New International Version In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, New Living Translation Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. English Standard Version In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. Berean Standard Bible Now in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, Berean Literal Bible And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before his face, and I lifted up the wine and gave it to the king. And never had I been sad before his face. King James Bible And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. New King James Version And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. New American Standard Bible And it came about in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that wine was before him, and I picked up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. NASB 1995 And it came about in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that wine was before him, and I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. NASB 1977 And it came about in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that wine was before him, and I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. Legacy Standard Bible Now it happened in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that wine was before him, and I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. Amplified Bible In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was placed before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not [previously] been sad in his presence. Berean Annotated Bible Now in the month of Nisan (March / April), in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes (I will make the spoiled to boil), when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, Christian Standard Bible During the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, Holman Christian Standard Bible During the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, American Standard Version And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. Contemporary English Version During the month of Nisan in the twentieth year that Artaxerxes was king, I served him his wine, as I had done before. But this was the first time I had ever looked depressed. English Revised Version And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. GOD'S WORD® Translation In the month of Nisan, in Artaxerxes' twentieth year as king, after some wine was brought for the king, I picked up the cup of wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence before. Good News Translation One day four months later, when Emperor Artaxerxes was dining, I took the wine to him. He had never seen me look sad before, International Standard Version It came about in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, during the month of Nissan, the king was about to drink some wine that I was preparing for him. Now I had never looked troubled in his presence. NET Bible Then in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought to me, I took the wine and gave it to the king. Previously I had not been depressed in the king's presence. New Heart English Bible It happened in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artachshasta the king, when wine was before me, that I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad before in his presence. Webster's Bible Translation And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not before been sad in his presence. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleNow in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, World English Bible In the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, I picked up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad before in his presence. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd it comes to pass, in the month of Nisan, the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, wine [is] before him, and I lift up the wine, and give to the king, and I had not been sad before him; Berean Literal Bible And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before his face, and I lifted up the wine and gave it to the king. And never had I been sad before his face. Young's Literal Translation And it cometh to pass, in the month of Nisan, the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, wine is before him, and I lift up the wine, and give to the king, and I had not been sad before him; Smith's Literal Translation And it will be in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year to Arthasatha the king, wine before him: and I shall lift up the wine and give to the king. And I was not sad before him. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king: that wine was before him, and I took up the wine, and gave it to the king: and I was as one languishing away before his face. Catholic Public Domain Version Now it happened that, in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of king Artaxerxes, wine was before him; and I lifted up the wine, and I gave it to the king. And I was like someone languishing before his face. New American Bible In the month Nisan of the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when the wine was in my charge, I took some and offered it to the king. Because I had never before been sad in his presence, New Revised Standard Version In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was served him, I carried the wine and gave it to the king. Now, I had never been sad in his presence before. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleTHEN it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artakhshisht the king, I was serving wine before the king; and I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad before in his presence. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And then in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artakhshesht the King, I was giving wine to drink before the King, and I took wine and I gave to the King, and I had not ever been sad before him. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. Brenton Septuagint Translation And it came to pass in the month Nisan of the twentieth year of king Arthasastha, that the wine was before me: and I took the wine, and gave it to the king: and there was not another before him. