Nehemiah 1:11 kjv

O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

Nehemiah 1:11 nkjv

O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." For I was the king's cupbearer.

Nehemiah 1:11 niv

Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." I was cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah 1:11 esv

O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah 1:11 nlt

O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me."
In those days I was the king's cup-bearer.

Nehemiah 1 verses

Nehemiah 1 11 Meaning

Nehemiah 1:11 is the culmination of Nehemiah's prayer, shifting from confession and corporate intercession to a specific, urgent petition for divine favor. He appeals to God's attentiveness, seeking success and grace for his impending request to King Artaxerxes regarding Jerusalem. It highlights his deep dependence on God for the task ahead and his confidence in God's character as One who hears His devoted servants.

Nehemiah 1 11 Context

Nehemiah 1:11 concludes a prayer offered by Nehemiah, the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia. The prayer begins after Nehemiah receives devastating news from Hanani about the ruinous state of Jerusalem's walls and gates, which are still broken despite earlier returns from exile (Neh 1:1-3). This report plunges Nehemiah into deep sorrow, leading him to mourn, fast, and pray for days (Neh 1:4). His prayer acknowledges God's greatness and covenant faithfulness, confesses the sins of Israel, recalls God's promises of restoration for those who return to Him (as per Lev 26, Deut 30), and culminates in this specific request. Nehemiah, as a high-ranking official, recognizes that his desire to help Jerusalem requires direct intervention from the powerful Persian king. Therefore, his prayer is not only for spiritual cleansing but for divine empowerment to act through the earthly authority he serves. The phrase "this man" refers to Artaxerxes, a formidable ruler whose word determined the fate of many.

Nehemiah 1 11 Word analysis

• O Lord: The Hebrew here is Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), a title emphasizing God's sovereignty and mastership. It denotes the absolute ownership and authority of God over His servants. Nehemiah approaches God as his supreme Master and sovereign.

• let your ear be attentive: The Hebrew phrase is qashav ozenekha (קַשֶּׁבֶת אָזְנְךָ), meaning "incline your ear" or "pay close attention." It conveys an active and intentional listening, not just hearing. This echoes frequent biblical pleas (e.g., Ps 116:1) and implies a desire for God not only to hear but to act based on what He hears. It signifies a request for empathetic and responsive listening.

• to the prayer: el tefillat (אֶל־תְּפִלַּת). Prayer is communication with God, a petition and supplication. Nehemiah emphasizes the nature of the request - it is a prayer, from a dependent servant to a sovereign God.

• of your servant: avdekha (עַבְדֶּךָ). Nehemiah frequently identifies himself as God's "servant" (ʿeved), emphasizing his absolute dedication and dependence on God. This term implies loyal submission and devoted service, rather than a mere request from a casual petitioner.

• and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name: This expands the scope of the petition. Nehemiah identifies with the collective group of faithful Israelites who also delight in revering God's name.

  • delight in revering: The phrase combines ḥăfēṣim līrə'â (חֲפֵצִים לְיִרְאָה). Ḥăfēṣim means "those who delight" or "are pleased" (Ps 37:4). Līrə'â means "to fear" or "to revere" (Mal 3:16). This beautiful paradox indicates that true reverence for God is not merely fearful but joyful and a source of delight. It implies a willing, heartfelt awe and respect for God's holiness and character.
  • your name: shəmekha (שְׁמֶךָ). In biblical context, "name" refers to the totality of God's character, reputation, power, and presence. To revere His name is to honor His very being. This signifies a commitment to uphold His glory and purposes.

• Give success to your servant today: ûshālom na' levadekhā hayôm (וְתֵן־נָא לְעַבְדְּךָ הַיּוֹם צְלָחָה). Nehemiah prays for divine assistance and enablement, specifically "success" (tsəlaḥah - prosperity, success, speed) in his immediate undertaking.

• and grant him favor: ûreḥāmîm (וְרַחֲמִים). This means "mercy," "compassion," or "favor." It’s an appeal for God's benevolent kindness, which goes beyond mere justice, to incline the heart of another towards him.

• in the presence of this man: lēfné hâ'îš hazzéh (לִפְנֵי הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה). This is a precise reference to King Artaxerxes I. Nehemiah’s humble yet astute approach reflects awareness of royal protocol and power dynamics. The deferential and cautious way of referring to the king demonstrates respect for his position, even while praying for God to influence him (Prov 21:1).

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants": This segment emphasizes Nehemiah's dual identity: he prays as an individual servant (himself) but also as part of the broader community of God's people who share his spiritual posture. This shows his burden is not personal ambition but corporate restoration.
  • "who delight in revering your name": This phrase clarifies which servants God should hear—those whose fear of God is not dread but joyful reverence, highlighting a specific kind of worshiper and emphasizing a relationship characterized by love and respect for God's character.
  • "Give success to your servant today, and grant him favor in the presence of this man": This forms the crux of the specific petition, detailing what Nehemiah needs and where he needs it. It connects spiritual supplication directly to a practical, temporal outcome involving a human authority, acknowledging God's power over human hearts and circumstances for the accomplishment of His will. The "today" emphasizes urgency and Nehemiah's readiness to act.

Nehemiah 1 11 Bonus section

Nehemiah's precise timing of "today" suggests his readiness to present his request to Artaxerxes very soon after this prayer. This reflects not a last-minute impulse, but a calculated and divinely prompted step after prolonged spiritual preparation. The four months between receiving the news and making this specific request (Neh 1:1, 2:1) highlight Nehemiah’s discipline in prayer and patience in waiting for God's timing and clarity. His understanding that God moves not only in spiritual realms but also orchestrates events and human hearts (even kings') is a profound theological insight underlying his bold petition. The use of "this man" instead of the king's name emphasizes Nehemiah's deep respect for authority, yet simultaneous dependence on God to sway that authority, indicating that even kings, despite their power, are ultimately tools in the hand of God for His purposes.

Nehemiah 1 11 Commentary

Nehemiah 1:11 powerfully encapsulates the nature of dependent prayer and strategic petition. It demonstrates Nehemiah’s deep trust that God is attentive to His covenant people, particularly those who reverently delight in Him and are burdened for His glory. This is a prayer for supernatural influence over natural circumstances. Nehemiah doesn't just pray generally for Jerusalem's welfare; he seeks specific, immediate favor from the king—a seemingly impossible feat given the power dynamics of the Persian court. His courage in approaching the king, after four months of prayer (Neh 1:1), is fueled by this confidence in God's ability to "turn the king's heart like channels of water" (Prov 21:1). This verse teaches that our deepest desires, when aligned with God's will (e.g., the restoration of His people and city), can and should be presented with specificity and earnestness, expecting God to open doors even through secular authorities. It exemplifies how earnest prayer precedes effective action, underscoring the spiritual preparation for significant tasks.