Nehemiah 2:4

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven,

Read Chapter Compare

PREVIOUS Nehemiah 2:3 NEXT Nehemiah 2:5

Nehemiah 2:4 in Other Translations

KJV

4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

ESV

4 Then the king said to me, "What are you requesting?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.

NLT

4 The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven,

MSG

4 The king then asked me, "So what do you want?"

CSB

4 Then the king asked me, "What is your request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven

Nehemiah 2:4 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 2:4

Then the king said unto me, for what dost thou make request?
&c.] The king supposed that there was a meaning in those looks and words of his, that he had a favour to ask of him, and therefore encourages him to it; or the king of himself moved this, as being desirous of doing anything for him he would propose, to make him easy:

so I prayed to the God of heaven;
secretly, in an ejaculatory way, giving him thanks for thus disposing the king's heart towards him, and entreating he might be directed what to ask, and in a proper manner, and that he might succeed.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Nehemiah 2:4 In-Context

2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” I was very much afraid,

3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven,

5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.