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem1Now in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, 2so the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? This could only be sadness of the heart.” I was overwhelmed with fear… Cross References Now in the month of Nisan, Esther 3:7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman to determine a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar. Exodus 12:2 “This month is the beginning of months for you; it shall be the first month of your year. in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah 5:14 Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. Ezra 7:7-8 So in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, he went up to Jerusalem with some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants. / Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. when wine was set before him, Esther 1:7-8 Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty. / By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired. Daniel 5:1-2 Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. / Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. I took the wine and gave it to the king. Genesis 40:11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into his cup, and placed the cup in his hand.” Genesis 40:13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore your position. You will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you did when you were his cupbearer. I had never been sad in his presence, Esther 4:2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate. Daniel 1:10 but he said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your age? You would endanger my head before the king!” Proverbs 15:13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit. Esther 1:1-3 This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush. / In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa. / In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces. Daniel 1:1-2 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. / And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He carried these off to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, where he put them in the treasury of his god. Ezra 7:1-10 Many years later, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, / the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, / the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, … Nehemiah 1:1-11 These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, / 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. / 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.” … Esther 2:16-18 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal palace in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. / And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all of the other virgins. So he placed the royal crown upon her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. / Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and servants. He proclaimed a tax holiday in the provinces and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty. Treasury of Scripture And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. Nisan Esther 3:7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. the twentieth Nehemiah 1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, Ezra 7:1,7 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, … I took up Nehemiah 1:11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer. Genesis 40:11,21 And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand… Jump to Previous Artaxerxes Ar-Ta-Xerx'es Beforetime Lift Month Nisan Presence Present Sad Twentieth WineJump to Next Artaxerxes Ar-Ta-Xerx'es Beforetime Lift Month Nisan Presence Present Sad Twentieth WineNehemiah 2 1. Artaxerxes, understanding the cause of Nehemiah's sadness, 6. sends him with letters and commission to Jerusalem 9. Nehemiah, to the grief of the enemies, comes to Jerusalem 12. He views secretly the ruins of the walls 17. He incites the Jews to build Now in the month of Nisan, Nisan fell in March or April and marked the beginning of the Jewish religious year, the season of Passover and remembrance of Israel’s deliverance. Est 3:7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month… in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, This was about 445 BC, during the reign of Artaxerxes I of Persia. Nehemiah’s burden for Jerusalem came at a time when he served within the Persian royal court. Neh 5:14 Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me… when wine was set before him, As cupbearer, Nehemiah held a trusted position, responsible for presenting the king’s wine and regularly attending him. Est 1:7-8 Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold… I took the wine and gave it to the king. His service placed him near the king and gave him an opportunity that few Jews in exile possessed. Gen 40:11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes,… I had never been sad in his presence, Court servants were expected to appear composed before the king, making Nehemiah’s visible grief both unusual and potentially dangerous. His sorrow reflected the condition of Jerusalem and prepared the way for his request. Est 4:2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate,… Persons / Places / Events 1. NehemiahA Jewish cupbearer to the Persian King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah is a key figure in the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. His role as a cupbearer was significant, as it involved a position of trust and influence. 