Nehemiah 1:6 · Bible study
Nehemiah 1:6 Commentary: The Prayer of Corporate Confession
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Nehemiah include himself and his family in confessing Israel's sins? A study of solidarity, repentance, and intercessory prayer in Nehemiah 1:6.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Nehemiah prays persistently, identifying himself with his people's sin even though he was not directly responsible for the exile.
- Key words: 'attentive' (קַשָּׁ֫בֶת, qashevet) is rare, used also in Psalm 130:2; 'confess' is hithpael of יָדָה (yadah), meaning to throw, then to give thanks or confess.
- Main debate: Whether Nehemiah confesses actual personal sins or identifies representatively with the nation's guilt.
- Theological theme: Corporate solidarity in sin and repentance; intercessory prayer that breaks down the distance between the pray-er and the community.
- Best use: A model for communal confession in worship and for leaders who intercede on behalf of others.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.
WEB World English Bible 2000
let your ear now be attentive and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father’s house have sinned:
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
let Thine ear be, I pray Thee, attentive, and Thine eyes open, to hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant, that I am praying before Thee to-day, by day and by night, concerning the sons of Israel Thy servants, and confessing concerning the sins of the sons of Israel, that we have sinned against Thee; yea, I and the house of my father have sinned;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, to hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, confessing the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Let thy ears be attentive, and thy eyes open, to hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, night and day, for the children of Israel thy servants: and I confess the sins of the children of Israel, by which they have sinned against thee: I and my father's house have sinned.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Esté ahora atento tu oído, y tus ojos abiertos, para oir la oración de tu siervo, que yo hago ahora delante de ti día y noche, por los hijos de Israel tus siervos; y confieso los pecados de los hijos de Israel que hemos contra ti cometido; sí, yo y la casa de mi padre hemos pecado.
Estejam, pois, os teus ouvidos atentos, e teus olhos abertos, para ouvires a oração de teu servo, que eu oro hoje diante de ti dia e noite, pelos filhos de Israel, teus servos; e confesso os pecados dos filhos de Israel que pecamos contra ti; também eu e a casa de meu pai pecamos.
Que ton oreille soit attentive et que tes yeux soient ouverts: écoute la prière que ton serviteur t’ adresse en ce moment, jour et nuit, pour tes serviteurs les enfants d’ Israël, en confessant les péchés des enfants d’ Israël, nos péchés contre toi; car moi et la maison de mon père, nous avons péché.
laß doch deine Ohren aufmerken und deine Augen offen sein, daß du hörst das Gebet deines Knechtes, das ich nun vor dir bete Tag und Nacht für die Kinder Israel, deine Knechte, und bekenne die Sünden der Kinder Israel, die wir an dir getan haben; und ich und meines Vaters Haus haben auch gesündigt.
Laat toch Uw oor opmerkende, en Uw ogen open zijn, om te horen naar het gebed Uws knechts, dat ik heden voor Uw aangezicht bid, dag en nacht, voor de kinderen Israels, Uw knechten; en ik doe belijdenis over de zonden der kinderen Israels, die wij tegen U gezondigd hebben; ook ik en mijns vaders huis, wij hebben gezondigd.
siano le tue orecchie attente, i tuoi occhi aperti, ed ascolta la preghiera del tuo servo, la quale io fo adesso dinanzi a te, giorno e notte, per i figliuoli d’Israele, tuoi servi, confessando i peccati de’ figliuoli d’Israele: peccati, che noi abbiam commessi contro di te; sì, che io e la casa di mio padre abbiamo commessi!
Niech będzie proszę ucho twoje nakłonione, a oczy twoje otworzone, abyś usłyszał modlitwę sługi twego, którą się ja dziś modlę przed tobą we dnie i w nocy za synami Izraelskimi, sługami twymi, i wyznaję grzechy synów Izraelskich, któremiśmy zgrzes zyli przeciw tobie; i ja i dom ojca mego zgrzeszyliśmy.
Да будут уши Твои внимательны и очи Твои отверсты, чтобы услышать молитву раба Твоего, которою я теперь день и ночь молюсь пред Тобою о сынах Израилевых, рабах Твоих, и исповедуюсь во грехах сынов Израилевых, которыми согрешили мы пред Тобою, согрешили — и я и дом отца моего.
願你 睜 眼看， 側 耳 聽， 你僕人 晝 夜 在你面前 為 你眾僕人 以色列 民 的祈禱，承認 我們以色列 人 向你 所 犯 的罪；我 與我父 家 都有罪了。
Let your ear now take note and let your eyes be open, so that you may give ear to the prayer of your servant, which I make before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel, your servants, while I put before you the sins of the children of Israel, which we have done against you: truly, I and my father's people are sinners.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Nehemiah 1:6
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Nehemiah's confession includes both the nation's sins and his own personal sin. The Cambridge Bible notes that he 'identifies himself with the guilt of the people,' drawing a parallel to Moses in Exodus 34:9. Gill's Exposition observes that he considers 'sin as the cause of all this evil' and confesses 'his own personal and family sins.' Matthew Henry emphasizes that Nehemiah does not distance himself from his people's guilt. Keil and Delitzsch add that this self-identification shows how deeply Nehemiah felt his own sin and guilt. Adam Clarke sees a simple plea: 'Hear what we say and confess. See what we suffer.' The consensus is that Nehemiah models a repentance that refuses to stand apart from the community's failures.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Nehemiah confesses both national and personal sins, identifying himself with the people before God.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nehemiah's inclusion of himself in the confession | All traditions note that Nehemiah includes himself and his family in the confession of Israel's sins. | Some commentators (e.g., Gill) emphasize his personal and family sins, while others (e.g., Cambridge Bible) stress representational identification with the nation's guilt. |
| The meaning of 'my father's house' | It refers to Nehemiah's immediate family or ancestral line. | A tradition (Eusebius, cited by Cambridge Bible) holds that Nehemiah was of the house of David, giving special weight to his confession. Others take it as a general reference to any family group. |
| The purpose of the prayer | Nehemiah prays for God's mercy on Jerusalem and the people. | Whether the primary focus is the physical rebuilding of the wall or the spiritual restoration of the people through repentance. |
| The phrase 'attentive ear and open eyes' | It echoes Solomon's temple dedication prayer (2 Chronicles 6:40). | No significant debate; the phrase is consistently understood as a request for God's attentive presence. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Nehemiah hears devastating news: Jerusalem's wall is broken, its gates burned, and the remnant is in 'great affliction and reproach' (Nehemiah 1:2-3). He weeps, mourns, fasts, and prays 'before the God of heaven' (v.4). The prayer of verse 6 is part of this extended intercession, offered 'day and night' as he prepares to approach King Artaxerxes.
The phrase 'let your ear be attentive and your eyes open' echoes Solomon's prayer at the temple dedication (1 Kings 8:28-29; 2 Chronicles 6:40). Nehemiah situates himself within Israel's covenant history, calling on the God 'who keeps covenant and loving kindness' (v.5). He confesses the sins that brought the exile, the very trespasses Moses warned against (Deuteronomy 28; Nehemiah 1:7-8).
Nehemiah includes himself even though he was born in exile, not in the land. He identifies with his people because he shares their covenant identity. The broken wall is not only a physical ruin; it is a sign that the community is still under God's hand of correction. His prayer is both a plea for mercy and a preparation for action: he will soon request permission to rebuild.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentary excerpts note no significant textual variants for Nehemiah 1:6. The verse is well-preserved in the Masoretic Text, and the minor differences across translations (such as 'hearken' vs. 'listen') reflect interpretation of the Hebrew rather than manuscript divergence.
Reception History
In both Jewish and Christian traditions, Nehemiah 1:6 has been used as a model for corporate confession. The verse appears in medieval Jewish penitential prayers (selichot) as an example of including oneself in the community's guilt. Christian liturgies of confession, especially in Reformed and Anglican traditions, echo Nehemiah's phrasing, 'I and my father's house have sinned', to express solidarity with the whole body of believers. Throughout church history, preachers have held up Nehemiah's prayer as a pattern for leaders who intercede without self-exculpation.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Posture. Nehemiah asks God to turn toward him, attentive ear, open eyes. He comes as a servant, not as a master.
- Persistence. He prays 'day and night,' not once but over many days. His intercession is sustained and fervent.
- Solidarity. He confesses 'the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned... I and my father's house.' He does not separate himself from the guilty people.
Five-point outline
- Invocation (v.5): God is great, awesome, faithful to covenant.
- Request for attention (v.6a): Ear and eyes open to prayer.
- Persistent intercession (v.6b): Praying day and night for Israel.
- Corporate confession (v.6c): We have sinned, we have acted corruptly.
- Personal identification (v.6d): Yes, I and my father's house have sinned.
Illustration hooks
- A group project at work or school fails because of poor planning. One team member, who did not cause the failure, takes responsibility by saying 'we dropped the ball,' not 'they dropped the ball.' That is Nehemiah's posture.
- A parent confesses to a child for a family pattern of short temper, even when the parent is not the one who lost control that day. The parent owns the pattern as part of the family story.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Should I confess sins I did not commit, just because I belong to a church or nation that sinned?
- Does corporate confession mean God holds me responsible for other people's choices?
- How do I pray for a broken community without becoming self-righteous?
Leading a Discussion
Nehemiah receives tragic news from Jerusalem. His first response is to pray, and in that prayer, he does something surprising: he includes himself in the guilt of the nation. This small-group guide explores why.
Discussion questions
- Read Nehemiah 1:2-4. What do we learn about Nehemiah's emotional state before he begins to pray?
- In verse 6, Nehemiah asks for God's ear and eyes to be open. Where else in Scripture do we see this language? (Consider 1 Kings 8:28-29; 2 Chronicles 6:40.)
- Nehemiah says 'we have sinned' and then adds 'I and my father's house have sinned.' Why does he move from corporate to personal confession?
- What does Nehemiah's confession reveal about his understanding of community and individual responsibility?
- In what situations today might we be called to confess sins that are not just our own private ones? Think of family, church, or nation.
- How does Nehemiah's prayer prepare him to act, both in seeking the king's favor and in rebuilding the wall?
- What one element of Nehemiah's prayer would you most like to imitate in your own prayer life this week?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Samuel 15:11 | “It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments.” Samuel was angry; and he cried to Yahweh all night. |
| I Kings 8:28 | Yet have respect for the prayer of your servant and for his supplication, Yahweh my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you today; |
| I Kings 8:29 | that your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there;’ to listen to the prayer which your servant prays toward this place. |
| II Chronicles 6:40 | “Now, my God, let, I beg you, your eyes be open, and let your ears be attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. |
| II Chronicles 28:10 | Now you intend to degrade the children of Judah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves for yourselves. Aren’t there even with you trespasses of your own against Yahweh your God? |
| II Chronicles 29:6 | For our fathers were unfaithful, and have done that which was evil in Yahweh our God’s sight, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of Yahweh, and turned their backs. |
| Ezra 9:6 | and I said, “My God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens. |
| Ezra 9:7 | Since the days of our fathers we have been exceedingly guilty to this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke observes that the phrases "let thine ear" and "thine eyes open" refer to two distinct actions: hearing the people's confession and seeing their suffering. God's attention is directed both to what they speak and to what they endure.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The prayer is broken into five clear parts, with strong resemblance to the prayers of Ezra and Daniel. Its opening words closely match those in Daniel and were probably a standard prayer formula based on Deuteronomy. Nehemiah’s confession identifies him fully with the nation’s guilt, including his own family.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight Nehemiah's persistent daily prayer and his specific request for God's full attention. They also emphasize that he includes himself and his father's house in the confession, not just the nation, modeling humble leadership.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that Nehemiah confesses not only the sins of the people but also his own personal sins and those of his father’s house. He sees sin as the root cause of Israel’s calamity and responds with persistent prayer and deep personal humility, not just corporate acknowledgment.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch stress that Nehemiah's prayer deliberately recalls both sides of God's covenant: the threat of scattering already fulfilled, and the promise of restoration still partly unfulfilled. By citing the curse, Nehemiah appeals to God's proven faithfulness in judgment as grounds for hoping He will also complete the mercy of fully restoring Jerusalem as the place of His dwelling.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the book’s opening, “the words of Nehemiah,” signals history rather than prophecy, yet he insists this does not lessen its inspired character. The absence of “the word of the Lord” is simply the natural style for historical books, not a mark of lower authority.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry observes that Nehemiah's prayer gathers up all the sorrow and pleading he had been pouring out to God day and night before finally approaching the king. It is both a summary of long-standing intercession and a preparation for the specific petition he is about to make.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the phrase “which I pray” does not refer to a single petition but to all the prayers the writer had been offering over an extended period. The emphasis falls on the cumulative, ongoing character of his intercession.