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 do you look so sad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but sadness of 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 ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” Then the king asked me, “What is your request?” So I prayed to the God of the heavens 5and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I may rebuild it.” 6The king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So I gave him a definite time, and it pleased the king to send me.

Nehemiah 2:4 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto me, For what dost thou make requestבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• So I prayedפָּלַלpâlal · to prayH6419
• to the Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• of heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064

Cross-references for Nehemiah 2:4

• 1 Kings 3:5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask. What should I give you?”
• Esther 5:3“What is it, Queen Esther?” the king asked her. “Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you.”
• Esther 7:2Once again, on the second day while drinking wine, the king asked Esther, “Queen Esther, whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you seek, even to half the kingdom, will be done.”
• Mark 10:51Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabboni,” the blind man said to him, “I want to see.”
• Nehemiah 1:4When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of the heavens.
• 2 Samuel 15:31Then someone reported to David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” “Lord,” David pleaded, “please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
• Proverbs 3:6in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.
• Philippians 4:6Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through 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