Nehemiah 1:5 - and said, “I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments:
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Nehemiah 1:5" mean?
Nehemiah 1:5 is a powerful opening to Nehemiah's prayer for the people of Israel. Let's break down what it means:
"and said, 'I beg you, Yahweh...'": This introduces Nehemiah's heartfelt plea to God. He is approaching God with humility and a sense of urgency. "Yahweh" is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, reflecting a personal relationship. "I beg you" emphasizes the desperate nature of his request.
"...the God of heaven...": This is one of many common names the biblical authors use to reference God. It emphasizes God's supreme authority and dominion over all creation. He is not limited to earthly concerns but rules from a higher, heavenly realm.
"...the great and awesome God...": This highlights God's majesty, power, and reverence. "Great" refers to God's unmatched power and wisdom. "Awesome" denotes the awe and respect He inspires due to His holiness and might. It reminds the reader of God's incredible power and the respect due to Him.
"...who keeps covenant...": This is a crucial part of the verse. It refers to the covenants (binding agreements) God made with the Israelites, particularly with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. It highlights God's faithfulness and reliability.
"...and loving kindness (Hebrew: chesed) with those who love him and keep his commandments:": This emphasizes God's steadfast love, mercy, and grace, particularly towards those who are loyal and obedient to Him. Chesed is a key Hebrew word that doesn't have a perfect English equivalent. It encompasses love, kindness, mercy, grace, loyalty, and faithfulness, all bundled together. This demonstrates that God's kindness is not arbitrary, but tied to a relationship of love and obedience. It is not earned, but given freely to those who align themselves with God's will.
In summary, Nehemiah 1:5 is a powerful invocation that:
Acknowledges God's supreme power and authority (God of heaven, great and awesome God).
Reminds God of His covenant promises to His people.
Emphasizes that God's loving kindness is extended to those who love Him and obey His commands.
Sets the stage for Nehemiah's specific request by establishing a foundation of God's character and faithfulness.
It's an appeal to God's character and a plea for God to act in accordance with His promises.
Nehemiah is essentially reminding God of who He is and what He has promised, laying the groundwork for his petition for God's help in restoring Jerusalem. He is appealing to God's faithfulness and loving nature to motivate Him to intervene on behalf of the suffering Israelites.
Nehemiah 1:5 - and said, “I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments:
What does "Nehemiah 1:5" mean?
Nehemiah 1:5 is a powerful opening to Nehemiah's prayer for the people of Israel. Let's break down what it means:
"and said, 'I beg you, Yahweh...'": This introduces Nehemiah's heartfelt plea to God. He is approaching God with humility and a sense of urgency. "Yahweh" is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, reflecting a personal relationship. "I beg you" emphasizes the desperate nature of his request.
"...the God of heaven...": This is one of many common names the biblical authors use to reference God. It emphasizes God's supreme authority and dominion over all creation. He is not limited to earthly concerns but rules from a higher, heavenly realm.
"...the great and awesome God...": This highlights God's majesty, power, and reverence. "Great" refers to God's unmatched power and wisdom. "Awesome" denotes the awe and respect He inspires due to His holiness and might. It reminds the reader of God's incredible power and the respect due to Him.
"...who keeps covenant...": This is a crucial part of the verse. It refers to the covenants (binding agreements) God made with the Israelites, particularly with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. It highlights God's faithfulness and reliability.
"...and loving kindness (Hebrew: chesed) with those who love him and keep his commandments:": This emphasizes God's steadfast love, mercy, and grace, particularly towards those who are loyal and obedient to Him. Chesed is a key Hebrew word that doesn't have a perfect English equivalent. It encompasses love, kindness, mercy, grace, loyalty, and faithfulness, all bundled together. This demonstrates that God's kindness is not arbitrary, but tied to a relationship of love and obedience. It is not earned, but given freely to those who align themselves with God's will.
In summary, Nehemiah 1:5 is a powerful invocation that:
Acknowledges God's supreme power and authority (God of heaven, great and awesome God).
Reminds God of His covenant promises to His people.
Emphasizes that God's loving kindness is extended to those who love Him and obey His commands.
Sets the stage for Nehemiah's specific request by establishing a foundation of God's character and faithfulness.
It's an appeal to God's character and a plea for God to act in accordance with His promises.
Nehemiah is essentially reminding God of who He is and what He has promised, laying the groundwork for his petition for God's help in restoring Jerusalem. He is appealing to God's faithfulness and loving nature to motivate Him to intervene on behalf of the suffering Israelites.