Nehemiah

Nehemiah 2:1–8

¹Now in the month of Nisan,^a in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, ²so the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? This could only be sadness of the heart.”

I was overwhelmed with fear ³and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

⁴“What is your request?” replied the king.

So I prayed to the God of heaven ⁵and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city where my fathers are buried, so that I may rebuild it.”

⁶Then the king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I set a time.

⁷I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors west of the Euphrates,^b so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah. ⁸And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy.”

And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.

Footnotes

a 2:1 Nisan is the first month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of March and April.
b 2:7 Hebrew beyond the River; also in verse 9

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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 2:1

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now	וַיְהִ֣י׀	way·hî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
in the month	בְּחֹ֣דֶשׁ	bə·ḥō·ḏeš	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H2320 (newness), new moon, month
of Nisan	נִיסָ֗ן	nî·sān	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H5212 Nisan
in the twentieth	עֶשְׂרִ֛ים	‘eś·rîm	Number - common plural	H6242 (a) twenty
year	שְׁנַ֥ת	šə·naṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H8141 year
of King	הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
Artaxerxes	לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא	lə·’ar·taḥ·šast	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H783 Artaxerxes
when wine	יַ֣יִן	ya·yin	Noun - masculine singular	H3196 wine
was set before him	לְפָנָ֑יו	lə·p̄ā·nāw	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; third person masculine singular	H6440 face, before
I took	וָאֶשָּׂ֤א	wā·’eś·śā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H5375 lift, take, carry
the wine	הַיַּ֙יִן֙	hay·ya·yin	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3196 wine
and gave	וָאֶתְּנָ֣ה	wā·’et·tə·nāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singular	H5414 give, put, set
it to the king	לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ	lam·me·leḵ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
I had never	וְלֹא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
been	הָיִ֥יתִי	hā·yî·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
sad	רַ֖ע	ra‘	Adjective - masculine singular	H7451 bad, evil
in his presence	לְפָנָֽיו׃	lə·p̄ā·nāw	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; third person masculine singular	H6440 face, before

Nehemiah 2:2

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
so the king	הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
said	וַיֹּאמֶר֩	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to me	לִ֨י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
Why	מַדּ֣וּעַ׀	mad·dū·a‘	Interrogative	H4069 wherefore?
your face	פָּנֶ֣יךָ	pā·ne·ḵā	Noun - common plural construct; second person masculine singular	H6440 face, before
sad	רָעִ֗ים	rā·‘îm	Adjective - masculine plural	H7451 bad, evil
though you	וְאַתָּה֙	wə·’at·tāh	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - second person masculine singular	H859 thou
not	אֵֽינְךָ֣	’ê·nə·ḵā	Adverb; second person masculine singular	H369 nothing, nought
ill	חוֹלֶ֔ה	ḥō·w·leh	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H2470 be weak, sick
This	זֶ֔ה	zeh	Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
could only be	אֵ֣ין	’ên	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
sadness	רֹ֣עַֽ	rō·a‘	Noun - masculine singular construct	H7455 badness, evil
of the heart	לֵ֑ב	lêḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
I was overwhelmed with fear	וָאִירָ֖א	wā·’î·rā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H3372 fear

Nehemiah 2:3

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and replied	וָאֹמַ֣ר	wā·’ō·mar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H559 utter, say
to the king	לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ	lam·me·leḵ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
May the king	הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
live forever	יִחְיֶ֑ה	yiḥ·yeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H2421 live
Why	מַדּ֜וּעַ	mad·dū·a‘	Interrogative	H4069 wherefore?
should I not	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
be sad	יֵרְע֣וּ	yê·rə·‘ū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7489 be evil, bad
when	אֲשֶׁ֨ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
the city	הָעִ֜יר	hā·‘îr	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5892 excitement
where	בֵּית־	bêṯ-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
my fathers	אֲבֹתַי֙	’ă·ḇō·ṯay	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H1 father
are buried	קִבְר֤וֹת	qiḇ·rō·wṯ	Noun - masculine plural construct	H6913 grave, sepulchre
lies in ruins	חֲרֵבָ֔ה	ḥă·rê·ḇāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H2720 dry
and its gates	וּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָ	ū·šə·‘ā·re·hā	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person feminine singular	H8179 gate
have been destroyed	אֻכְּל֥וּ	’uk·kə·lū	Verb - QalPass - Perfect - third person common plural	H398 eat
by fire	בָאֵֽשׁ׃ס	ḇā·’êš	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - common singular	H784 fire

Nehemiah 2:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
What	מַה־	mah-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
is your	אַתָּ֣ה	’at·tāh	Pronoun - second person masculine singular	H859 thou
request	מְבַקֵּ֑שׁ	mə·ḇaq·qêš	Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular	H1245 seek
replied	וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
the king	הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
So I prayed	וָֽאֶתְפַּלֵּ֔ל	wā·’eṯ·pal·lêl	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H6419 intervene, interpose
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the God	אֱלֹהֵ֖י	’ĕ·lō·hê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H430 God
of heaven	הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃	haš·šā·mā·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft

