Nehemiah 9 6

Nehemiah 9:6 kjv

Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

Nehemiah 9:6 nkjv

You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth and everything on it, The seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.

Nehemiah 9:6 niv

You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

Nehemiah 9:6 esv

"You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.

Nehemiah 9:6 nlt

"You alone are the LORD. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.

Nehemiah 9 verses

Nehemiah 9 6 Meaning

Nehemiah 9:6 is a profound declaration of God's singular deity, boundless creativity, and continuous sustaining power. It attributes to the LORD alone the act of creating the entire cosmos, from the farthest reaches of space to the deepest parts of the earth and seas. Furthermore, it asserts His ongoing preservation of all He has made and highlights the constant worship offered to Him by the angelic hosts.

Nehemiah 9 6 Context

Nehemiah 9:6 is a pivotal part of a lengthy prayer and confession offered by the Levites on behalf of the returned exiles. Following the joyous celebration of the Feast of Booths and Ezra’s reading of the Law, the people engaged in a solemn day of fasting, sackcloth, and confession (Neh 9:1-5). This prayer (Neh 9:6-38) is a sweeping historical review, recounting God’s faithfulness from creation through the Exodus, wilderness wanderings, conquest of Canaan, judges, kings, exile, and partial restoration, while simultaneously confessing Israel's persistent rebellion and unworthiness. Verse 6 initiates this historical narrative by first establishing the fundamental truth of God’s sole identity as the LORD, His incomparable role as Creator, and His constant sustaining power, setting the foundational theological premise for all subsequent confessions and requests.

Nehemiah 9 6 Word analysis

• You alone (אַתָּה הוּא – attah hu): Emphasizes exclusivity and singularity, stressing that God is unique and set apart from all others. This is a foundational monotheistic declaration.
• are the LORD (יְהוָה – Yahweh): This is God’s personal, covenantal name, signifying His self-existent, eternal, and unchanging nature. Its use highlights His active presence and unwavering commitment.
• You made (אַתָּה עָשִׂיתָ – attah asita): Signifies direct, deliberate creation, asserting God as the sole originating source of all existence.
• the heavens (הַשָּׁמַיִם – hashamayim): Refers to the sky, atmosphere, and celestial spheres, encompassing everything above the earth. The dual form suggests its vastness.
• even the highest heavens (שְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם – shemei hashamayim): Literally "heavens of the heavens," emphasizing the immeasurable transcendence of God and pointing to His supreme dwelling place.
• and all their starry host (וְכָל־צְבָאָם – vekol-tzeva’am): "Host" (צָבָא – tzava) means an army or multitude. Here, it refers to celestial bodies, organized yet entirely subordinate to their Creator, a direct polemic against astral worship.
• the earth (וְהָאָרֶץ – vehá’aretz): The solid ground, representing the terrestrial domain.
• and all that is on it (וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר עָלֶיהָ – vekol asher aleiha): Encompasses all living beings, vegetation, and physical features on land, stressing the completeness of God's creation.
• the seas (וְהַיַּמִּים – vehayamim): The vast bodies of water, often associated with chaos in ancient thought, yet God is depicted as its Creator and controller.
• and all that is in them (וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם – vekol asher bahem): All marine life and unseen depths, extending God's creative reach to every domain.
• you preserve them all (וְאַתָּה מְחַיֶּה אֶת־כֻּלָּם – ve'attah meḥayyeh et-kullam): Literally, "and you give life to them all," or "you keep them alive." This speaks to God’s ongoing providence and sustenance, not just a one-time creation but continuous upholding.
• And the multitudes of heaven worship you (וּצְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם לְךָ מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים – utzva hashshamayim lekha mishtachavim): "Multitudes of heaven" (צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם) refers to angelic hosts. "Worship you" (מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים – mishtachavim) means to prostrate oneself. This signifies the universal acknowledgment of God’s supreme authority and worthiness of worship.
• You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens... you preserve them all: This sequence profoundly links God’s unique identity as Yahweh with His ultimate power in creation and ongoing sustenance. It demonstrates that He is not merely a distant Creator but an active upholder of all that exists, showing both His transcendence and immanence.
• heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them: This comprehensive enumeration emphasizes the totality and universality of God’s creative dominion. It covers the entirety of the cosmos, from the spiritual realms to every aspect of the earthly and aquatic domains, leaving no part of existence outside His originating power.
• And the multitudes of heaven worship you: This climactic phrase reinforces the previous declarations of God's might and unique position. It's a statement of cosmic order: if even powerful angelic beings prostrate themselves before Him, then surely all of creation and humanity should. This highlights God's inherent worthiness of worship from all creation.

Nehemiah 9 6 Bonus section

• The progression from "heavens" to "highest heavens" (שְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם – shemei hashamayim) demonstrates a concept of hierarchical or expanding spatial understanding, yet all under God’s domain. It highlights the ineffable greatness of God that transcends even the highest conceived reality.
• The phrase "you preserve them all" (מְחַיֶּה אֶת־כֻּלָּם – mehayyeh et-kullam) implies both giving life and sustaining life, not just initially, but continually. It signifies that God is not a deistic clockmaker who wound up the universe and left it, but an ever-present, active sustainer.
• This verse undergirds the people’s understanding of God's attributes necessary for trust: His omnipotence (creation), His omniscience (understanding creation), His omnipresence (sustaining all), and His ultimate sovereignty (worthy of all worship, even by celestial beings). These attributes ensure that He is worthy of their prayer and able to deliver them.

Nehemiah 9 6 Commentary

Nehemiah 9:6 is a succinct yet majestic doxology that serves as the theological bedrock for the Levites' lengthy prayer of confession. It opens with an unshakeable affirmation of God's singular deity ("You alone are the LORD"), echoing Israel's fundamental monotheistic confession. This serves as a potent polemic against the polytheism and astral worship prevalent in the ancient Near East, boldly declaring that the sun, moon, and stars – often deified by other nations – are merely "their starry host," created by Yahweh, and thus subordinate to Him. The verse meticulously lists every sphere of existence, from "the highest heavens" to the "seas and all that is in them," establishing God as the omnipotent, original Creator of all things. Crucially, it doesn't stop at creation but emphasizes His continuous active involvement: "you preserve them all." This doctrine of divine providence asserts that God not only brought the cosmos into being but actively sustains and upholds every atom, demonstrating His intimate, ongoing care for His creation. The culminating thought, "And the multitudes of heaven worship you," provides a powerful witness to God’s absolute supremacy. The angelic hosts, beings of immense power and glory, constantly acknowledge and submit to Him, setting a cosmic example for human worship and obedience. This verse provides assurance that the God to whom the people are confessing is the all-sufficient, ever-present, and ultimately sovereign Lord.