Tree of Life Version
Nehemiah 2:4
4The king asked me, “What is your request?” Then I prayed to the God of 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
2So the king said to me, “Why is your face so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” I was very frightened, 3but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” The king asked me, “What is your request?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5and I answered the king, “If it seems good to the king and if your servant has found favor in your sight, send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried that I may rebuild it.” 6Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” Since it pleased the king to send me, I set a time for him.
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 3:5At Gibeon Adonai appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said: “Ask for what should I give you?”
- Esther 5:3Then said the king to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? Whatever you request, even as much as half of the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
- Esther 7:2and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king asked Esther again, “Whatever you request, even as much as half of the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
- Mark 10:51And answering him, Yeshua said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabboni, I want to see again!”
- Nehemiah 1:4Upon hearing these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days. I prayed and fasted before the God of heaven.
- 2 Samuel 15:31Then someone told David saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Adonai, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
- Proverbs 3:6In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
- Philippians 4:6Do not be anxious about anything—but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known 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
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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
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