Nehemiah 1:6 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Nehemiah asks God to listen closely to his persistent prayer, and he confesses the sins of his people, including himself and his own family.
What Does Nehemiah 1:6 Mean?
Nehemiah pleads for God's attentive ear and open eyes, describing how he has prayed "day and night" for Israel. Then he turns to confession. He does not stand apart from his people's failure but joins himself to it: "both I and my father's house have sinned." The intercessor becomes one of the guilty, owning the sin rather than accusing others.
Genuine intercession refuses to set itself above those it prays for. Nehemiah, a man of integrity, still says "we have sinned." Such humility opens the way for mercy, for God draws near to the lowly and contrite. When we pray for others, the honest confession of our own need keeps us tender and binds us to those we carry before God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nehemiah 1:6
What does Nehemiah 1:6 mean?
Nehemiah asks God to listen closely to his persistent prayer, and he confesses the sins of his people, including himself and his own family.