Nehemiah

Nehemiah 1:4–9

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 devotionb 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.

8Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon,c I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’d

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.
  • c 1:9 Or to the extremity of the heavens
  • d 1:9 Deuteronomy 30:1–4|DEU 30:1-4

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 1:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
When I heardכְּשָׁמְעִ֣י׀kə·šā·mə·‘îPreposition-k; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; first person common singularH8085 hear
theseהָאֵ֗לֶּהhā·’êl·lehArticle; Pronoun - common pluralH428 these
wordsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםhad·də·ḇā·rîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH1697 speech, word
I sat downיָשַׁ֙בְתִּי֙yā·šaḇ·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH3427 sit, remain, dwell
and weptוָֽאֶבְכֶּ֔הwā·’eḇ·kehConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularH1058 weep, bewail
I mournedוָאֶתְאַבְּלָ֖הwā·’eṯ·’ab·bə·lāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singularH56 mourn
for daysיָמִ֑יםyā·mîmNoun - masculine pluralH3117 day
fastingצָם֙ṣāmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH6684 abstain from food, fast
and prayingוּמִתְפַּלֵּ֔לū·miṯ·pal·lêlConjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singularH6419 intervene, interpose
beforeלִפְנֵ֖יlip̄·nêPreposition-l; Noun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
the Godאֱלֹהֵ֥י’ĕ·lō·hêNoun - masculine plural constructH430 God
of heavenהַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃haš·šā·mā·yimArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH8064 sky, aloft

Nehemiah 1:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then I saidוָאֹמַ֗רwā·’ō·marConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularH559 utter, say
Oאָֽנָּ֤א’ān·nāInterjectionH577 ah, now! I (or we) beseech thee!
LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י’ĕ·lō·hêNoun - masculine plural constructH430 God
of heavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםhaš·šā·ma·yimArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH8064 sky, aloft
the greatהַגָּד֖וֹלhag·gā·ḏō·wlArticle; Adjective - masculine singularH1419 great
and awesomeוְהַנּוֹרָ֑אwə·han·nō·w·rāConjunctive waw, Article; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularH3372 fear
Godהָאֵ֥לhā·’êlArticle; Noun - masculine singularH410 god
who keepsשֹׁמֵ֤רšō·mêrVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH8104 keep, watch, preserve
His covenantהַבְּרִית֙hab·bə·rîṯArticle; Noun - feminine singularH1285 covenant
of loving devotionוָחֶ֔סֶדwā·ḥe·seḏConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH2617 goodness, kindness
with those who love Himלְאֹהֲבָ֖יוlə·’ō·hă·ḇāwPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH157 love
and keepוּלְשֹׁמְרֵ֥יū·lə·šō·mə·rêConjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructH8104 keep, watch, preserve
His commandmentsמִצְוֺתָֽיו׃miṣ·wō·ṯāwNoun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singularH4687 commandment

Nehemiah 1:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
let Your eyesוְֽעֵינֶ֪יךָwə·‘ê·ne·ḵāConjunctive waw; Noun - cdc; second person masculine singularH5869 eye
beתְּהִ֣יtə·hîVerb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
openפְתֻוּח֟וֹתp̄ə·ṯuw·w·ḥōṯVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine pluralH6605 open
and Your earsאָזְנְךָֽ־’ā·zə·nə·ḵā-Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singularH241 ear
attentiveקַשֶּׁ֣בֶתqaš·še·ḇeṯAdjective - feminine singularH7183 attentive
to hearלִשְׁמֹ֣עַliš·mō·a‘Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH8085 hear
the prayerתְּפִלַּ֣תtə·p̄il·laṯNoun - feminine singular constructH8605 prayer
thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
Iאָנֹכִי֩’ā·nō·ḵîPronoun - first person common singularH595 I
Your servantעַבְדְּךָ֡‘aḇ·də·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH5650 slave, servant
nowהַיּוֹם֙hay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
prayמִתְפַּלֵּ֨לmiṯ·pal·lêlVerb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singularH6419 intervene, interpose
before Youלְפָנֶ֤יךָlə·p̄ā·ne·ḵāPreposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; second person masculine singularH6440 face, before
dayיוֹמָ֣םyō·w·māmAdverbH3119 daytime, by day
and nightוָלַ֔יְלָהwā·lay·lāhConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH3915 twist, night, adversity
forעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
Your servantsעֲבָדֶ֑יךָ‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵāNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singularH5650 slave, servant
the Israelitesבְּנֵ֥יbə·nêNoun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
I confessוּמִתְוַדֶּ֗הū·miṯ·wad·dehConjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singularH3034 throw, cast
the sinsחַטֹּ֤אותḥaṭ·ṭō·wṯNoun - feminine plural constructH2403 offence, penalty, occasion
thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
we Israelitesבְּנֵֽי־bə·nê-Noun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
have committedחָטָ֣אנוּḥā·ṭā·nūVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluralH2398 miss
against Youלָ֔ךְlāḵPreposition; second person masculine singular
Both Iוַאֲנִ֥יwa·’ă·nîConjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singularH589 I
and my father’sאָבִ֖י’ā·ḇîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH1 father
houseוּבֵית־ū·ḇêṯ-Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
have sinnedחָטָֽאנוּ׃ḥā·ṭā·nūVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluralH2398 miss

