Nehemiah 9:6

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.

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.

"'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.

Commentary

Context

Nehemiah 9 details a profound prayer offered by the Levites during a solemn fast and assembly in post-exilic Judah. Following the reading of the Law and a renewed commitment to God's covenant, the people gathered to confess their sins and recount God's faithfulness throughout Israel's history. Verse 6 initiates this grand historical overview, starting with a declaration of God's unique and supreme nature, setting the stage for the narrative of His enduring love and provision despite Israel's repeated rebellion. It establishes the foundational truth of who God is before detailing His interactions with humanity.

Key Themes

  • God's Sole Sovereignty: The emphatic declaration "Thou, even thou, art LORD alone" underscores the absolute uniqueness and unrivaled authority of Yahweh. This truth stood in stark contrast to the polytheistic beliefs of the surrounding nations and served as a core tenet of Israel's faith, as highlighted in the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4. It proclaims God's exclusive claim to divinity and rule over all creation.
  • Creator and Sustainer: The verse vividly describes God as the architect of the cosmos, having 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." Beyond creation, it emphasizes His active role as Preserver: "and thou preservest them all." This highlights God's ongoing providence and sustaining power over all His handiwork, from the grandest galaxies to the smallest creatures.
  • Universal Worship: The concluding phrase, "and the host of heaven worshippeth thee," reveals that God's supreme authority is recognized and celebrated even by celestial beings. This reinforces His immense worthiness of adoration and implies a cosmic chorus of praise, inviting humanity to join in this universal worship.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Thou, even thou, art LORD alone": The Hebrew phrase `'attah hu' YHWH l'vadeka` powerfully emphasizes God's singular identity. `'attah hu'` means "You are He," a declaration of exclusive being, followed by `YHWH` (Yahweh), God's personal covenant name, and `l'vadeka`, meaning "alone" or "by yourself." This repetition strongly asserts God's absolute uniqueness and sole existence as the true divine authority, a concept frequently echoed in prophetic books like Isaiah 45:5.
  • "Heaven of heavens": The Hebrew `shamayim ha-shamayim` is a superlative construction, indicating the highest heavens, the most expansive and transcendent realms beyond human comprehension. It signifies the immeasurable vastness and glory of God's creative work, encompassing all celestial spheres.
  • "Host of heaven": The Hebrew `tzava' shamayim` can refer to the celestial bodies (stars, planets) or, more commonly in a context of worship, to angelic beings and heavenly creatures. Given that they "worshippeth thee," the latter interpretation of spiritual beings praising God is most fitting here, aligning with depictions of heavenly adoration in Revelation 4:11.

Practical Application

Nehemiah 9:6 calls believers to a profound sense of awe and reverence for God. Recognizing Him as the sole Creator and Sustainer of all things should inspire deep trust and security, knowing that the same powerful hand that created the universe also preserves it. This verse reminds us that God is not a distant deity but actively involved in maintaining His creation. It challenges us to align our lives with the truth that He alone is worthy of worship, joining the "host of heaven" in acknowledging His unmatched glory and sovereignty in our daily lives.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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.