King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, [that] wine [was] before him: and I took up the wine, and gave [it] unto the king. Now I had not been [beforetime] sad in his presence.
Complete Jewish Bible:
In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of Artach'shashta the king, it happened that I took the wine and brought it to the king. Prior to then I had never appeared sad in his presence.
Berean Standard Bible:
Now in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence,
American Standard Version:
And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And it came to pass in the month{H2320} Nisan{H5212}, in the twentieth{H6242} year{H8141} of Artaxerxes{H783} the king{H4428}, that wine{H3196} was before{H6440} him: and I took up{H5375} the wine{H3196}, and gave{H5414} it unto the king{H4428}. Now I had not been beforetime sad{H7451} in his presence{H6440}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Ezra 7:1
- ¶ Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
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 desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
Nehemiah 1:1
- ¶ The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
Ezra 7:7
- And there went up [some] of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
Esther 3:7
- ¶ In the first month, that [is], the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that [is], the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, [to] the twelfth [month], that [is], the month Adar.
Genesis 40:21
- And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:
Genesis 40:11
- And Pharaoh's cup [was] in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Nehemiah 2:1
Nehemiah 2:1 is a pivotal verse in the biblical narrative of Nehemiah, which is set within the historical context of the post-exilic period for the Jewish people. At this time, many Jews had returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity, but the city and its walls lay in ruins, making it vulnerable and a source of shame for the returned exiles.
The verse introduces a significant moment in Nehemiah's life. Nehemiah served as a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia, a position of trust that involved tasting the king's wine to ensure it was not poisoned. The mention of the month Nisan is significant because it corresponds to March/April in the modern calendar and is the first month of the Jewish religious year, marking the time of the Passover festival. The "twentieth year of Artaxerxes" likely refers to the reign of Artaxerxes I, which places these events around 445 BC.
The act of Nehemiah serving the wine to the king sets the stage for what follows. Nehemiah's expression of sadness, which he had not previously shown before the king, is a critical detail. His sorrow, likely related to the state of Jerusalem, becomes the catalyst for the king to inquire about its cause. This inquiry opens the door for Nehemiah to request permission to go to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls, a request that the king grants.
The themes present in this verse include divine providence, as the timing of Nehemiah's opportunity to speak to the king seems to be orchestrated by God. It also touches on themes of courage and leadership, as Nehemiah takes a risk by revealing his distress to the king, and loyalty, as he faithfully serves in his role despite his personal concerns. The verse underscores the importance of the city of Jerusalem in Jewish thought and the role of individuals in the outworking of God's plans for His people. Nehemiah's story is one of faith in action, demonstrating how personal faith can lead to significant historical and communal outcomes.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H2320
There are 224 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֹדֶשׁ
Transliteration: chôdesh
Pronunciation: kho'-desh
Description: from חָדַשׁ; the new moon; by implication, a month; month(-ly), new moon. - Strong's Number: H5212
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נִיסָן
Transliteration: Nîyçân
Pronunciation: nee-sawn'
Description: probably of foreign origin; Nisan, the first month of the Jewish sacred year; Nisan. - Strong's Number: H6242
There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶשְׂרִים
Transliteration: ʻesrîym
Pronunciation: es-reem'
Description: from עֶשֶׂר; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth; (six-) score, twenty(-ieth). - Strong's Number: H8141
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁנֶה
Transliteration: shâneh
Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly). - Strong's Number: H783
There are 122 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׁתָּא
Transliteration: ʼArtachshashtâʼ
Pronunciation: ar-takh-shash-taw'
Description: or אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׁתְּא; or by permutation אַרְתַּחְשַׁסְתְּא; of foreign origin; Artachshasta (or Artaxerxes), a title (rather than name) of several Persian kings; Artaxerxes. - Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H3196
There are 134 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַיִן
Transliteration: yayin
Pronunciation: yah'-yin
Description: from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication; banqueting, wine, wine(-bibber). - Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H5375
There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָשָׂא
Transliteration: nâsâʼ
Pronunciation: naw-saw'
Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield. - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H7451
There are 623 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רַע
Transliteration: raʻ
Pronunciation: rah
Description: from רָעַע; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral); adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).