Devine Scripture

Nehemiah 2:5

What does Nehemiah 2:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Nehemiah 2:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Nehemiah 2:5 means

With humility and clarity, Nehemiah asks to be sent to Judah, to the city of his fathers’ graves, to build it. He frames himself as the king’s servant and seeks permission, not autonomy. His request is both personal and public: personal because it concerns his ancestors and identity; public because it aims to restore a city’s security and dignity. He reveals a settled purpose—to build—not just vague concern. This shows foresight and faith. He believes restoration is possible under the king’s authority and God’s hand. The wording also emphasizes respectful dependence, which keeps his boldness from appearing as presumption.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And I said to the king, If it is the king's pleasure, and if your servant has your approval, send me to Judah, to the town where the bodies of my fathers are at rest, so that I may take in hand the building of it.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and say to the king, `If to the king <FI>it be<Fi> good, and if thy servant be pleasing before thee, that thou send me unto Judah, unto the city of the graves of my fathers, and I built it.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I said to the king: If it seem good to the king, and if thy servant hath found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldst send me into Judea to the city of the sepulchre of my father, and I will build it.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And I said to the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.

Context

Following prayer, Nehemiah speaks plainly. His request answers the king’s invitation from the previous verse. He does not yet discuss logistics; that will come next. First he seeks authorization to go and rebuild. This verse marks the transition from sorrow to action. In the subsequent verse, the king will probe the practical details—duration and return—before granting permission. Understanding this sequence shows Nehemiah’s wisdom: first secure mission approval; then arrange the means to accomplish it.

v.4Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

v.5This passage

v.6And the king said unto me (the queen also sitting by him), For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Esther 7:3

    Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

  • Esther 8:5

    And she said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews that are in all the king’s provinces:

  • 2 Samuel 14:22

    And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and did obeisance, and blessed the king; and Joab said, To-day thy servant knoweth that I have found favor in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath performed the request of his servant.

  • Ezra 5:17

    Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

  • Esther 1:19

    If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

  • Ruth 2:13

    Then she said, Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken kindly unto thy handmaid, though I be not as one of thy handmaidens.

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