The Meaning of Nehemiah 9:6 Explained

Nehemiah 9:6

KJV: Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

YLT: Thou art He, O Jehovah, Thyself -- Thou hast made the heavens, the heavens of the heavens, and all their host, the earth and all that are on it, the seas and all that are in them, and Thou art keeping all of them alive, and the host of the heavens to Thee are bowing themselves.

Darby: Thou art the Same, thou alone, Jehovah, who hast made the heaven of heavens, and all their host, the earth and all that is therein, the seas and all that is therein. And thou quickenest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

ASV: Thou art Jehovah, even thou alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou, [even] thou, [art] LORD  alone; thou hast made  heaven,  the heaven  of heavens,  with all their host,  the earth,  and all [things] that [are] therein, the seas,  and all that [is] therein, and thou preservest  them all; and the host  of heaven  worshippeth  thee. 

What does Nehemiah 9:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 9:1-21 - God's Hand In History
What a blessed result of the Bible-study of the previous chapter. It led to confession, separation from evil association and worship. It is good to review the dealings of God with us and with our people in bygone days. There are hilltops in our experience where the air is clear, and we can see the way by which we have been led. At such times we look beyond second causes to the great Orderer of our lives, and our history is one perpetual assertion of THOU. The history of God's dealings with Israel is an epitome of His dealings with ourselves. The choice in Ur, the redemption from Egypt, the wilderness wanderings, the land of rest-all these have their counterparts in our life-story. Side by side with the story of God's care runs the story of transgression, Nehemiah 9:16-18. The gold and black strands are closely interwoven. In the midst of God's best gifts, we break out into sin; yet He still gives us His good spirit, and withholds not the manna which He promised, Nehemiah 9:20. [source]

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 9

1  A solemn fast, and repentance of the people
4  The Levites make a confession of God's goodness, and their wickedness

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 9:6 mean?

You are Yahweh alone You You have made - heaven the heaven of heavens and all with their host the earth and everything on it the seas that is in them and You preserve - them all and the host of heaven You worships
אַתָּה־ ה֣וּא יְהוָה֮ לְבַדֶּךָ֒ [את] (אַתָּ֣ה) עָשִׂ֡יתָ אֶֽת־ הַשָּׁמַיִם֩ שְׁמֵ֨י הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם וְכָל־ צְבָאָ֗ם הָאָ֜רֶץ וְכָל־ אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ הַיַּמִּים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּהֶ֔ם וְאַתָּ֖ה מְחַיֶּ֣ה אֶת־ כֻּלָּ֑ם וּצְבָ֥א הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם לְךָ֥ מִשְׁתַּחֲוִֽים

יְהוָה֮  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְבַדֶּךָ֒  alone 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בַּד 
Sense: alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone.
עָשִׂ֡יתָ  have  made 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֶֽת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַשָּׁמַיִם֩  heaven 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
שְׁמֵ֨י  the  heaven 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם  of  heavens 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
וְכָל־  and  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
צְבָאָ֗ם  with  their  host 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
הָאָ֜רֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
אֲשֶׁ֤ר  everything 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עָלֶ֙יהָ֙  on  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַיַּמִּים֙  the  seas 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that  is 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בָּהֶ֔ם  in  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
וְאַתָּ֖ה  and  You 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
מְחַיֶּ֣ה  preserve 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
כֻּלָּ֑ם  them  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
וּצְבָ֥א  and  the  host 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular construct
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם  of  heaven 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
מִשְׁתַּחֲוִֽים  worships 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.