Nehemiah 2 3

Nehemiah 2:3 kjv

And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

Nehemiah 2:3 nkjv

and said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?"

Nehemiah 2:3 niv

but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"

Nehemiah 2:3 esv

I said to the king, "Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"

Nehemiah 2:3 nlt

but I replied, "Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire."

Nehemiah 2 verses

Nehemiah 2 3 Meaning

Nehemiah 2:3 records Nehemiah's verbal response to King Artaxerxes, who observed his sadness. Despite his fear of potentially displeasing the monarch, Nehemiah tactfully but directly stated the reason for his sorrow: the desolation of Jerusalem, the city of his ancestors' burial places, which lay in ruins with its gates destroyed by fire. This verse is Nehemiah's moment of courageous and direct petition, stemming from his deep spiritual burden for God's holy city.

Nehemiah 2 3 Context

Nehemiah 2:3 takes place in Susa, the winter capital of the Persian Empire, during the reign of King Artaxerxes I (circa 445 BC). Nehemiah, a high-ranking official serving as the king's cupbearer, had spent four months fasting and praying after hearing of Jerusalem's ruined state (Neh 1:1-4). This verse immediately follows the king's observation of Nehemiah's unusual sadness, a serious matter in the king's presence as it could imply ill health, disloyalty, or a bad omen. Nehemiah's response demonstrates immense courage and discretion. As a cupbearer, he had constant, intimate access to the king, a position of trust but also great vulnerability. Directly presenting a plea, especially one requiring significant royal resources and trust, was highly perilous without careful articulation and divine favor. The mention of Jerusalem's ruin points back to its destruction by Babylon and its continued desolate state despite previous restoration attempts under Ezra.

Nehemiah 2 3 Word analysis

• "And I said to the king, ‘Let the king live forever!’"

  • "And I said to the king": Wa’ōmar lammeleḵ (וָאֹמַר לַמֶּלֶךְ). Marks the beginning of Nehemiah's direct address, emphasizing the gravity of the moment and the bold step taken.
  • "Let the king live forever!": This is a standard and respectful salutation for monarchs (e.g., Dan 2:4, Dan 5:10), not a literal wish for immortality, but an expression of profound loyalty, allegiance, and hope for a long and prosperous reign. Nehemiah tactfully opens with this to affirm his respect and subdue any immediate royal suspicion, preparing the ground for his sensitive request. It establishes a loyal posture before delivering news of sorrow that could be perceived negatively by the king.

• "Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchers, lies in waste, and its gates are burned with fire?”

  • "Why should my face not be sad?": Nehemiah does not deny his sadness but presents it as a rational, undeniable reaction to a specific profound sorrow, implicitly challenging the king to recognize its just cause. It shifts the question from personal ailment to objective grievance.
  • "sad": ra', (רָע). Though contextually meaning sorrowful, its literal meaning can be "evil," "bad," or "distressed." Here, it signifies emotional distress rather than moral wrong.
  • "the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchers": ha‘îr bêt-qivrōwt ‘ăvōwtay (הָעִיר בֵּית קִבְרוֹת אֲבוֹתָי).
    • "the city": Jerusalem. Specific yet implies the deep historical and covenantal connection.
    • "the place of my fathers’ sepulchers": This is a deeply personal and emotionally resonant appeal. For ancient peoples, respect for ancestral burial sites was paramount, reflecting identity, heritage, and continuity. This phrase elevates the destruction of Jerusalem from a mere logistical problem to an affront to national and familial honor, making Nehemiah's grief relatable and justifiable even to a foreign king. It ties his personal honor and loyalty to his heritage directly to the state of the city.
  • "lies in waste": ḥarēvāh (חֲרֵבָה). This strong term indicates utter ruin, desolation, or devastation. It portrays a scene of neglect and abandonment, emphasizing the extent of Jerusalem's destruction, not just by external foes, but its sustained neglected state.
  • "and its gates are burned with fire": ûsh‘ārèyhā niśrəpû vā'ēsh (וּשְׁעָרֶיהָ נִשְׂרְפוּ בָאֵשׁ).
    • "gates": In ancient cities, gates were crucial for security, commerce, and public life (justice, governance). Destroyed gates signify complete vulnerability, lack of defense, and shattered civic life.
    • "burned with fire": Provides visual evidence of the destruction. It's not just derelict; it's a testament to a violent past and present vulnerability. This specific detail reinforces the depth of the calamity and the urgent need for action.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Let the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad...?": This rhetorical setup masterfully navigates a dangerous court environment. Nehemiah's initial declaration of loyalty (honoring the king) preempts potential accusations, then immediately provides a deeply personal and universally understandable justification for his sadness (sorrow for his homeland and heritage). This approach transforms a potentially confrontational question from the king into an opportunity for a sympathetic ear.
  • "...when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchers, lies in waste, and its gates are burned with fire?": This phrase packs emotional weight and factual evidence. By linking the "city" to "my fathers' sepulchers," Nehemiah appeals to a shared human reverence for ancestry and sacred spaces. The description "lies in waste" and "gates are burned with fire" vividly portrays the absolute destruction and lack of defense, which directly impacts the honor and safety of the ancestral home. This precise articulation of sorrow, combining personal anguish with a desperate civic condition, proved persuasive.

Nehemiah 2 3 Bonus section

The immediate cultural context for Nehemiah's fear lies in the absolute power of Persian kings. Any perceived discontent or disloyalty, especially from a close confidant like a cupbearer, could result in swift execution. Artaxerxes' predecessor, Xerxes I, had been volatile and unpredictable (e.g., events in Esther). Nehemiah's position was both a privilege and a grave risk. His strategic, emotionally resonant plea, combining a standard polite address ("Let the king live forever") with a deeply personal yet objectively dire description of Jerusalem's state, shows profound discernment and faith that God was with him (Neh 2:8). His choice of words, especially mentioning "my fathers' sepulchers," appealed not only to the king's human empathy but also to the Persian custom of allowing conquered peoples a measure of cultural and religious self-governance under imperial oversight. The desolate state of the capital of the Judahite satrapy was indeed a blot on imperial order, something the king might be moved to rectify. This verse effectively bridges Nehemiah's personal sorrow and divine call with the pragmatic concerns of a powerful empire.

Nehemiah 2 3 Commentary

Nehemiah 2:3 captures a pivotal moment where righteous grief transforms into courageous action. Nehemiah's immediate fear, though significant, does not paralyze him, demonstrating reliance on God during a perilous interview with a powerful king. His opening salutation, "Let the king live forever!", exemplifies wisdom and tact, affirming loyalty before voicing a complaint that could be seen as an imposition or even treason. The justification for his sadness is powerful and strategically chosen: the personal link to "my fathers' sepulchers" taps into universal human respect for heritage, making the devastation of Jerusalem relatable beyond political or religious differences. Highlighting the "waste" and "burned gates" underscores Jerusalem's defenselessness and plight. This concise yet profound explanation, born out of prayer and a deep burden for God's city, opens the door for God to work through Artaxerxes, setting the stage for Jerusalem's rebuilding. It showcases how a sincere, well-articulated, and divinely guided expression of a burden can initiate significant redemptive work.