Nehemiah 2:4 kjv
Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Nehemiah 2:4 nkjv
Then the king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Nehemiah 2:4 niv
The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven,
Nehemiah 2:4 esv
Then the king said to me, "What are you requesting?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Nehemiah 2:4 nlt
The king asked, "Well, how can I help you?" With a prayer to the God of heaven,
Nehemiah 2 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding... | Reliance on God over self. |
| Jas 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God... | Seeking divine wisdom in moments of need. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication... | Praying instead of worrying. |
| Matt 6:7-8 | And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases... your Father knows what you need. | Sincere, direct prayer to a knowing God. |
| 1 Thes 5:17 | Pray without ceasing. | Emphasizes continuous, spontaneous prayer. |
| Eph 6:18 | Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. | Constant, Spirit-led prayer. |
| Dan 2:18-19 | Daniel... asked mercy of the God of heaven... Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel. | Praying to God of Heaven for revelation/help. |
| Ezra 5:11-12 | We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth... | Recognizing God's sovereignty over creation. |
| Jon 1:9 | “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven...” | Declaring the supremacy of the God of Heaven. |
| Psa 115:3 | Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. | God's absolute sovereignty from heaven. |
| Psa 146:3 | Put not your trust in princes... | Caution against relying solely on human authority. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord... | God's control over rulers' decisions. |
| Psa 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord... | Trusting God over human strength. |
| 1 Sam 1:15 | ...I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. | Example of pouring out heart to God. |
| Psa 65:2 | O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come. | God's character as the hearer of prayer. |
| Psa 37:5 | Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. | Committing plans to God. |
| 1 Chr 14:10 | And David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines?” | Seeking God's guidance before action. |
| 2 Chr 16:9 | For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro... to show Himself strong... for those whose heart is fully committed to Him. | God actively seeks to aid faithful hearts. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy... | Confidence in approaching God's throne. |
| John 14:13 | Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do... | Authority in prayer through Jesus' name. |
| Rom 8:26-27 | ...the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. | Spirit-led, even wordless, prayer. |
| Phil 2:13 | For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. | God enabling the will and action. |
| Eph 3:20 | Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think... | God's boundless capacity to answer prayer. |
Nehemiah 2 verses
Nehemiah 2 4 Meaning
Nehemiah 2:4 captures a critical, unspoken moment in Nehemiah’s encounter with King Artaxerxes. When granted an unexpected opportunity by the king to express his sorrow, Nehemiah’s immediate response is not to formulate a verbal request to the king, but rather to pause, however briefly, and internally direct his thoughts and plea to God. This swift, silent prayer signifies Nehemiah’s profound dependence on divine wisdom and intervention, seeking God’s guidance and favor before speaking and presenting his crucial petition regarding Jerusalem’s broken walls to an earthly monarch.
Nehemiah 2 4 Context
Nehemiah 2:4 occurs at a critical juncture in the narrative. Chapters 1-2 establish Nehemiah’s profound distress and anguish upon hearing the report that Jerusalem's walls were broken down and its gates destroyed, leaving the city vulnerable and in disgrace. Chapter 1 recounts Nehemiah's heartfelt prayer, fasting, and confession, recognizing God’s covenant and beseeching His favor. He serves as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I, a position of great trust but also potential danger, as displaying sadness in the king’s presence was often a capital offense. In Nehemiah 2:1-3, after months, the king observes Nehemiah's unusual sadness. This prompts the king’s direct inquiry in verse 4, offering Nehemiah an unlooked-for opening. Historically, the Persian Empire ruled over the exiles, and previous efforts to rebuild Jerusalem were met with opposition and even royal decrees to halt work (Ezra 4), making the king's current favorable disposition highly significant. Nehemiah’s instant prayer is a demonstration of relying on divine power amidst a high-stakes, uncertain royal audience.
Nehemiah 2 4 Word analysis
- Then: Hebrew: וָאֹמַר (va'omar). This simple conjunctive often indicates a logical or temporal sequence. Here, it highlights the immediacy of the king's question following Nehemiah's saddened countenance and initial brief exchange in Nehemiah 2:3.
