Nehemiah 1:11

Authorized King James Version

O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
אָנָּ֣א
H577
I beseech
oh now!
#2
אֲדֹנָ֗י
H136
O Lord
the lord (used as a proper name of god only)
#3
תְּהִ֣י
H1961
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#4
נָ֣א
H4994
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
#5
אָזְנְךָֽ
H241
thee let now thine ear
broadness. i.e., (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
#6
קַ֠שֶּׁבֶת
H7183
be attentive
hearkening
#7
אֶל
H413
near, with or among; often in general, to
#8
תְּפִלַּ֣ת
H8605
and to the prayer
intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymn
#9
לְעַבְדְּךָ֙
H5650
I pray thee thy servant
a servant
#10
וְאֶל
H413
near, with or among; often in general, to
#11
תְּפִלַּ֣ת
H8605
and to the prayer
intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymn
#12
לְעַבְדְּךָ֙
H5650
I pray thee thy servant
a servant
#13
הַֽחֲפֵצִים֙
H2655
who desire
pleased with
#14
לְיִרְאָ֣ה
H3372
to fear
to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten
#15
אֶת
H853
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#16
שְׁמֶ֔ךָ
H8034
thy name
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
#17
וְהַצְלִֽיחָה
H6743
and prosper
to push forward, in various senses (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive)
#18
נָּ֤א
H4994
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
#19
לְעַבְדְּךָ֙
H5650
I pray thee thy servant
a servant
#20
הַיּ֔וֹם
H3117
this day
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#21
וּתְנֵ֣הוּ
H5414
and grant
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
#22
לְרַֽחֲמִ֔ים
H7356
him mercy
compassion (in the plural)
#23
לִפְנֵ֖י
H6440
in the sight
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#24
הָאִ֣ישׁ
H376
of this man
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
#25
הַזֶּ֑ה
H2088
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
#26
וַֽאֲנִ֛י
H589
i
#27
הָיִ֥יתִי
H1961
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#28
מַשְׁקֶ֖ה
H4945
properly, causing to drink, i.e., a butler; by implication (intransitively), drink (itself); figuratively, a well-watered region
#29
לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
H4428
For I was the king's
a king

Analysis

Within the broader context of Nehemiah, this passage highlights salvation through simile or metaphorical language. The theological weight of mercy connects to fundamental Christian doctrine about mercy, contributing to our understanding of God's nature and relationship with humanity. This verse contributes to the book's overall argument by establishing foundational concepts crucial to Nehemiah's theological argument.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection