KJV ORIGINAL
Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Then the king said to me, 'What are you asking for?' So I prayed to the God of heaven.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
When the king asked Nehemiah what he wanted, Nehemiah quickly prayed to God before answering.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Nehemiah, he was a Jewish exile serving as the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia, a role that placed him in close proximity to the king and required great trust. When the king noticed Nehemiah's sadness about the ruined walls of Jerusalem and asked what he desired, Nehemiah paused to pray to God for wisdom before responding. This reflects the cultural and spiritual practice of ancient Israelites seeking divine guidance in pivotal moments under foreign rule.
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