(The Lord speaking is red text)
Thou, [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.
"'You are ADONAI, you alone. You made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their array, the earth and all the things that are in it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve them all. The army of heaven worships you.
You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You.
Thou 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.
Thou, even thou, art LORD{H3068} alone; thou hast made{H6213} heaven{H8064}, the heaven{H8064} of heavens{H8064}, with all their host{H6635}, the earth{H776}, and all things that are therein, the seas{H3220}, and all that is therein, and thou preservest{H2421} them all; and the host{H6635} of heaven{H8064} worshippeth{H7812} thee.
Nehemiah 9:6 is part of a lengthy prayer of confession and praise offered by the Israelites after they had rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem under the leadership of Nehemiah. This prayer, which begins in Nehemiah 9:5 and continues through verse 37, is a communal acknowledgment of God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and mighty acts throughout Israel's history.
The verse itself encapsulates several key themes:
1. **Monotheism**: The declaration "Thou, [even] thou, [art] LORD alone" is a clear affirmation of Jewish monotheism, asserting that there is only one true God, who is distinct from all other gods.
2. **Creation**: The verse attributes the act of creation to God, stating that He 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." This reflects the Genesis account of creation, where God is depicted as the creator of the entire universe and everything within it.
3. **Providence**: The phrase "and thou preservest them all" speaks to God's ongoing role as sustainer and preserver of the created order. This indicates a belief in divine providence, where God not only creates but also actively maintains and cares for His creation.
4. **Worship**: The verse concludes with the statement that "the host of heaven worshippeth thee," which can be interpreted in two ways: it may refer to the angels and celestial beings who worship God, or it may be a figurative way of saying that all of creation acknowledges God's glory and rule.
The historical context of this verse is significant. The people of Israel are in a moment of restoration following the Babylonian exile. They have witnessed the destruction of their city and temple, and their return to the land and subsequent rebuilding efforts are seen as acts of God's faithfulness to His covenant people. The prayer in Nehemiah 9 is part of a larger ceremony where the people are renewing their commitment to God's law after having experienced His redemptive power in their lives.
In summary, Nehemiah 9:6 is a theologically rich verse that affirms the uniqueness and sovereignty of God as the sole Creator and Sustainer of the universe, to whom all of creation owes worship and obedience. It reflects the Israelites' understanding of God's role in their national history and their personal lives, and it serves as a declaration of dependence on and allegiance to the God of Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)