Nehemiah 9:6
What does Nehemiah 9:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 9:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 9:6 means
The prayer opens by confessing monotheism: Jehovah alone is God. He made heaven, the “heaven of heavens,” and all their host; the earth and seas and all within them are His handiwork. He also preserves everything He created, showing ongoing providence. Even the host of heaven worships Him, acknowledging His supremacy. This verse grounds the prayer in God’s unique, unrivaled deity and power. If He created and sustains all, He can restore His people. Remembering His cosmic rule puts Israel’s troubles in perspective. Their God is not a local deity bound to one land; He is Lord of all, worthy of worship from the highest realms to the lowest depths.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Thou art Jehovah, even thou alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Thou, 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Thou art Jehovah, even thou alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949You are the Lord, even you only; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens with all their armies, the earth and all things in it, the seas and everything in them; and you keep them from destruction: and the armies of heaven are your worshippers.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Thou <FI>art<Fi> He, O Jehovah, Thyself--Thou hast made the heavens, the heavens of the heavens, and all their host, the earth and all that <FI>are<Fi> on it, the seas and all that <FI>are<Fi> in them, and Thou art keeping all of them alive, and the host of the heavens to Thee are bowing themselves.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Thou thyself, O Lord alone, thou hast made heaven, and the heaven of heavens, and all the host thereof: the earth and all things that are in it: the seas and all that are therein: and thou givest life to all these things, and the host of heaven adoreth thee.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Thou art the Same, thou alone, Jehovah, who hast made the heaven of heavens, and all their host, the earth and all that is therein, the seas and all that is therein. And thou quickenest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
Context
The call to bless God leads naturally into a declaration of who He is. Before recalling Abraham or the exodus, the Levites start with creation and providence. This order matters: Israel’s covenant God is the Creator, so His promises carry the weight of infinite power and faithfulness. With this foundation established, the prayer narrows in verses 7–8 to God’s choosing of Abram and His covenant promises.
v.5Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, andPethahiah, said, Stand up and bless Jehovah your God from everlasting to everlasting; and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.
v.6This passage
v.7Thou art Jehovah the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 136:5
To him that by understanding made the heavens; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
- Psalms 103:21
Bless Jehovah, all ye his hosts, Ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
- Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah:
- Isaiah 37:20
Now therefore, O Jehovah our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art Jehovah, even thou only.
- Isaiah 6:2
Above him stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
- Genesis 2:1
And the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Nehemiah 9
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Nehemiah 9.
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…