Nehemiah 2:1
What does Nehemiah 2:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 2:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 2:1 means
Nehemiah places us in a specific royal moment: the month Nisan, in Artaxerxes’ twentieth year, while he is on duty serving wine. Court servants were expected to project cheer and composure, yet Nehemiah’s inner burden leaks onto his face. His sadness signals a deep, unresolved grief for his people and their city. It also hints at courage, because showing sorrow before a great king could be misread as disloyalty or disrespect. The quiet tension in the room sets the stage for God’s providence. Nehemiah is a faithful servant in a pagan court, carrying a holy concern. His sorrow is not self-pity, but love for Zion, opening the door to God’s appointed moment.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And it came about in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never before been sad when the king was present.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And it cometh to pass, in the month of Nisan, the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, wine <FI>is<Fi> before him, and I lift up the wine, and give to the king, and I had not been sad before him;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king: that wine was before him, and I took up the wine, and gave it to the king: and I was as one languishing away before his face.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, [that] wine was before him, and I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now, I had never been sad in his presence.
Context
This opening verse shifts the narrative from Nehemiah’s private concern to a public setting in the Persian court. The time marker and his role as cupbearer help readers visualize the scene. The unusual element is his visible sorrow. What follows in the chapter flows from this anomaly: the king notices and questions him, which gives Nehemiah opportunity to speak. Understanding the courtly context and the risk of appearing sad helps us appreciate the fear and boldness that come in the next verses and why the king’s response matters so much.
v.1This passage
v.2And the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezra 7:7
And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
- Nehemiah 1:1
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
- Nehemiah 1:11
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 delight to fear thy name; and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cupbearer to the king.
- Esther 3:7
In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
- Ezra 7:1
Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
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