Nehemiah 2:6

Then 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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Nehemiah speaks to the king in the royal court while the queen sits beside him. The king interrupts Nehemiah’s petition to ask about the duration of his journey and the date of his return.

The words — The Hebrew מָתַי (ma.Tai) means “when?” and joins יִהְיֶה (yih.Yeh) “will it be” to frame the king’s inquiry about the timeline of the trip.

The thread — Royal authorization and fixed terms appear in Nehemiah 5:14 and Nehemiah 13:6, where Artaxerxes’ appointments govern Nehemiah’s administrative periods. Isaiah 65:24 contrasts this human scheduling with God’s immediate hearing.

Why it lands — The text records that divine restoration operates through royal permission and defined periods. It requires the reader to accept appointed timelines and prepare for return rather than demanding instant outcomes.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּאמֶר֩va/i.yo.Merand/ he saidלִ֨יl/ito/ meהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha./Me.lekhthe/ king וְהַשֵּׁגַ֣ל׀ve./ha./she.Galand/ the/ queen-consort יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶתyo.She.vet[was] sitting אֶצְל֗וֹ'etz.L/obeside/ him עַד־'ad-until מָתַ֛יma.Taiwhen?יִהְיֶ֥הyih.Yehwill it be מַֽהֲלָכֲךָ֖ma.ha.la.kha./Khajourney/ your וּמָתַ֣יu./ma.Taiand/ when?תָּשׁ֑וּבta.Shuvwill you return וַיִּיטַ֤בva/i.yi.Tavand/ it was good לִפְנֵֽי־li/f.nei-<to>/ before הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha./Me.lekhthe/ king וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֔נִיva/i.yish.la.Che./niand/ he sent/ me וָֽאֶתְּנָ֥הva./'e.te.Na/hand/ I gave/ !ל֖וֹl/oto/ himזְמָֽן׃ze.Mana time

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Nehemiah 13:6 While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to Artaxerxes king of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. Some time later I obtained leave from the king
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.
Isaiah 65:24 Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.
Nehemiah 2:4 “What is your request?” replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven
Isaiah 58:12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling.
Nehemiah 1:11 O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)
Isaiah 61:4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.