Nehemiah 5:19 kjv
Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
Nehemiah 5:19 nkjv
Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
Nehemiah 5:19 niv
Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people.
Nehemiah 5:19 esv
Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
Nehemiah 5:19 nlt
Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it.
Nehemiah 5 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Heb 6:10 | For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love... | God remembers and rewards faithful service. |
| 1 Sam 2:30 | ...those who honor Me I will honor... | God honors those who honor Him through service. |
| Mt 10:42 | And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water... | Reward for even small acts of kindness for God's sake. |
| Mt 25:21 | ...’Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful... | God commends and rewards faithful stewardship. |
| Rev 22:12 | "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me..." | God's justice in rewarding deeds. |
| Lk 6:35 | ...love your enemies, and do good...and your reward will be great... | Great reward for selfless and unconditional acts. |
| 1 Cor 15:58 | ...know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. | Labor for the Lord always has purpose and future recognition. |
| Ps 25:7 | Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions... | A general prayer for divine remembrance, often for mercy. |
| Ps 106:4 | Remember me, O LORD, with the favor you have toward your people... | Prayer for God to act on behalf of His servant. |
| Ps 132:1 | Remember, O LORD, in David's favor, all his afflictions... | David's plea for God to remember his suffering for God's purpose. |
| Gen 8:1 | But God remembered Noah and all the beasts... | God remembers His covenant and delivers His people. |
| Gen 19:29 | So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham... | God's remembrance leading to rescue. |
| 1 Kgs 17:18 | She said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance..." | Remembrance as bringing deeds to light before God. |
| Jer 15:15 | O LORD, You understand; remember me and attend to me... | A prophet's plea for God's remembrance in tribulation. |
| Acts 20:35 | ...remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" | Principle of selfless giving as blessed by God. |
| Phil 2:3-4 | Do nothing from selfish ambition...but in humility count others more significant... | Attitude of serving others, valuing their needs over one's own. |
| 1 Pet 5:2-3 | ...shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight...not for shameful gain... | Leadership without covetousness, leading by example. |
| Neh 2:10 | When Sanballat...and Tobiah...heard of it, it greatly displeased them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel. | Nehemiah's persistent concern for his people's welfare. |
| Rom 2:6 | He will render to each one according to his works... | God's righteous judgment is based on deeds. |
| Gal 6:9 | And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap... | Perseverance in good deeds is promised a harvest. |
| Ps 7:8 | The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. | Prayer for justice based on righteous living. |
| Isa 3:10 | Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them... | Assurance that good will befall the righteous. |
Nehemiah 5 verses
Nehemiah 5 19 Meaning
Nehemiah 5:19 is Nehemiah's heartfelt plea to God for divine remembrance and favor, based on his selfless and righteous service to the Jewish people during the challenging time of rebuilding Jerusalem. It is a humble appeal for God's blessings and acknowledgement, trusting in God's faithfulness to those who diligently serve Him and His people without seeking personal gain from them. Nehemiah asks God to consider his deeds "for good," implying a request for ultimate positive recompense or sustained favor.
Nehemiah 5 19 Context
Nehemiah 5:19 concludes a pivotal chapter detailing Nehemiah's leadership and response to severe social and economic injustice among the returned exiles in Judah. While Nehemiah was diligently overseeing the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, a crisis arose: Jewish nobles and officials were exploiting their poorer brethren, charging exorbitant interest, leading to foreclosure of lands and the enslavement of their children. This was a direct violation of Mosaic law (Lev 25:36-37, Deut 23:19-20). Nehemiah, as governor, strongly rebukes these oppressive practices, calling a large assembly to confront them. He demands restitution and the cessation of usury. Crucially, Nehemiah then sets a personal example: unlike previous governors, he refuses to take his allocated food allowance from the people, choosing instead to feed 150 Jewish officials and 150 others from his own means, fearing God and avoiding burdening the already struggling populace (Neh 5:14-18). Verse 19 is a humble prayer, placed immediately after describing his exceptional, self-sacrificing service. It is not a boastful demand but a personal appeal to God, trusting in God's character as a righteous judge and rewarder, particularly given Nehemiah’s leadership of selfless action for the benefit of God's people, rather than personal gain.
