Nehemiah 1:6

Authorized King James Version

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Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

Original Language Analysis

תְּהִ֣י H1961
תְּהִ֣י
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 1 of 33
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
נָ֣א H4994
נָ֣א
Strong's: H4994
Word #: 2 of 33
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
אָזְנְךָֽ Let thine ear H241
אָזְנְךָֽ Let thine ear
Strong's: H241
Word #: 3 of 33
broadness. i.e., (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
קַשֶּׁ֣בֶת now be attentive H7183
קַשֶּׁ֣בֶת now be attentive
Strong's: H7183
Word #: 4 of 33
hearkening
וְֽעֵינֶ֪יךָ and thine eyes H5869
וְֽעֵינֶ֪יךָ and thine eyes
Strong's: H5869
Word #: 5 of 33
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
פְתֻוּח֟וֹת open H6605
פְתֻוּח֟וֹת open
Strong's: H6605
Word #: 6 of 33
to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve
לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ that thou mayest hear H8085
לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ that thou mayest hear
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 7 of 33
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 8 of 33
near, with or among; often in general, to
תְּפִלַּ֣ת the prayer H8605
תְּפִלַּ֣ת the prayer
Strong's: H8605
Word #: 9 of 33
intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymn
עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ of thy servant H5650
עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ of thy servant
Strong's: H5650
Word #: 10 of 33
a servant
אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 11 of 33
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
אָֽנֹכִי֩ H595
אָֽנֹכִי֩
Strong's: H595
Word #: 12 of 33
i
מִתְפַּלֵּ֨ל which I pray H6419
מִתְפַּלֵּ֨ל which I pray
Strong's: H6419
Word #: 13 of 33
to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray
לְפָנֶ֤יךָ before H6440
לְפָנֶ֤יךָ before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 14 of 33
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
הַיּוֹם֙ thee now H3117
הַיּוֹם֙ thee now
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 15 of 33
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
יוֹמָ֣ם day H3119
יוֹמָ֣ם day
Strong's: H3119
Word #: 16 of 33
daily
וָלַ֔יְלָה and night H3915
וָלַ֔יְלָה and night
Strong's: H3915
Word #: 17 of 33
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 18 of 33
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
בְּנֵֽי for the children H1121
בְּנֵֽי for the children
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 19 of 33
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ of Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ of Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 20 of 33
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ of thy servant H5650
עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ of thy servant
Strong's: H5650
Word #: 21 of 33
a servant
וּמִתְוַדֶּ֗ה and confess H3034
וּמִתְוַדֶּ֗ה and confess
Strong's: H3034
Word #: 22 of 33
physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the ha
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 23 of 33
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
חַטֹּ֤אות the sins H2403
חַטֹּ֤אות the sins
Strong's: H2403
Word #: 24 of 33
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
בְּנֵֽי for the children H1121
בְּנֵֽי for the children
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 25 of 33
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ of Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ of Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 26 of 33
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 27 of 33
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
חָטָֽאנוּ׃ have sinned H2398
חָטָֽאנוּ׃ have sinned
Strong's: H2398
Word #: 28 of 33
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
לָ֔ךְ H0
לָ֔ךְ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 29 of 33
וַֽאֲנִ֥י H589
וַֽאֲנִ֥י
Strong's: H589
Word #: 30 of 33
i
וּבֵית house H1004
וּבֵית house
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 31 of 33
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אָבִ֖י against thee both I and my father's H1
אָבִ֖י against thee both I and my father's
Strong's: H1
Word #: 32 of 33
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
חָטָֽאנוּ׃ have sinned H2398
חָטָֽאנוּ׃ have sinned
Strong's: H2398
Word #: 33 of 33
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn

Analysis & Commentary

Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

This verse within Nehemiah 1 addresses themes of prayer, burden, intercession, confession. Nehemiah's prayer demonstrates model intercession rooted in covenant theology, confessing corporate sin while claiming covenant promises. The Hebrew palal (פָּלַל) for prayer indicates intercession and petition, emphasizing dependence on God. This passage demonstrates biblical principles applicable across both testaments—God's sovereignty combined with human responsibility, faith expressed through obedient action, and the necessity of both individual and corporate commitment to covenant faithfulness. Nehemiah models leadership that combines vision, prayer, courage, integrity, and perseverance amid sustained opposition.

Historical Context

Nehemiah's account occurs during Persian imperial dominance (539-331 BC), specifically 445-433 BC under Artaxerxes I. The post-exilic community had returned to Judah but remained politically subject to Persia, living under imperial administration while attempting to rebuild covenant identity. Archaeological evidence confirms Persian-period occupation of Jerusalem and the wall's route. The Persian period was crucial transitional time when Jewish identity shifted from monarchical nationalism to Torah-centered covenantal community. Without political independence, the people's cohesion depended on shared scripture, temple worship, and covenant obedience. This established patterns persisting through the Second Temple period into New Testament times. Understanding this context illuminates Jesus's ministry among a people shaped by these reforms and challenges.

Questions for Reflection

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