And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.

NEHEMIAH 2:1KJV
Know the Bible

Nehemiah 2:1 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 2:1 mean?

Nehemiah 2:1 describes a specific moment when Nehemiah, serving as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, brings wine to the king during the month of Nisan in the king’s twentieth year. Nehemiah notes that he had never appeared sad in the king’s presence before this occasion.

Nehemiah himself is speaking, setting the scene in the Persian royal court. The verse marks a turning point, as Nehemiah’s sadness becomes visible to the king, which was unusual and risky for a servant. This sets up the conversation that follows, where Nehemiah will explain his concern for Jerusalem.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 2:1

  • נִיסָן (Nisan, transliteration: Nisan): This is the name of the month in the Hebrew calendar, usually falling around March-April. Mentioning this month helps date the events and shows Nehemiah’s careful record-keeping.
  • יַיִן (yayin, transliteration: yayin): This word means "wine." Nehemiah’s role as cupbearer involved trust, since he handled the king’s wine, which could be a target for poisoning.
  • רַע (ra‘, transliteration: ra): This word is translated here as "sad," but it more broadly means "bad" or "evil." Nehemiah’s appearance was not just sad, but troubling or out of the ordinary, which would be noticeable to the king.
  • פָּנִים (panim, transliteration: panim): This word means "face" or "presence." Nehemiah had never shown a troubled face before the king until this moment, highlighting the seriousness of his emotional state.

Why Nehemiah 2:1 matters

  • The verse shows Nehemiah’s trusted position in the Persian court, which will be important for understanding how he is able to ask the king for help.
  • The mention of Nehemiah’s sadness being unusual emphasizes the risk he takes in showing emotion before the king, since Persian courts often expected servants to be cheerful in the king’s presence.
  • The specific date and details connect this moment to the larger story of Jerusalem’s restoration, showing that Nehemiah’s actions are rooted in real history and personal concern.

Where else these words appear

“Nisan” Hebrew H5212 · used in 2 verses

  • Esther 3:7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

“Artaxerxes” Hebrew H783 · used in 14 verses

  • Ezra 4:7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
  • Ezra 6:14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
  • Ezra 7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

“wine” Hebrew H3196 · used in 134 verses

  • Genesis 9:21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
  • 2 Chronicles 2:10 And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.
  • Isaiah 24:9 They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.