And I said,וָאֹמַר“I beg you,אָנָּאYHWH,יְהוָהthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof the heavens,הַשָּׁמַיִםthe greatהַגָּדוֹלand fearsomeוְהַנּוֹרָאEl,הָאֵלwho keepsשֹׁמֵרthe covenantהַבְּרִיתand loyal loveוָחֶסֶדfor those who love himלְאֹהֲבָיוand for those who keepוּלְשֹׁמְרֵיhis commandments,מִצְוֺתָיו
Nehemiah 1:5
Study it in the app“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,”
With the Hebrew beneath
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.