2. King Artaxerxes The Persian king during Nehemiah's time. His reign is marked by interactions with the Jewish people, including the decree allowing the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 3. Month of Nisan The first month of the Jewish calendar, corresponding to March-April. This timing is significant as it marks the beginning of spring and the season of Passover, a time of renewal and hope. 4. Wine Symbolic of joy and celebration, wine in this context also represents Nehemiah's duties and the trust placed in him by the king. 5. Sadness in the King's Presence Nehemiah's emotional state is noteworthy because it was dangerous to appear sad before the king, indicating the depth of his concern for Jerusalem. Teaching Points Trust in God's TimingNehemiah's opportunity to speak to the king came in God's perfect timing. We should trust that God orchestrates events in our lives according to His divine schedule. Courage in Adversity Nehemiah's willingness to show his true emotions before the king demonstrates courage. We are called to be honest and courageous in our faith, even when it involves risk. Prayerful Preparation Before approaching the king, Nehemiah had spent time in prayer and fasting (Nehemiah 1:4). This teaches us the importance of preparing our hearts through prayer before taking action. God's Sovereignty Over Leaders The favorable response of King Artaxerxes to Nehemiah's request shows God's sovereignty over earthly rulers. We can trust that God can move the hearts of leaders for His purposes. Role of Influence Nehemiah's position as a cupbearer gave him unique access to the king. We should recognize and utilize the positions and influence God has given us to further His kingdom. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Nehemiah 2:1?2. How does Nehemiah 2:1 demonstrate the importance of prayer before taking action? 3. What role does Nehemiah's position play in God's plan for Jerusalem's restoration? 4. How can we apply Nehemiah's courage when facing daunting tasks today? 5. How does Nehemiah 2:1 connect to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises? 6. What can we learn from Nehemiah's respectful approach to authority in Nehemiah 2:1? 7. What historical significance does Nehemiah 2:1 hold in the context of Persian rule over Jerusalem? 8. How does Nehemiah 2:1 demonstrate God's providence in the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls? 9. Why is King Artaxerxes' favor towards Nehemiah in Nehemiah 2:1 important for biblical prophecy? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Nehemiah 2? II. (1-8) Nehemiah's appeal to the king. (1) Nisan.--The old Abib, the first month of the Jewish year, following the vernal equinox. As we are still in the twentieth year of the king, the beginning of his reign must be dated before Chisleu. The record adopts Persian dates, and the two months fell in one year. Verse 1. - In the month Nisan. The fourth month after Chisleu, corresponding nearly to our April. How it came about that Nehemiah did not put the king's favour to the proof until more than three months had gone by we can only conjecture. Perhaps the court had been absent from Susa, passing the winter at Babylon, as it sometimes did, and he had not accompanied it. Perhaps, though present at the court, he had not been called on to discharge his office, his turn not having arrived. Possibly, though performing his duties from time to time, he had found no opportunity of unbosoming himself, the king not having noticed his grief. He. may even have done his best to conceal it, for Persian subjects were expected to be perfectly happy in the presence of their king. He had probably formed no plan, but waited in the confident hope that God's providence would so order events, that some occasion would arise whereof he might take advantage. In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes. Like Daniel, Zechariah, Haggai, and Ezra, Nehemiah dates events by the regnal year of the existing Persian king. His Artaxerxes is, by common consent, the same as Ezra's, and can scarcely be supposed to be any monarch but Longimanus, who reigned from B.C. 465 to B.C. 425. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. Other renderings have been proposed, but this is probably the true meaning. Hitherto I had always worn a cheerful countenance before him - now it was otherwise - my sorrow showed itself in spite of me. Nehemiah 2:1 fixes a moment in spring 445 BC when a praying cupbearer, divinely positioned, steps into history’s spotlight. Each phrase underscores God’s meticulous timing, the value of faithful service, and the courage required to let private grief surface for a greater purpose. The verse assures us that seasons of waiting, carried out with integrity and perseverance, place God’s people precisely where His redemptive plan will unfold.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Now in the monthבְּחֹ֣דֶשׁ (bə·ḥō·ḏeš) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month of Nisan, נִיסָ֗ן (nî·sān) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 5212: First month of the Jewish religious year in the twentieth עֶשְׂרִ֛ים (‘eś·rîm) Number - common plural Strong's 6242: Twenty, twentieth year שְׁנַ֥ת (šə·naṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 8141: A year of King הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king Artaxerxes, לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא (lə·’ar·taḥ·šast) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 783: Artaxerxes -- a son and successor of Xerxes, king of Persia when wine יַ֣יִן (ya·yin) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3196: Wine, intoxication was set before him, לְפָנָ֑יו (lə·p̄ā·nāw) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 6440: The face I took וָאֶשָּׂ֤א (wā·’eś·śā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take the wine הַיַּ֙יִן֙ (hay·ya·yin) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3196: Wine, intoxication and gave וָאֶתְּנָ֣ה (wā·’et·tə·nāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set it to the king. לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (lam·me·leḵ) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king I had never וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no been וַיְהִ֣י ׀ (way·hî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be sad רַ֖ע (ra‘) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7451: Bad, evil in his presence, לְפָנָֽיו׃ (lə·p̄ā·nāw) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 6440: The face Additonal Resources Nehemiah 2:1 Blue Letter BibleNehemiah 2:1 Bible Gateway Nehemiah 2:1 Bible.com Nehemiah 2:1 NIV |
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