Nehemiah 2 · Verse 6

Nehemiah 2:6

And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
Nehemiah 2:6, King James Version

Nehemiah 2:6 in other translations

BSBThen the king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I set a time.
WEBThe king said to me (the queen was also sitting by him), “How long will your journey be? When will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I set a time for him.
ASVAnd the king said unto me (the queen also sitting by him), For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
YLTAnd the king saith to me (and the queen is sitting near him), ‘How long is thy journey? and when dost thou return?' and it is good before the king, and he sendeth me away, and I set to him a time.
DARBYAnd the king said to me — the queen also sitting by him, — For how long shall thy journey be, and when wilt thou return? And it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
BBEAnd the king said to me (the queen being seated by his side), How long will your journey take, and when will you come back? So the king was pleased to send me, and I gave him a fixed time.
WebsterAnd the king said to me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.

What does Nehemiah 2:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Nehemiah 2:6-9
6-9. the queen also sitting by him--As the Persian monarchs did not admit their wives to be present at their state festivals, this must have been a private occasion. The queen referred to was probably Esther, whose presence would tend greatly to embolden Nehemiah in stating his request; and through her influence, powerfully exerted it may be supposed, also by her sympathy with the patriotic design, his petition was granted, to go as deputy governor of Judea, accompanied by a military guard, and invested with full powers to obtain materials for the building in Jerusalem, as well as to get all requisite aid in promoting his enterprise. I set him a time--Considering the great despatch made in raising the walls, it is probable that this leave of absence was limited at first to a year or six months, after which he returned to his duties in Shushan. The circumstance of fixing a set time for his return, as well as entrusting so important a work as the refortification of Jerusalem to his care, proves the high favor and confidence Nehemiah enjoyed at the Persian court, and the great estimation in which his services were held. At a later period he received a new commission for the better settlement of the affairs of Judea and remained governor of that province for twelve years (Ne 5:14).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 The queen also sitting by him - Who probably forwarded his suit. This was not Esther, as Dean Prideaux supposes, nor perhaps the same Artaxerxes who had taken her to be queen; nor does שגל shegal signify queen, but rather harlot or concubine, she who was chief favourite. The Septuagint translate it παλλακη, harlot; and properly too. See the introduction. I set him a time - How long this time was we are not told; it is by no means likely that it was long, probably no more than six months or a year; after which he either returned, or had his leave of absence lengthened; for in the same year we find he was made governor of the Jews, in which office he continued twelve years, viz., from the twentieth to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, Neh 5:14. He then returned to Susa; and after staying a short time, had leave to return to rectify some abuses that Tobiah the Ammonite had introduced into the temple, Neh 13:6, Neh 13:7, and several others of which the people themselves were guilty. After having performed this service, it is likely he returned to the Persian king, and died in his office of cup-bearer; but of this latter circumstance we have no mention in the text.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8

Our prayers must be seconded with serious endeavours, else we mock God. We are not limited to certain moments in our addresses to the King of kings, but have liberty to go to him at all times; approaches to the throne of grace are never out of season. But the sense of God's displeasure and the afflictions of his people, are causes of sorrow to the children of God, under which no earthly delights can comfort. The…

Read the full comment on Nehemiah 2:1-8 →

Nehemiah 2:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.Merand he saidH559
לִ֨יlito me
הַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
וְהַשֵּׁגַ֣ל\׀ve.ha.she.Galand the queen-consortH7694
יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶתyo.She.vet[was] sittingH3427
אֶצְל֗וֹ'etz.Lobeside himH681
עַד\־'ad-untilH5704
מָתַ֛יma.Taiwhen?H4970
יִהְיֶ֥הyih.Yehwill it beH1961
מַֽהֲלָכֲךָ֖ma.ha.la.kha.Khajourney yourH4109
וּמָתַ֣יu.ma.Taiand when?H4970
תָּשׁ֑וּבta.Shuvwill you returnH7725
וַיִּיטַ֤בvai.yi.Tavand it was goodH3190
לִפְנֵֽי\־lif.nei-<to> beforeH6440
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֔נִיvai.yish.la.Che.niand he sent meH7971
וָֽאֶתְּנָ֥הva.'e.te.Nahand I gave !H5414
ל֖וֹloto him
זְמָֽן\׃ze.Mana timeH2165

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Nehemiah 2:6

  • Nehemiah 13:6

    But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:

  • Nehemiah 5:14

    Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

  • Isaiah 65:24

    And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

  • Isaiah 58:12

    And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

  • Nehemiah 2:4

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

  • 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.

  • Isaiah 61:4

    And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the queen. Heb. the wife.It was probably Esther who was present at this time, and who seconded Nehemiah's request.
So it pleased.
4; 1:11; Isa 58:12; 61:4; 65:24
I set him a time.It is probable that this time was no more than six months, or a year; after which he either returned, or had his leave of absence lengthened, as we find he was twelve years governor of the Jews.
5:14; 13:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Nehemiah 2:5

    And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.

  • Nehemiah 2:6

    And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.

  • Nehemiah 2:7

    Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;

Read all of Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah 2:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces el rey me dijo, (y la reina estaba sentada junto á él): ¿Hasta cuándo será tu viaje, y cuándo volverás? Y plugo al rey enviarme, después que yo le señalé tiempo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Alors le roi me dit – et la reine était assise à son côté: – Combien de temps durera ton voyage, et quand reviendras-tu? Et il plut au roi de m’envoyer, et je lui fixai un temps.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da sprach der König zu mir-und die Königin saß neben ihm: Wie lange wird deine Reise währen, und wann wirst du zurückkehren? Und es gefiel dem König, mich zu senden; und ich bestimmte ihm eine Zeit.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixitque mihi rex, et regina quæ sedebat juxta eum: Usque ad quod tempus erit iter tuum, et quando reverteris? Et placuit ante vultum regis, et misit me: et constitui ei tempus.