Nehemiah 2:4

Nehemiah 2:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
• New International Version (NIV)The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then the king said to me, "What are you requesting?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.

Context of Nehemiah 2:4

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?” “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.

Nehemiah 2:4 word by word

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לִי֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ עַל־מַה־זֶּ֖ה אַתָּ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֑שׁ וָֽאֶתְפַּלֵּ֔ל אֶל־אֱלֹהֵ֖י הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃Read the interlinear

• Whatמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• Whatזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• is yourאַתָּ֫ה'attâh 'attâ 'ath 'attîy 'attem 'atten 'attênâh 'attênnâh · you(m.s.)H859
• requestבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• repliedאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• the kingעַל‛al · uponH5921
• So I prayedפָּלַלpâlal · to prayH6419
• toאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• the Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• of heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064

Cross-references for Nehemiah 2:4

• 1 Kings 3:5One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”
• Esther 5:3“What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
• Esther 7:2and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”
• Mark 10:51“What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “Rabboni,” said the blind man, “let me see again.”
• Nehemiah 1:4When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
• 2 Samuel 15:31Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
• Proverbs 3:6in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
• Philippians 4:6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 2:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4So I prayed to the God of heaven - Before he dared to prefer his request to the king, he made his prayer to God, that his suit might be acceptable: and this he does by mental prayer. To the spirit of prayer every place is a praying place.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4I prayed to the God of heaven - Mentally and momentarily, before answering the king.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4What is your request?: The king followed the God of heaven, and Nehemiah needed God's guidance and help for his request.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-52-5. the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad?--It was deemed highly unbecoming to appear in the royal presence with any weeds or signs of sorrow (Es 4:2); and hence it was no wonder that the king was struck with the dejected air of his cupbearer, while that attendant, on his part, felt his agitation increased by his deep anxiety about the issue of the conversation so abruptly begun. But the piety and intense earnestness of the man immediately…Read the comment

Topics related to Nehemiah 2:4

• Blessing
• Country
• Nehemiah
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Laugh
• Prayer
• Reproach
• Scorn
• Ezra-Nehemiah
• Persia

Commentaries on Nehemiah 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings