Nehemiah 1:4

4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 1:4 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 1:4

And it came to pass, when I heard these words
This sad and melancholy account of things:

that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days;
sat down upon the ground in dust and ashes, after the manner of mourners, and wept bitterly, and mourned in a most sorrowful manner, see ( Job 2:8 Job 2:12 Job 2:13 ) ,

and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven;
that made it, and dwells in it.

Nehemiah 1:4 In-Context

2 Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

3 And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

5 Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments,

6 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.