Nehemiah

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Hebrew Neḥemyāh (“Yahweh has comforted/comforts”)
• Period/Era: Post-Exilic (Persian period, mid-5th century BC)
• Main References: Nehemiah 1–13; brief context in Ezra 7–10
• Key Connections: Artaxerxes I of Persia; Ezra the scribe; returned Judean community in Jerusalem

Who was Nehemiah?

Nehemiah was a Judean serving as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes.
He received permission to return to Jerusalem to oversee rebuilding its walls.
He served as governor in Judah and organized the community’s public commitments to the law.

Key Events & Achievements

• Commission from Persia: Reported Jerusalem’s ruin, prayed, and obtained royal authorization and letters for the journey and supplies (Nehemiah 1–2).
• Rebuilding the wall: Directed the wall’s reconstruction amid local opposition and internal economic strain (Nehemiah 3–6).
• Covenant renewal measures: Supported public reading of the law and later enforced community reforms concerning worship and social boundaries (Nehemiah 8–13).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Nehemiah’s account portrays post-exilic leadership that combines administrative planning with public accountability to Israel’s covenant obligations.

Key Verse

"So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work." — Nehemiah 4:6, ESV