jerusalem

Nehemiah 1:3

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And they told	וַיֹּאמְרוּ֮	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
me	לִי֒	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
The remnant	הַֽנִּשְׁאָרִ֞ים	han·niš·’ā·rîm	Article; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural	H7604 remain, be left over
who	אֲשֶֽׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
survived	נִשְׁאֲר֤וּ	niš·’ă·rū	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural	H7604 remain, be left over
the exile	הַשְּׁבִי֙	haš·šə·ḇî	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H7628 captivity, captives
there	שָׁ֣ם	šām	Adverb	H8033 there, thither
in the province	בַּמְּדִינָ֔ה	bam·mə·ḏî·nāh	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4082 province
in great	גְדֹלָ֖ה	ḡə·ḏō·lāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H1419 great
trouble	בְּרָעָ֥ה	bə·rā·‘āh	Preposition-b; Adjective - feminine singular	H7451 bad, evil
and disgrace	וּבְחֶרְפָּ֑ה	ū·ḇə·ḥer·pāh	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular	H2781 reproach
The wall	וְחוֹמַ֤ת	wə·ḥō·w·maṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct	H2346 wall
of Jerusalem	יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙	yə·rū·šā·lim	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3389 Jerusalem
broken down	מְפֹרָ֔צֶת	mə·p̄ō·rā·ṣeṯ	Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singular	H6555 break through
and its gates	וּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָ	ū·šə·‘ā·re·hā	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person feminine singular	H8179 gate
have been burned	נִצְּת֥וּ	niṣ·ṣə·ṯū	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3341 kindle, burn
with fire	בָאֵֽשׁ׃	ḇā·’êš	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - common singular	H784 fire

Nehemiah 1:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When I heard	כְּשָׁמְעִ֣י׀	kə·šā·mə·‘î	Preposition-k; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; first person common singular	H8085 hear
these	הָאֵ֗לֶּה	hā·’êl·leh	Article; Pronoun - common plural	H428 these
words	הַדְּבָרִ֣ים	had·də·ḇā·rîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H1697 speech, word
I sat down	יָשַׁ֙בְתִּי֙	yā·šaḇ·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
and wept	וָֽאֶבְכֶּ֔ה	wā·’eḇ·keh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H1058 weep, bewail
I mourned	וָאֶתְאַבְּלָ֖ה	wā·’eṯ·’ab·bə·lāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singular	H56 mourn
for days	יָמִ֑ים	yā·mîm	Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day
fasting	צָם֙	ṣām	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H6684 abstain from food, fast
and praying	וּמִתְפַּלֵּ֔ל	ū·miṯ·pal·lêl	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular	H6419 intervene, interpose
before	לִפְנֵ֖י	lip̄·nê	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
the God	אֱלֹהֵ֥י	’ĕ·lō·hê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H430 God
of heaven	הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃	haš·šā·mā·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft

Nehemiah 1:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then I said	וָאֹמַ֗ר	wā·’ō·mar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H559 utter, say
O	אָֽנָּ֤א	’ān·nā	Interjection	H577 ah, now! I (or we) beseech thee!
LORD	יְהוָה֙	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
God	אֱלֹהֵ֣י	’ĕ·lō·hê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H430 God
of heaven	הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם	haš·šā·ma·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft
the great	הַגָּד֖וֹל	hag·gā·ḏō·wl	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H1419 great
and awesome	וְהַנּוֹרָ֑א	wə·han·nō·w·rā	Conjunctive waw, Article; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular	H3372 fear
God	הָאֵ֥ל	hā·’êl	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H410 god
who keeps	שֹׁמֵ֤ר	šō·mêr	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
His covenant	הַבְּרִית֙	hab·bə·rîṯ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H1285 covenant
of loving devotion	וָחֶ֔סֶד	wā·ḥe·seḏ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H2617 goodness, kindness
with those who love Him	לְאֹהֲבָ֖יו	lə·’ō·hă·ḇāw	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H157 love
and keep	וּלְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י	ū·lə·šō·mə·rê	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
His commandments	מִצְוֺתָֽיו׃	miṣ·wō·ṯāw	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H4687 commandment

Nehemiah 1:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
let Your eyes	וְֽעֵינֶ֪יךָ	wə·‘ê·ne·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Noun - cdc; second person masculine singular	H5869 eye
be	תְּהִ֣י	tə·hî	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
open	פְתֻוּח֟וֹת	p̄ə·ṯuw·w·ḥōṯ	Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine plural	H6605 open
and Your ears	אָזְנְךָֽ־	’ā·zə·nə·ḵā-	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H241 ear
attentive	קַשֶּׁ֣בֶת	qaš·še·ḇeṯ	Adjective - feminine singular	H7183 attentive
to hear	לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ	liš·mō·a‘	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H8085 hear
the prayer	תְּפִלַּ֣ת	tə·p̄il·laṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H8605 prayer
that	אֲשֶׁ֣ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
I	אָנֹכִי֩	’ā·nō·ḵî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
Your servant	עַבְדְּךָ֡	‘aḇ·də·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
now	הַיּוֹם֙	hay·yō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
pray	מִתְפַּלֵּ֨ל	miṯ·pal·lêl	Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular	H6419 intervene, interpose
before You	לְפָנֶ֤יךָ	lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; second person masculine singular	H6440 face, before
day	יוֹמָ֣ם	yō·w·mām	Adverb	H3119 daytime, by day
and night	וָלַ֔יְלָה	wā·lay·lāh	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H3915 twist, night, adversity
for	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
Your servants	עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ	‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
the Israelites	בְּנֵ֥י	bə·nê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
I confess	וּמִתְוַדֶּ֗ה	ū·miṯ·wad·deh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular	H3034 throw, cast
the sins	חַטֹּ֤אות	ḥaṭ·ṭō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural construct	H2403 offence, penalty, occasion
that	אֲשֶׁ֣ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
we Israelites	בְּנֵֽי־	bə·nê-	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
have committed	חָטָ֣אנוּ	ḥā·ṭā·nū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural	H2398 miss
against You	לָ֔ךְ	lāḵ	Preposition; second person masculine singular
Both I	וַאֲנִ֥י	wa·’ă·nî	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
and my father’s	אָבִ֖י	’ā·ḇî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H1 father
house	וּבֵית־	ū·ḇêṯ-	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
have sinned	חָטָֽאנוּ׃	ḥā·ṭā·nū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural	H2398 miss

Nehemiah 1:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
We have behaved corruptly	חֲבֹ֖ל	ḥă·ḇōl	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H2254 bind, pledge
against You	לָ֑ךְ	lāḵ	Preposition; second person feminine singular
and have not	וְלֹא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
kept	שָׁמַ֣רְנוּ	šā·mar·nū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
the commandments	הַמִּצְוֺ֗ת	ham·miṣ·wōṯ	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H4687 commandment
statutes	הַֽחֻקִּים֙	ha·ḥuq·qîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H2706 something prescribed, a statute or due
and ordinances	הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים	ham·miš·pā·ṭîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H4941 judgment
that	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
You gave	צִוִּ֖יתָ	ṣiw·wî·ṯā	Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
Your servant	עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃	‘aḇ·de·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
Moses	מֹשֶׁ֥ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses