Nehemiah 2:6
What does Nehemiah 2:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 2:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 2:6 means
The king’s favorable reply is measured and practical. He asks for a timeline and a return, showing concern for court order and Nehemiah’s role. The presence of the queen suggests a formal, possibly intimate setting where decisions could be influenced. Nehemiah’s readiness to set a time reveals planning and accountability; he is not impulsive. The king’s consent affirms that Nehemiah’s request is seen as loyal service, not revolt. God’s favor works through ordinary questions—how long and when—just as much as through miracles. The door is now open, and Nehemiah steps through it with a defined commitment to come back.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the king said to me (the queen being seated by his side), How long will your journey take, and when will you come back? So the king was pleased to send me, and I gave him a fixed time.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the king saith to me (and the queen is sitting near him), `How long is thy journey? and when dost thou return?' and it is good before the king, and he sendeth me away, and I set to him a time.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the king said to me, and the queen that sat by him: For how long shall thy journey be, and when wilt thou return? And it pleased the king, and he sent me: and I fixed him a time.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the king said to me — the queen also sitting by him, — For how long shall thy journey be, and when wilt thou return? And it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
Context
This verse follows Nehemiah’s request to be sent and precedes his logistical petitions. The king’s willingness to send him, conditioned by a set time, is the authorization Nehemiah needed. Having secured permission, Nehemiah will now, in the next verses, ask for letters and materials to ensure safe passage and supply. The narrative is moving from permission to provision, showing how divine favor and practical planning join to advance the work.
v.5And 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.
v.6This passage
v.7Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through till I come unto Judah;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Nehemiah 13:6
But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went unto the king: and after certain days asked I leave of the king,
- Isaiah 65:24
And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
- 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.
- Isaiah 61:4
And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
- Nehemiah 5:14
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
- Isaiah 58:12
And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Nehemiah 2
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Nehemiah 2.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Confession of Sin
Confession of sin is an essential step in drawing near to God and receiving His forgiveness and cleansing.
Topic
Bible Verses About Fasting
Fasting in the Bible is a spiritual discipline involving abstinence from food for a period, often coupled with prayer and repentance.
What the Bible says about…