Nehemiah

Nehemiah 1:6–11

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

¹⁰They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand. ¹¹O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants^e who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”

(At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)

Footnotes

c 1:9 Or to the extremity of the heavens
d 1:9 Deuteronomy 30:1–4|DEU 30:1-4
e 1:11 Literally to the prayer of Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants

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 1:6

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

Nehemiah 1:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Remember	זְכָר־	zə·ḵār-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H2142 remember
I pray	נָא֙	nā	Interjection	H4994 I (we) pray, now
the word	הַדָּבָ֔ר	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
that	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
You commanded	צִוִּ֛יתָ	ṣiw·wî·ṯā	Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
Your servant	עַבְדְּךָ֖	‘aḇ·də·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
Moses	מֹשֶׁ֥ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
when You said	לֵאמֹ֑ר	lê·mōr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H559 utter, say
If you	אַתֶּ֣ם	’at·tem	Pronoun - second person masculine plural	H859 thou
are unfaithful	תִּמְעָ֔לוּ	tim·‘ā·lū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural	H4603 act unfaithfully, treacherously
I	אֲנִ֕י	’ă·nî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
will scatter	אָפִ֥יץ	’ā·p̄îṣ	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular	H6327 be dispersed, scattered
you	אֶתְכֶ֖ם	’eṯ·ḵem	Direct object marker; second person masculine plural	H853 mark of the accusative
among the nations	בָּעַמִּֽים׃	bā·‘am·mîm	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H5971 people

Nehemiah 1:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
but	וְשַׁבְתֶּ֣ם	wə·šaḇ·tem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H7725 turn back, return
to Me	אֵלַ֔י	’ê·lay	Preposition; first person common singular	H413 motion to
and keep	וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֙	ū·šə·mar·tem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
and practice	וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם	wa·‘ă·śî·ṯem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H6213 do, make
My commandments	מִצְוֺתַ֔י	miṣ·wō·ṯay	Noun - feminine plural construct; first person common singular	H4687 commandment
then even if	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
your exiles	נִֽדַּחֲכֶ֜ם	nid·da·ḥă·ḵem	Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular construct; second person masculine plural	H5080 impel, thrust, banish
have been	יִהְיֶ֨ה	yih·yeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
to the farthest	בִּקְצֵ֤ה	biq·ṣêh	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7097 end, extremity
horizon	הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙	haš·šā·ma·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft
I will gather them	אֲקַבְּצֵ֔ם	’ă·qab·bə·ṣêm	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular; third person masculine plural	H6908 gather, collect
from there	מִשָּׁ֣ם	miš·šām	Preposition-m; Adverb	H8033 there, thither
and bring them	וַהֲבוֹאֹתִים	wa·hă·ḇō·ʾō·ṯīm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular; third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the place	הַמָּק֔וֹם	ham·mā·qō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4725 standing, spot, condition
I have chosen	בָּחַ֔רְתִּי	bā·ḥar·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H977 choose
as a dwelling	לְשַׁכֵּ֥ן	lə·šak·kên	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H7931 settle down, abide, dwell
for	אֶת־	’eṯ-	Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
My Name	שְׁמִ֖י	šə·mî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H8034 name

Nehemiah 1:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
They	וְהֵ֥ם	wə·hêm	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine plural	H1992 they, them
are Your servants	עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ	‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
and Your people	וְעַמֶּ֑ךָ	wə·‘am·me·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5971 people
You redeemed	פָּדִ֙יתָ֙	pā·ḏî·ṯā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H6299 ransom
them	אֲשֶׁ֤ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
by Your great	הַגָּד֔וֹל	hag·gā·ḏō·wl	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H1419 great
power	בְּכֹחֲךָ֣	bə·ḵō·ḥă·ḵā	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H3581 strength, power
and mighty	הַחֲזָקָֽה׃	ha·ḥă·zā·qāh	Article; Adjective - feminine singular	H2389 strong, stout, mighty
hand	וּבְיָדְךָ֖	ū·ḇə·yā·ḏə·ḵā	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H3027 hand

Nehemiah 1:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
O Lord	אֲדֹנָ֗י	’ă·ḏō·nāy	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H136 lord
may Your ear	אָזְנְךָֽ־	’ā·zə·nə·ḵā-	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H241 ear
be	תְּהִ֣י	tə·hî	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
attentive	קַ֠שֶּׁבֶת	qaš·še·ḇeṯ	Adjective - feminine singular	H7183 attentive
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
prayer	תְּפִלַּ֨ת	tə·p̄il·laṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H8605 prayer
and to	וְאֶל־	wə·’el-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H413 motion to
the prayers	תְּפִלַּ֣ת	tə·p̄il·laṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H8605 prayer
of Your servants	עֲבָדֶ֗יךָ	‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
who delight	הַֽחֲפֵצִים֙	ha·ḥă·p̄ê·ṣîm	Article; Adjective - masculine plural	H2655 delighting in, having pleasure in
to revere	לְיִרְאָ֣ה	lə·yir·’āh	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person feminine singular	H3372 fear
Your name	שְׁמֶ֔ךָ	šə·me·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H8034 name
Give Your servant	לְעַבְדְּךָ֙	lə·‘aḇ·də·ḵā	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
success	וְהַצְלִֽיחָה־	wə·haṣ·lî·ḥāh-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H6743 rush
this day	הַיּ֔וֹם	hay·yō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
I pray	נָּ֤א	nā	Interjection	H4994 I (we) pray, now
and grant him	וּתְנֵ֣הוּ	ū·ṯə·nê·hū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
mercy	לְרַחֲמִ֔ים	lə·ra·ḥă·mîm	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural	H7356 womb
in the sight	לִפְנֵ֖י	lip̄·nê	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
of this	הַזֶּ֑ה	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
man	הָאִ֣ישׁ	hā·’îš	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
At that time I	וַאֲנִ֛י	wa·’ă·nî	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
was	הָיִ֥יתִי	hā·yî·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
the cupbearer	מַשְׁקֶ֖ה	maš·qeh	Noun - masculine singular	H4945 butler, cup-bearer
to the king	לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃פ	lam·me·leḵ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king