Nehemiah 2:5

Authorized King James Version

And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וָֽאֹמַ֣ר
And I said
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ
the king
a king
#3
אִם
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
#4
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#5
הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ
the king
a king
#6
ט֔וֹב
If it please
to be (transitively, do or make) good (or well) in the widest sense
#7
וְאִם
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
#8
יִיטַ֥ב
have found favour
to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right)
#9
עַבְדְּךָ֖
and if thy servant
a servant
#10
לְפָנֶ֑יךָ
in thy 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
#11
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#12
תִּשְׁלָחֵ֣נִי
that thou wouldest send
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
#13
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#14
יְהוּדָ֗ה
me unto Judah
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
#15
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#16
עִ֛יר
unto the city
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
#17
קִבְר֥וֹת
sepulchres
a sepulcher
#18
אֲבֹתַ֖י
H1
of my fathers
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
#19
וְאֶבְנֶֽנָּה׃
that I may build
to build (literally and figuratively)

Analysis

Within the broader context of Nehemiah, this passage highlights salvation through simile or metaphorical language. The theological weight of divine revelation connects to fundamental Christian doctrine about divine revelation, contributing to our understanding of God's nature and relationship with humanity. This verse contributes to the book's overall argument by building upon previous themes while advancing the overall message of Nehemiah.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Nehemiah Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection