Nehemiah

About Nehemiah

Nehemiah, a Jewish official in the Persian royal court, gets permission to return and rebuild Jerusalem's broken walls — and, with Ezra, to rebuild the people around God's Law. The book mixes gritty leadership, fierce opposition, constant prayer, and heartfelt revival. In the Bible's big story, it closes the Old Testament's history: God's people are home, but still waiting for something greater.

Written by

Much of the book is Nehemiah's own memoir, told in the first person; tradition holds that Ezra or Nehemiah shaped the final book.

When

The events run from about 445 to 430 BC, and the book was likely completed not long afterward, around 430 to 400 BC.

Themes

• Prayer joined to hard work
• Courage against opposition
• God's Word renews a people
• The joy of the LORD is strength

Key verses

• Nehemiah 2:17-18Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned down. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.
• Nehemiah 6:15-16So the wall was completed in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth of Elul. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.
• Nehemiah 8:10Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”