EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Nehemiah 2:4
4The king asked me, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ So I prayed to our God who rules from heaven.
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
2The king asked me, ‘Why are you sad? You are not ill. This must mean that you are very upset.’ I was very frightened. 3I replied to the king, ‘May the king live for ever! I am sad because enemies have destroyed the city where my ancestors are buried. They burned the city's gates.’ The king asked me, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ So I prayed to our God who rules from heaven. 5Then I said to the king, ‘Please sir, if you think it is a good idea and you are pleased with me, let me go to Judah. If you agree to send me there, I can build again the city where my ancestors are buried.’ 6The king was sitting with the queen next to him. The king asked me, ‘How long will you be away? When will you return?’ I told the king how long I would be away. Because the king was happy to send me, I told him when I would leave.
Read all of Nehemiah 2Nehemiah 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.
Cross-references for Nehemiah 2:4
- 1 Kings 3:5One night in Gibeon, the Lord showed himself to Solomon in a dream. God said, ‘Ask me to give you whatever you want.’
- Esther 5:3The king asked her, ‘What is your trouble, Queen Esther? I will do for you whatever you want. I will even give you half of my kingdom!’
- Esther 7:2This was the second day that they ate a special meal together. While they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, ‘Queen Esther, what do you want me to do for you? I will give you whatever you want. Even if you want half of my kingdom, I will give it to you.’
- Mark 10:51Then Jesus said to Bartimaeus, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, I want to see again.’
- Nehemiah 1:4After they told me this, I sat down and I wept. I was very sad for many days. I did not eat or drink anything and I prayed to God.
- 2 Samuel 15:31Someone told David that his advisor, Ahithophel, had now joined with Absalom and his men. So David prayed, ‘Lord, please cause Ahithophel to give them foolish advice.’
- Proverbs 3:6Whatever you are doing, remember that the Lord is with you. Then he will show you the right way to go.
- Philippians 4:6Do not worry about anything. Instead, pray to God about everything. Ask him to help you with the things that you need. And thank him for his help.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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