Nehemiah 1:5

Translations

Modern

Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments,

Traditional

And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

Literal

…and I said, “Please, O YHWH, God of the heavens, the great and awesome God, keeping the covenant and loving devotion for those loving Him and observing His commandments,

Latin

…et dixi: Quæso, Domine Deus cæli fortis, magne atque terribilis, qui custodis pactum et misericordiam cum his qui te diligunt, et custodiunt mandata tua:

Original

Hebrew

English

Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments,

Notes

Nehemiah 1:5–11

Nehemiah’s prayer includes:

Praise (Nehemiah 1:5)
Confession (Nehemiah 1:6–7)
Remembering God’s promises (Nehemiah 1:8–9)
A request (Nehemiah 1:10–11)

Nehemiah understood that Israel’s situation was not due to God failing His covenant of unfailing love. Instead, Israel’s ongoing sin led to the punishments described in the covenant.

Nehemiah 1:1–2:20

When Nehemiah heard about Jerusalem's ruins, he prayed for God's help (Nehemiah 1:1–11) and asked the king to send him to Jerusalem (2:1–8). Upon arrival, he urged the people to rebuild the city's wall (Nehemiah 2:11–20).

Theme notes and profiles

Nehemiah God Works through Prayer Jerusalem Rebuilding of Jerusalem

Related verses

Exodus 20:6
…but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Daniel 9:4–19
And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments,
Deuteronomy 7:21
Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.
Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Nehemiah 4:14
After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
Hebrews 6:13–18
When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself,
1 Kings 8:23
…and said: “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below, keeping Your covenant of loving devotion with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
Nehemiah 9:32
So now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God who keeps His gracious covenant, do not view lightly all the hardship that has come upon us, and upon our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors and all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today.
1 Chronicles 17:21
And who is like Your people Israel—the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem as a people for Himself? You made a name for Yourself through great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed from Egypt.
Psalm 47:2
How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!

Parallels

Deuteronomy 30:1–10

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Book of Nehemiah Nehemiah (Person) Postexilic Period Susa

Topics

Awesome God Country: Love of God: Faithfulness of Intercession: Additional Instances of Nehemiah, in Behalf of Judah and Jerusalem Intercessory Prayer: Nehemiah Nation: Lamented Obedience: General Scriptures Concerning Prayer: Importunity In The Covenant: God is Faithful To

Nehemiah 1:5

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