Nehemiah 2:1 - In the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, I picked up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad before in his presence.
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 2:1" mean?
This verse sets the scene for the beginning of Nehemiah's story and is crucial for understanding what follows. Let's break it down:
"In the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king..." This establishes the precise time: Nisan was the first month of the Jewish year (roughly corresponding to March/April). "The twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king" refers to Artaxerxes I (Longimanus) of Persia. Determining this date is vital for understanding the chronology of the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
"...when wine was before him, I picked up the wine, and gave it to the king." This reveals Nehemiah's role. He was a cupbearer, a very important and trusted position in the royal court. Cupbearers were responsible for tasting the king's wine to ensure it wasn't poisoned, so this role placed him in close proximity to the king and required significant trust.
"Now I had not been sad before in his presence." This is the key statement. It highlights that Nehemiah was usually cheerful and composed around the king. Showing sadness or discontent in the presence of the king was a serious breach of protocol. It suggests that Nehemiah was usually good at his job, loyal, and didn't bring personal problems to the king. The fact that he was sad (as revealed in the following verses) becomes significant and noteworthy. His unusual sadness would be noticed by the king, setting up the events that follow.
In summary:
The verse tells us when and where the story begins: the month of Nisan in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes, in the Persian court. It introduces Nehemiah, who held the responsible position of cupbearer, and emphasizes that Nehemiah was usually cheerful and professional in the king's presence. Nehemiah's subsequent sadness, which is out of character for him, will prompt the king to inquire about the reason for his grief and ultimately lead to Nehemiah being granted permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls.
The verse is important because it creates a baseline for Nehemiah's usual behavior, making his later sadness all the more noticeable and impactful. It also reveals his high standing and access to the king, making his subsequent request plausible.
Nehemiah 2:1 - In the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, I picked up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad before in his presence.
What does "Nehemiah 2:1" mean?
This verse sets the scene for the beginning of Nehemiah's story and is crucial for understanding what follows. Let's break it down:
"In the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king..." This establishes the precise time: Nisan was the first month of the Jewish year (roughly corresponding to March/April). "The twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king" refers to Artaxerxes I (Longimanus) of Persia. Determining this date is vital for understanding the chronology of the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
"...when wine was before him, I picked up the wine, and gave it to the king." This reveals Nehemiah's role. He was a cupbearer, a very important and trusted position in the royal court. Cupbearers were responsible for tasting the king's wine to ensure it wasn't poisoned, so this role placed him in close proximity to the king and required significant trust.
"Now I had not been sad before in his presence." This is the key statement. It highlights that Nehemiah was usually cheerful and composed around the king. Showing sadness or discontent in the presence of the king was a serious breach of protocol. It suggests that Nehemiah was usually good at his job, loyal, and didn't bring personal problems to the king. The fact that he was sad (as revealed in the following verses) becomes significant and noteworthy. His unusual sadness would be noticed by the king, setting up the events that follow.
In summary:
The verse tells us when and where the story begins: the month of Nisan in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes, in the Persian court. It introduces Nehemiah, who held the responsible position of cupbearer, and emphasizes that Nehemiah was usually cheerful and professional in the king's presence. Nehemiah's subsequent sadness, which is out of character for him, will prompt the king to inquire about the reason for his grief and ultimately lead to Nehemiah being granted permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls.
The verse is important because it creates a baseline for Nehemiah's usual behavior, making his later sadness all the more noticeable and impactful. It also reveals his high standing and access to the king, making his subsequent request plausible.