Nehemiah 5 19 Word analysis
- Remember me (זָכְרָה־לִּי zāḵĕrāh-llī): The Hebrew verb zakar (to remember) in a divine context signifies much more than mere cognitive recall. It implies actively bringing someone to mind with the intent to act, intervene, show favor, or provide help. Nehemiah is asking God not just to recollect his service but to act on it in a benevolent way. It carries a sense of calling upon God's covenant faithfulness and divine justice.
- O my God (’ĕlōhay): This is a deeply personal and intimate form of address, emphasizing Nehemiah’s personal relationship and reliance on the God he serves. It underscores a trust that his personal appeal will be heard by his divine Patron.
- for good (לְטוֹבָה lᵉṭôvāh): The Hebrew ṭôvāh means goodness, welfare, prosperity, favor, or benefit. Nehemiah is asking God to remember him "for good" in a way that leads to his own well-being, blessing, and positive outcome in the eyes of God. It's a request for divine recompense or a favorable acknowledgment of his deeds.
- according to all that I have done: Nehemiah grounds his plea in his observable actions and efforts. This is not self-righteousness, but an appeal to God's justice, believing that God sees and rewards faithfulness. It underscores the biblical principle that righteous deeds, performed in faith and out of obedience, are noticed by God.
- for this people: This phrase specifies the beneficiaries of Nehemiah's actions. His service was directed towards the collective good of the Jewish community, not for personal ambition or private gain. This reinforces his selfless leadership, as he served the community of God and not merely himself.
- "Remember me...for good": This phrase-group captures the essence of Nehemiah's desire for divine favor as a direct consequence of his obedient and selfless work. It expresses his dependence on God for blessing, not seeking reward from the people he served.
- "according to all that I have done for this people": This emphasizes that Nehemiah's confidence in asking God's remembrance stems from his past conduct and the virtuous motivation behind his service (i.e., for the people's benefit, in contrast to the exploiters). It links his petition directly to his exemplary leadership and fear of God detailed throughout the chapter.
Nehemiah 5 19 Bonus section
Nehemiah’s prayer in 5:19 echoes a pattern found throughout scripture where righteous individuals appeal to God's character as a rewarder of good works (e.g., Abraham in Gen 15:1; Ruth in Ru 2:12). It implicitly acknowledges that God keeps a divine "account" of one's service and actions (Mal 3:16, Ps 56:8). His prayer also showcases a beautiful paradox of leadership: a man in a position of power and authority choosing personal humility and financial self-denial for the welfare of others, yet boldly appealing to the highest authority, God, for validation and recompense. This demonstrates true leadership that flows from a fear of God, rather than a fear of man or a pursuit of personal gain. It underscores that actions done for God and for His people are remembered by Him long after they are forgotten by others.
Nehemiah 5 19 Commentary
Nehemiah 5:19 is a deeply personal and humble prayer that acts as a profound statement of faith at the culmination of Nehemiah's display of integrity and self-sacrificing leadership. After bravely confronting injustice, practicing extreme generosity, and leading by example without burdening the people, Nehemiah casts his desire for ultimate reward squarely on God. His appeal for God to "remember" him "for good" is not a claim of entitlement or self-glory but an expression of profound trust in God's justice and faithfulness. It affirms the principle that true service to God's people, undertaken with a pure heart and selflessly, is observed and valued by God Himself. This prayer exemplifies a leader who looks to divine commendation rather than human applause or material gain. It reflects a biblical worldview where God is the ultimate record-keeper and rewarder of all righteous deeds done in His name and for His people, particularly when they involve personal sacrifice and adherence to divine principles over worldly advantage.