King James Version

What Does Nehemiah 1:5 Mean?

Nehemiah 1:5 in the King James Version says “And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them tha...” — study this verse from Nehemiah chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:”

Nehemiah 1:5 · King James Version

Love

Context

3

And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

4

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

5

And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

6

Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

7

We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

Read Nehemiah 1 full chapter

Commentaries2 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

Nehemiah's prayer begins with precise theological understanding of God. The threefold title establishes crucial truths: 'LORD' (Yahweh, יְהוָה) is the covenant name revealing God's personal, relational nature. 'God of heaven' (Elohei hashamayim, אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם) acknowledges sovereign authority over all creation. 'Great and terrible' describes divine majesty and power. Nora (נוֹרָא, 'terrible') means awe-inspiring, demanding reverence—not frightening as in terrifying but overwhelming in holiness and power.

'Keepeth covenant and mercy' grounds prayer in God's faithful character. Shomer (שֹׁמֵר, 'keepeth') means guarding, preserving, faithfully maintaining. Hesed (חֶסֶד, 'mercy') is covenant love—faithful, loyal love toward covenant partners. The condition 'for them that love him and observe his commandments' doesn't suggest earning God's love but describes covenant keepers who receive covenant benefits. This echoes Deuteronomy 7:9, grounding prayer in revealed truth about God's character. Biblical prayer begins with right understanding of God—who He is determines how we approach Him.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This prayer language reflects deep saturation in Scripture, particularly Deuteronomy. The combination of 'great and terrible' appears in Deuteronomy 7:21 and 10:17, while 'keepeth covenant and mercy' echoes Deuteronomy 7:9. Nehemiah's prayer shows how Scripture shaped the thinking of faithful Jews. They didn't invent prayers from imagination but based them on revealed truth.

The Persian context made 'God of heaven' particularly significant—Nehemiah served an earthly king but worshiped a heavenly King whose authority transcended all earthly powers. While Artaxerxes ruled the visible empire, Yahweh ruled the universe. This provided theological confidence for approaching both God and king—the greater authority had already promised restoration; Nehemiah simply needed the lesser authority's cooperation.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does your understanding of God's character shape the content and confidence of your prayers?
  2. What biblical texts about God's nature could you memorize and use to ground your prayer life more deeply in revealed truth?
  3. How do you balance reverence for God's transcendent holiness with confidence in His covenant love?

Compare 2 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וָֽאֹמַ֗ר1 of 14

“And said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אָֽנָּ֤א2 of 14

“I beseech”

H577

oh now!

יְהוָה֙3 of 14

“thee O LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֵ֣י4 of 14

“God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם5 of 14

“of heaven”

H8064

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

הָאֵ֥ל6 of 14

“God”

H410

strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the almighty (but used also of any deity)

הַגָּד֖וֹל7 of 14

“the great”

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

וְהַנּוֹרָ֑א8 of 14

“and terrible”

H3372

to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten

וּלְשֹֽׁמְרֵ֥י9 of 14

“him and observe”

H8104

properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc

הַבְּרִית֙10 of 14

“covenant”

H1285

a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)

וָחֶ֔סֶד11 of 14

“and mercy”

H2617

kindness; by implication (towards god) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty

לְאֹֽהֲבָ֖יו12 of 14

“for them that love”

H157

to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)

וּלְשֹֽׁמְרֵ֥י13 of 14

“him and observe”

H8104

properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc

מִצְוֹתָֽיו׃14 of 14

“his commandments”

H4687

a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the law)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Nehemiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Nehemiah 1:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Nehemiah 1:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Exodus 20:6Daniel 9:4-19Deuteronomy 7:21Deuteronomy 7:9Nehemiah 4:141 Kings 8:23

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