Nehemiah 1:5

“And I said, “I beg you, YHWH, the Elohim of the heavens, the great and fearsome El, who keeps the covenant and loyal love for those who love him and for those who keep his commandments,”

Nehemiah 1:5 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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5

Nehemiah 1:5, word by word

And I saidאֹמַרomar

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “omar” appears
“I beg youאָנָּאana

please!

I beg you!: an exclamation of entreaty.

Where else “ana” appears
YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears
the Elohimאֱלֹהֵיelohe

Elohim

The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.

Where else “elohe” appears
of the heavensשָּׁמַיִםshamayim

heaven

God's dwelling, from which he is called "the Elohim of the heavens".

Where else “shamayim” appears
the greatגָּדוֹלgadol

great

Of great size, amount or importance: a river, a city, a king.

Where else “gadol” appears
and fearsomeנּוֹרָאnora

be fearsome

To be so great or powerful that one inspires awe and respect.

Where else “nora” appears
Elאֵלel

El, God, god

"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".

Where else “el” appears
who keepsשֹׁמֵרshomer

keep

To obey the covenant or the commands.

Where else “shomer” appears
the covenantבְּרִיתberit

covenant

The commitment God makes with his people, with promises and commands.

Where else “berit” appears
and loyal loveחֶסֶדchesed

loyal love

God's steadfast kindness, true to his covenant, never forsaking.

Where else “chesed” appears
for those who love himאֹהֲבָיohavay

love

To care for someone from the heart and seek their good.

Where else “ohavay” appears
his commandmentsמִצְוֺתָיmitsvotay

commandment

An order of God that must be kept.

Where else “mitsvotay” appears

The context

4And when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the Elohim of the heavens.

5 · This verse (above)

6let your ear, I beg you, be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant, which I am praying before you today, day and night, for the sons of Israel your servants, and confessing the sins of the sons of Israel, which we have sinned against you; and I and my father’s house have sinned.

Read all of Nehemiah 1

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