- the king said to me: King Artaxerxes I. This shows the royal initiative; Nehemiah did not seek an audience but was approached by the king, an unexpected act of divine providence.
- “What do you request?”: The direct, open-ended question from a powerful monarch signifies an extraordinary opportunity for Nehemiah. This was not a routine inquiry, but a gateway for a profound petition. It implies royal readiness to grant favor.
- So: Hebrew: וָאֶתְפַּלֵּל (va'etpallel) starts the new clause. This conjunction shows a direct cause-and-effect relationship; the king’s question directly elicited Nehemiah’s prayer.
- I prayed: Hebrew: וָאֶתְפַּלֵּל (va'etpallel). This verb, "to pray," in this context, most likely refers to a quick, silent, ejaculatory prayer or "dart prayer" that Nehemiah offered in his mind, right then and there. It wasn't a lengthy, public prayer but an instantaneous spiritual reflex, indicating deep communion with God and reliance on Him even in pressing moments. It demonstrates Nehemiah’s practiced habit of dependence on God.
- to the God of heaven: Hebrew: אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם (Elohei HaShamayim). This title for God is especially prevalent in post-exilic books (Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel). It emphasizes God's transcendence, His supreme authority over all creation, including earthly kings and empires, contrasting with the numerous deities of the polytheistic Persian court. It speaks to God's ultimate power to influence hearts and affairs, and Nehemiah's recognition of this truth as central to his faith and petition. This phrase points to God's cosmic sovereignty, underscoring that the king's heart is ultimately in His hands (Prov 21:1).
Words-group analysis
- "Then the king said to me, “What do you request?”": This entire phrase highlights the sovereign Lord's orchestration. The king's curiosity and generosity are instruments in God's hands, creating the perfect opportunity for Nehemiah's divinely appointed mission to unfold. It demonstrates divine favor opening human doors.
- "So I prayed to the God of heaven.": This profound declaration encapsulates the essence of Nehemiah's spiritual leadership and faith. In a moment of intense pressure and critical decision, Nehemiah instinctively turned to the highest authority, the "God of Heaven," before uttering a single word to the earthly king. This highlights his priority of divine counsel over human strategy and his belief that God controls kings' hearts and outcomes.
Nehemiah 2 4 Bonus section
- Ejaculatory Prayer: Nehemiah’s prayer is often cited as an example of an "ejaculatory prayer" or "dart prayer," a quick, silent appeal to God in a crucial, pressing moment. It shows that effective prayer isn't always lengthy or formal but can be instantaneous and deeply sincere.
- Polemics: The specific title "God of heaven" subtly serves as a polemic against the polytheistic religious systems of the Persian Empire. It declares the God of Israel to be the supreme, solitary deity ruling over all, even mighty emperors, contrasting with their pantheon of localized gods.
- Divine Timing: This precise moment, where the king noticed Nehemiah's sadness and then inquired about it, reveals perfect divine timing and orchestration. Months had passed since Nehemiah first heard the news, indicating a period of persistent, yet patient, prayer and waiting on God's timing.
- King's Vulnerability: For a king to initiate such a personal inquiry and express a desire to alleviate his cupbearer's sorrow is notable, demonstrating a level of humanity or perhaps curiosity that God providentially leveraged.
Nehemiah 2 4 Commentary
Nehemiah 2:4 reveals a powerful intersection of human opportunity and divine dependence. Presented with an open-ended question from the king—a unique and perilous moment for a court official seeking to aid his beleaguered homeland—Nehemiah does not rush to articulate his plan. Instead, his first, immediate response is to turn inward and upwards to God. This swift, likely silent, prayer underscores several crucial aspects of a life of faith: constant communion, reliance on God's sovereignty over human authority, and seeking divine wisdom before action. It models "praying without ceasing" and demonstrates that profound faith is less about elaborate public display and more about consistent, heartfelt reliance on God in every circumstance. This "arrow prayer" was the real foundation for the subsequent success, moving God's hand to influence the king.