Nehemiah 9:6

King James Version:

(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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

"'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.

Berean Standard Bible:

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.

American Standard Version:

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.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

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.

Cross-References (KJV):

Isaiah 37:16

  • O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest [between] the cherubims, thou [art] the God, [even] thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.

Genesis 1:1

  • ¶ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Revelation 4:11

  • Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Deuteronomy 10:14

  • Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens [is] the LORD'S thy God, the earth [also], with all that therein [is].

Deuteronomy 6:4

  • ¶ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD:

Isaiah 44:6

  • Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I [am] the first, and I [am] the last; and beside me [there is] no God.

Jeremiah 10:11

  • Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, [even] they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.

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Commentary for Nehemiah 9:6

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

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
  2. Strong's Number: H6213
    There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָשָׂה
    Transliteration: ʻâsâh
    Pronunciation: aw-saw'
    Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
  3. Strong's Number: H8064
    There are 395 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁמַיִם
    Transliteration: shâmayim
    Pronunciation: shaw-mah'-yim
    Description: dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve); air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s).
  4. Strong's Number: H6635
    There are 463 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: צָבָא
    Transliteration: tsâbâʼ
    Pronunciation: tsaw-baw'
    Description: or (feminine) צְבָאָה; from צָבָא; a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship); appointed time, ([phrase]) army, ([phrase]) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).
  5. Strong's Number: H776
    There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶרֶץ
    Transliteration: ʼerets
    Pronunciation: eh'-rets
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
  6. Strong's Number: H3220
    There are 339 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָם
    Transliteration: yâm
    Pronunciation: yawm
    Description: from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south; sea ([idiom] -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward).
  7. Strong's Number: H2421
    There are 235 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חָיָה
    Transliteration: châyâh
    Pronunciation: khaw-yaw'
    Description: a primitive root (compare חָוָה, חָיָה); to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive; keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole.
  8. Strong's Number: H7812
    There are 166 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁחָה
    Transliteration: shâchâh
    Pronunciation: shaw-khaw'
    Description: a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God); bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.