Nehemiah 2:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and answered	וָאֹמַ֣ר	wā·’ō·mar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H559 utter, say
the king	לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ	lam·me·leḵ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
If	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
it pleases	ט֔וֹב	ṭō·wḇ	Adjective - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
the king	הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
and if	וְאִם־	wə·’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
your servant	עַבְדְּךָ֖	‘aḇ·də·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
has found favor	יִיטַ֥ב	yî·ṭaḇ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
in your sight	לְפָנֶ֑יךָ	lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; second person masculine singular	H6440 face, before
I ask that	אֲשֶׁ֧ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
you send me	תִּשְׁלָחֵ֣נִי	tiš·lā·ḥê·nî	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular; first person common singular	H7971 send
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Judah	יְהוּדָ֗ה	yə·hū·ḏāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the city	עִ֛יר	‘îr	Noun - feminine singular construct	H5892 excitement
where my fathers	אֲבֹתַ֖י	’ă·ḇō·ṯay	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H1 father
are buried	קִבְר֥וֹת	qiḇ·rō·wṯ	Noun - masculine plural construct	H6913 grave, sepulchre
so that I may rebuild it	וְאֶבְנֶֽנָּה׃	wə·’eḇ·nen·nāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular; third person feminine singular	H1129 build

Nehemiah 2:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the king	הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
with the queen	וְהַשֵּׁגַ֣ל׀	wə·haš·šê·ḡal	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H7694 consort
seated	יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת	yō·wō·še·ḇeṯ	Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
beside him	אֶצְל֗וֹ	’eṣ·lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H681 conjunction, proximity
asked	וַיֹּאמֶר֩	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
me	לִ֨י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
How long	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
will your journey	מַֽהֲלָכֲךָ֖	ma·hă·lā·ḵă·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H4109 walk, passage, distance
take	יִהְיֶ֥ה	yih·yeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
and when	וּמָתַ֣י	ū·mā·ṯay	Conjunctive waw; Interrogative	H4970 when?
will you return	תָּשׁ֑וּב	tā·šūḇ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H7725 turn back, return
So it pleased	וַיִּיטַ֤ב	way·yî·ṭaḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
the king	הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
to send me	וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֔נִי	way·yiš·lā·ḥê·nî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; first person common singular	H7971 send
and I set	וָֽאֶתְּנָ֥ה	wā·’et·tə·nāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singular	H5414 give, put, set
a time	זְמָֽן׃	zə·mān	Noun - masculine singular	H2165 appointed time, time

Nehemiah 2:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I also said	וָאוֹמַר֮	wā·’ō·w·mar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H559 utter, say
to	לַמֶּלֶךְ֒	lam·me·leḵ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
If	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
it pleases	ט֔וֹב	ṭō·wḇ	Adjective - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
the king	הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
may letters	אִגְּרוֹת֙	’ig·gə·rō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural	H107 letter, letter-missive
be given	יִתְּנוּ־	yit·tə·nū-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5414 give, put, set
to me	לִ֔י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
for	עַֽל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the governors	פַּחֲו֖וֹת	pa·ḥă·wō·wṯ	Noun - masculine plural construct	H6346 governor
west	עֵ֣בֶר	‘ê·ḇer	Noun - masculine singular construct	H5676 region across or beyond, side
of the Euphrates	הַנָּהָ֑ר	han·nā·hār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5104 stream, river
so that	אֲשֶׁר֙	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
they will grant me safe passage	יַעֲבִיר֔וּנִי	ya·‘ă·ḇî·rū·nî	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; first person common singular	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
until	עַ֥ד	‘aḏ	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
I reach	אָב֖וֹא	’ā·ḇō·w	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
Judah	יְהוּדָֽה׃	yə·hū·ḏāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah

Nehemiah 2:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And may I have a letter	וְאִגֶּ֡רֶת	wə·’ig·ge·reṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular	H107 letter, letter-missive
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Asaph	אָסָף֩	’ā·sāp̄	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H623 Asaph
keeper	שֹׁמֵ֨ר	šō·mêr	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
of the king’s	אֲשֶׁ֣ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
forest	הַפַּרְדֵּ֜ס	hap·par·dês	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6508 preserve, park
so that	אֲשֶׁ֣ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
he will give	יִתֶּן־	yit·ten-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
me	לִ֣י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
timber	עֵצִ֡ים	‘ê·ṣîm	Noun - masculine plural	H6086 tree, trees, wood
to make beams	לְ֠קָרוֹת	lə·qā·rō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H7136 encounter, meet, befall
for	אֶת־	’eṯ-	Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
the gates	שַׁעֲרֵ֨י	ša·‘ă·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H8179 gate
of the citadel	הַבִּירָ֤ה	hab·bî·rāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H1002 castle, palace
to the temple	לַבַּ֙יִת֙	lab·ba·yiṯ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1004 house
for the city	הָעִ֔יר	hā·‘îr	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5892 excitement
wall	וּלְחוֹמַ֣ת	ū·lə·ḥō·w·maṯ	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular construct	H2346 wall
and for the house	וְלַבַּ֖יִת	wə·lab·ba·yiṯ	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1004 house
I will occupy	אָב֣וֹא	’ā·ḇō·w	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
And because the gracious	הַטּוֹבָ֥ה	haṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh	Article; Adjective - feminine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
hand	כְּיַד־	kə·yaḏ-	Preposition-k; Noun - feminine singular construct	H3027 hand
of my God	אֱלֹהַ֖י	’ĕ·lō·hay	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H430 God
was upon me	עָלָֽי׃	‘ā·lāy	Preposition; first person common singular	H5921 height
the king	הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
granted	וַיִּתֶּן־	way·yit·ten-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
my requests	לִ֣י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular