Nehemiah 2:7

I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors west of the Euphrates, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Nehemiah addresses King Artaxerxes in the royal court immediately after the king asks how long the journey will take and when he will return. He formulates his request at the precise moment the monarch has signaled approval to send him.

The words — The phrase אִם־ עַל־ הַמֶּלֶךְ טוֹב (im-'al-hamelekh tov) literally renders "if [it is] good on the king" or "if it pleases the king." The verb יִתְּנוּ (yittenû) translates as "let them give," directing the king to issue official documents.

The thread — This request for royal correspondence with officials west of the Euphrates echoes the administrative decrees in Ezra 7:21 and Ezra 8:36, and is immediately fulfilled in Nehemiah 2:9 when Nehemiah presents the letters to those governors.

Why it lands — The text requires a reader to recognize that Nehemiah’s mission depends on formal royal authorization and secure transit guarantees, not merely personal conviction or prayer. It demands practical preparation and reliance on established political channels to accomplish a religious restoration project.

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

וָאוֹמַר֮va./'o.Marand/ I said לַמֶּלֶךְ֒la./me.leKhto the/ king אִם־'im-if עַל־'al-[is] on הַמֶּ֣לֶךְha./Me.lekhthe/ king ט֔וֹבTovgood אִגְּרוֹת֙'i.ge.rOtletters יִתְּנוּ־yi.te.nu-let people giveלִ֔יL/ito/ meעַֽל־'al-to פַּחֲו֖וֹתpa.cha.Vot[the] governors of עֵ֣בֶר'E.verbeyond הַנָּהָ֑רha./na.Harthe/ River אֲשֶׁר֙'a.Sherthat יַעֲבִיר֔וּנִיya.'a.vi.Ru./nithey will allow to pass through/ me עַ֥ד'aduntil אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-that אָב֖וֹא'a.Vo'I will come אֶל־'el-to יְהוּדָֽה׃ye.hu.DahJudah

King James Version

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;

Cross-references

Ezra 7:21 I, King Artaxerxes, decree to all the treasurers west of the Euphrates: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it must be provided promptly,
Ezra 8:36 They also delivered the king’s edicts to the royal satraps and governors of the region west of the Euphrates, who proceeded to assist the people and the house of God.
Nehemiah 2:9 Then I went to the governors west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.
Ezra 6:6 Therefore Darius decreed: To Tattenai governor of the region west of the Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates and officials in the region: You must stay away from that place!
Ezra 8:22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.”