Nehemiah 1:6

Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

Let thine ear {H241} now be attentive {H7183}, and thine eyes {H5869} open {H6605}, that thou mayest hear {H8085} the prayer {H8605} of thy servant {H5650}, which I pray {H6419} before {H6440} thee now {H3117}, day {H3119} and night {H3915}, for the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} thy servants {H5650}, and confess {H3034} the sins {H2403} of the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, which we have sinned {H2398} against thee: both I and my father's {H1} house {H1004} have sinned {H2398}.

Let your ear now be attentive and your eyes be open, so that you will listen to the prayer of your servant, which I am praying before you these days, day and night, for the people of Isra'el your servants - even as I confess the sins of the people of Isra'el that we have committed against you. Yes, I and my father's house have sinned.

let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.

let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father’s house have sinned:

Commentary

Nehemiah 1:6 is a pivotal verse within Nehemiah’s heartfelt prayer, demonstrating his deep distress and earnest plea to God for the exiled Israelites. Having just heard the devastating news about Jerusalem's broken walls and gates (Nehemiah 1:3), Nehemiah responds with fasting, weeping, and prayer, as detailed in Nehemiah 1:4. This verse initiates the core of his intercession and confession.

Context

Nehemiah, serving as the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I of Persia, receives news from his brother Hanani about the dire state of Jerusalem and its inhabitants. The city's walls remain in ruins, leaving the Jewish returnees vulnerable and disgraced. This news ignites Nehemiah's passion and commitment to seek God's favor for rebuilding. His prayer in Nehemiah 1, of which verse 6 is a part, sets the stage for his miraculous journey from a palace servant to a key leader in the restoration of Jerusalem.

Key Themes

  • Earnest and Persistent Prayer: Nehemiah’s plea, "Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open," highlights his desperate desire for God to hear and respond. The phrase "day and night" emphasizes the intensity and continuous nature of his intercession for the "children of Israel."
  • Corporate and Personal Confession: A hallmark of Nehemiah's prayer is his profound identification with the nation's sin. He confesses not only the collective sins of "the children of Israel" but also acknowledges, "both I and my father's house have sinned." This demonstrates genuine humility and solidarity, recognizing that sin affects all, from leaders to the common person. This mirrors other great prayers of confession, such as Daniel 9:5.
  • Intercession for God's Servants: Nehemiah consistently refers to the Israelites as "thy servants," appealing to God's covenant relationship and responsibility towards His chosen people. This reminds God of His promises and the spiritual heritage of Israel.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "attentive" is qashab (קשב), meaning to incline one's ear, to listen carefully, or to pay close attention. It conveys a sense of active, deliberate listening, not just passive hearing.
  • The word translated "confess" is yadah (ידה), which in this context means to acknowledge, admit, or praise. When used for sin, it signifies a full admission of guilt and responsibility, often accompanied by repentance.

Practical Application

Nehemiah 1:6 offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • The Power of Empathy and Intercession: Like Nehemiah, we are called to be burdened by the spiritual and physical brokenness around us and to intercede earnestly for our communities, nations, and fellow believers.
  • The Necessity of Humble Confession: True spiritual revival often begins with genuine confession – both personal and corporate. Nehemiah's willingness to include himself and his family in the national sin models a humility essential for drawing near to God. This principle is echoed in 1 John 1:9, which speaks to God's faithfulness in forgiving confessed sins.
  • Persistence in Prayer: Nehemiah's "day and night" prayer encourages us to maintain a consistent and fervent prayer life, trusting that God hears and responds to the cries of His servants.
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Cross-References

  • Daniel 9:20

    ¶ And whiles I [was] speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;

  • Daniel 9:4

    ¶ And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

  • Psalms 34:15

    The eyes of the LORD [are] upon the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their cry.

  • Psalms 106:6

    ¶ We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

  • 2 Chronicles 6:40

    Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and [let] thine ears [be] attent unto the prayer [that is made] in this place.

  • 2 Chronicles 29:6

    For our fathers have trespassed, and done [that which was] evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned [their] backs.

  • Daniel 9:17

    Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.