Bible Characters
Who Was Nehemiah in the Bible? The Cupbearer Who Rebuilt Jerusalem's Wall
Nehemiah was a Jewish cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild its broken walls (Nehemiah 1:11; 2:1-8). Despite opposition, the wall was finished in 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15). He served as governor of Judah and worked with Ezra the priest to restore the people's obedience to God's law (Nehemiah 5:14; 8:9).
His story is told in the book that bears his name, much of it in his own first-person account. He lived in the fifth century BC, after the Jews began returning from exile in Babylon.
Nehemiah Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name meaning | "The Lord comforts" |
| Testament | Old Testament |
| Key books | Nehemiah; mentioned in Ezra 2:2 (likely a different Nehemiah) |
| Time period | Persian period, about 445-430 BC (traditional dating) |
| Family | Son of Hakaliah (Nehemiah 1:1); brother named Hanani (Nehemiah 1:2) |
| Roles | Cupbearer to Artaxerxes, then governor of Judah |
| Known for | Rebuilding Jerusalem's wall and reforming the community |
Historical Background
Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and its temple in 586 BC. After Persia conquered Babylon, King Cyrus allowed the Jews to return, and the temple was rebuilt (Ezra 1:1-4; 6:14-15). Decades later Ezra the priest led another group back to teach God's law (Ezra 7:6-10). Our profile who was Ezra in the Bible covers that part of the story.
Even so, Jerusalem's walls still lay in ruins. A city without walls in the ancient world was open to attack and was a source of disgrace.
Nehemiah's Prayer in Susa
In the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, Nehemiah was in the citadel of Susa. His brother Hanani and some men from Judah reported that the survivors in Jerusalem were in great trouble, the wall was broken down, and the gates had been burned (Nehemiah 1:1-3).
Nehemiah sat down and wept. For some days he mourned, fasted and prayed (Nehemiah 1:4). His prayer confessed the sins of Israel, including his own family's, and asked God to remember His promise to gather His people if they returned to Him (Nehemiah 1:5-9). He asked for favor with the king, and the chapter ends by noting that he was the king's cupbearer (Nehemiah 1:11).
Before the King
Four months later, in Nisan, Artaxerxes noticed that Nehemiah looked sad (Nehemiah 2:1-2). Nehemiah was very afraid, but he explained that the city of his ancestors lay in ruins (Nehemiah 2:3). When the king asked what he wanted, Nehemiah prayed to God and then asked to be sent to rebuild the city (Nehemiah 2:4-5).
The king agreed and set a time for his return. Nehemiah also asked for letters to the governors beyond the Euphrates and for timber from the king's forest. The king granted these requests, and Nehemiah credited the gracious hand of God (Nehemiah 2:6-8).
Inspecting the Walls
Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem with army officers and cavalry (Nehemiah 2:9). Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official were very disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites (Nehemiah 2:10).
After three days he inspected the walls at night with only a few men and told no one what God had put in his heart (Nehemiah 2:11-16). Then he called the officials and people to rebuild, telling them how God's hand had been on him, and they agreed to begin (Nehemiah 2:17-18).
Rebuilding the Wall
Nehemiah 3 lists the groups who worked on each section of the wall and each gate. Priests, goldsmiths, perfume-makers, district rulers and ordinary families all took part. Many repaired the section in front of their own houses (Nehemiah 3:1, 3:8, 3:10, 3:23, 3:28).
Opposition From Outside
Sanballat and Tobiah mocked the work. Tobiah said even a fox climbing the wall would break it down (Nehemiah 4:1-3). Nehemiah prayed and the people kept building, because they worked with all their heart (Nehemiah 4:4-6).
When the enemies plotted to attack, Nehemiah posted guards day and night (Nehemiah 4:8-9). Half the men worked while the other half held spears, shields and bows. Those who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each builder wore a sword (Nehemiah 4:16-18). A trumpeter stayed beside Nehemiah to sound an alarm (Nehemiah 4:18-20).
Problems From Within
During the work, poorer Jews complained that they were mortgaging fields and selling children into slavery to buy grain and pay the king's tax (Nehemiah 5:1-5). Nehemiah was very angry. He rebuked the nobles and officials for charging interest to their own people and made them promise to return fields and stop the practice (Nehemiah 5:6-13).
Nehemiah also refused the food allowance of the governor for twelve years because the people's burden was heavy (Nehemiah 5:14-18).
Refusing to Stop the Work
Sanballat and Geshem invited Nehemiah four times to meet them in the plain of Ono, intending to harm him (Nehemiah 6:1-2, 6:4). His reply was the same each time:
"so I sent messengers to them with this reply: 'I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?'" (Nehemiah 6:3, NIV)
They then sent an open letter accusing him of planning a revolt, and hired a false prophet to frighten him into hiding in the temple. Nehemiah refused both (Nehemiah 6:5-13). The wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days, and the surrounding nations recognized that the work had been done with the help of God (Nehemiah 6:15-16).
Ezra Reads the Law
After the wall was finished, the people gathered at the Water Gate and asked Ezra to bring the Book of the Law of Moses. He read it aloud from daybreak until noon, and the Levites helped the people understand it (Nehemiah 8:1-8). The people wept as they listened. Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites told them not to mourn:
"Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10, NIV)
The people then celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles (Nehemiah 8:13-18), confessed their sins in a long public prayer (Nehemiah 9), and signed a binding agreement to keep God's law (Nehemiah 9:38; 10:1, 10:29).
Repopulating and Dedicating Jerusalem
Few people lived in the city. The leaders settled there, and the rest of the people cast lots so that one in ten would move into Jerusalem (Nehemiah 7:4; 11:1-2). At the dedication of the wall, two large choirs walked the top of the wall in opposite directions and met at the temple. The sound of rejoicing could be heard far away (Nehemiah 12:27, 12:31-43).
Nehemiah's Later Reforms
In the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, Nehemiah returned to the king, and later came back to Jerusalem (Nehemiah 13:6-7). He found that the priest Eliashib had given Tobiah a room in the temple courts. Nehemiah threw Tobiah's goods out and had the rooms purified (Nehemiah 13:4-9).
He restored support for the Levites, who had gone back to their fields (Nehemiah 13:10-12). He stopped trade in Jerusalem on the Sabbath by closing the gates (Nehemiah 13:15-22). He confronted men who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab, pointing to Solomon's example (Nehemiah 13:23-27). The book ends with his prayer that God would remember him with favor (Nehemiah 13:31).
Lessons From Nehemiah's Life
- Prayer came first. Nehemiah mourned and prayed before he made plans, and prayed again before answering the king (Nehemiah 1:4; 2:4).
- Planning and faith work together. He requested letters and timber, and also credited God's hand (Nehemiah 2:7-8).
- Work continued under pressure. The builders kept working while they guarded against attack (Nehemiah 4:16-18).
- Leaders are accountable for justice. Nehemiah confronted leaders who exploited the poor and gave up his own allowance (Nehemiah 5:6-18).
Where Nehemiah Appears in the Bible
- Nehemiah 1-2: News from Jerusalem, prayer, and the king's permission
- Nehemiah 3-6: Rebuilding the wall and facing opposition
- Nehemiah 7: Genealogical record of the returned exiles
- Nehemiah 8-10: Reading of the Law, confession, and covenant
- Nehemiah 11-12: Repopulating Jerusalem and dedicating the wall
- Nehemiah 13: Final reforms
For the full order of the historical books, see books of the Bible in order. For another Jew who served in the Persian court, read who was Esther in the Bible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Nehemiah in the Bible?
Nehemiah was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls and served as governor of Judah (Nehemiah 1:11; 5:14). He led the people in restoring the wall and in renewing their commitment to God's law.
How long did it take Nehemiah to rebuild the wall?
The wall was finished in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth of the month of Elul (Nehemiah 6:15).
What is a cupbearer?
A cupbearer served wine to the king and was a trusted official in the royal court. Nehemiah held this position under Artaxerxes before he went to Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:11; 2:1).
Who opposed Nehemiah?
Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite and Geshem the Arab led the opposition. They mocked the work, plotted attacks, and tried to lure Nehemiah away from Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:19; 4:7-8; 6:1-2).
Were Ezra and Nehemiah alive at the same time?
Yes. Ezra read the Book of the Law to the people while Nehemiah was governor, and both are named together in Nehemiah 8:9 and 12:26.