Nehemiah 1:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
We have behaved corruptlyחֲבֹ֖לḥă·ḇōlVerb - Qal - Infinitive constructH2254 bind, pledge
against Youלָ֑ךְlāḵPreposition; second person feminine singular
and have notוְלֹא־wə·lō-Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
keptשָׁמַ֣רְנוּšā·mar·nūVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluralH8104 keep, watch, preserve
the commandmentsהַמִּצְוֺ֗תham·miṣ·wōṯArticle; Noun - feminine pluralH4687 commandment
statutesהַֽחֻקִּים֙ha·ḥuq·qîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH2706 something prescribed, a statute or due
and ordinancesהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔יםham·miš·pā·ṭîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH4941 judgment
thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
You gaveצִוִּ֖יתָṣiw·wî·ṯāVerb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singularH6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
Your servantעַבְדֶּֽךָ׃‘aḇ·de·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH5650 slave, servant
Mosesמֹשֶׁ֥הmō·šehNoun - proper - masculine singularH4872 Moses

Nehemiah 1:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Rememberזְכָר־zə·ḵār-Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH2142 remember
I prayנָא֙nāInterjectionH4994 I (we) pray, now
the wordהַדָּבָ֔רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
You commandedצִוִּ֛יתָṣiw·wî·ṯāVerb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singularH6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
Your servantעַבְדְּךָ֖‘aḇ·də·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH5650 slave, servant
Mosesמֹשֶׁ֥הmō·šehNoun - proper - masculine singularH4872 Moses
when You saidלֵאמֹ֑רlê·mōrPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH559 utter, say
If youאַתֶּ֣ם’at·temPronoun - second person masculine pluralH859 thou
are unfaithfulתִּמְעָ֔לוּtim·‘ā·lūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralH4603 act unfaithfully, treacherously
Iאֲנִ֕י’ă·nîPronoun - first person common singularH589 I
will scatterאָפִ֥יץ’ā·p̄îṣVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singularH6327 be dispersed, scattered
youאֶתְכֶ֖ם’eṯ·ḵemDirect object marker; second person masculine pluralH853 mark of the accusative
among the nationsבָּעַמִּֽים׃bā·‘am·mîmPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine pluralH5971 people

Nehemiah 1:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
butוְשַׁבְתֶּ֣םwə·šaḇ·temConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralH7725 turn back, return
to Meאֵלַ֔י’ê·layPreposition; first person common singularH413 motion to
and keepוּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֙ū·šə·mar·temConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralH8104 keep, watch, preserve
and practiceוַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖םwa·‘ă·śî·ṯemConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralH6213 do, make
My commandmentsמִצְוֺתַ֔יmiṣ·wō·ṯayNoun - feminine plural construct; first person common singularH4687 commandment
then even ifאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
your exilesנִֽדַּחֲכֶ֜םnid·da·ḥă·ḵemVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular construct; second person masculine pluralH5080 impel, thrust, banish
have beenיִהְיֶ֨הyih·yehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
to the farthestבִּקְצֵ֤הbiq·ṣêhPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH7097 end, extremity
horizonהַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙haš·šā·ma·yimArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH8064 sky, aloft
I will gather themאֲקַבְּצֵ֔ם’ă·qab·bə·ṣêmVerb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular; third person masculine pluralH6908 gather, collect
from thereמִשָּׁ֣םmiš·šāmPreposition-m; AdverbH8033 there, thither
and bring themוַהֲבוֹאֹתִיםwa·hă·ḇō·ʾō·ṯīmConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular; third person masculine pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the placeהַמָּק֔וֹםham·mā·qō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4725 standing, spot, condition
I have chosenבָּחַ֔רְתִּיbā·ḥar·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH977 choose
as a dwellingלְשַׁכֵּ֥ןlə·šak·kênPreposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructH7931 settle down, abide, dwell
forאֶת־’eṯ-Direct object markerH853 mark of the accusative
My Nameשְׁמִ֖יšə·mîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH8034 name

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Nehemiah 1:4 Daniel 9:3 · Psalm 137:1 · Ezra 10:1 · Psalm 69:9–10 · Psalm 102:13–14 · Nehemiah 2:4 · Zephaniah 3:18 · Romans 12:15 · Daniel 2:18 · Jonah 1:9 · Ezra 5:11–12 · Ezra 9:3

Nehemiah 1:5 Exodus 20:6 · Daniel 9:4–19 · Deuteronomy 7:21 · Deuteronomy 7:9 · Nehemiah 4:14 · Nehemiah 9:32 · 1 Kings 8:23 · Hebrews 6:13–18 · 1 Chronicles 17:21

Nehemiah 1:6 Daniel 9:20 · Daniel 9:4 · Psalm 34:15 · Psalm 106:6 · Daniel 9:17–18 · 2 Chronicles 29:6 · 2 Chronicles 6:40 · Isaiah 6:5 · 1 John 1:9 · Luke 18:7 · 2 Timothy 1:3 · Lamentations 5:7

Nehemiah 1:7 Daniel 9:5–6 · Daniel 9:11 · Daniel 9:13 · Psalm 106:6

Nehemiah 1:8 Deuteronomy 28:64 · Deuteronomy 4:25–27 · Leviticus 26:33–46 · 1 Kings 9:6–7 · Deuteronomy 32:26–28 · Luke 1:72

Nehemiah 1:9 Jeremiah 29:11–14 · Deuteronomy 30:2–5 · Deuteronomy 4:29–31 · Jeremiah 32:37 · Leviticus 26:39–42 · Psalm 147:2 · Matthew 24:31 · Deuteronomy 12:5 · Isaiah 56:8 · Ezra 6:12 · Jeremiah 12:15 · Ezekiel 36:24

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.