In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights Nehemiah's careful timing and understanding of Persian court customs; subjects were expected to appear cheerful, so his unusual sadness wasn't just a personal display, but a calculated move to signal a serious issue requiring the king's attention at a moment when Nehemiah's duties as cupbearer would draw the king's notice.
In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Months after hearing devastating news about Jerusalem, Nehemiah finds himself in the king's presence during a royal meal, a moment where he typically maintained a cheerful demeanor. This specific occasion, however, marks a shift, as his long-held grief becomes apparent, setting the stage for the king to notice and inquire about his distress.
As Nehemiah prepares to reveal his heart's burden, he does so from a position of trust, yet with immense personal risk. What did it take to serve wine to a Persian king?
Serving as a cupbearer to an ancient Near Eastern king was no ordinary job. It required absolute loyalty, discretion, and trustworthiness.
A Sensitive Role
The cupbearer was constantly at the king's side, often during meals. This position offered incredible access but also immense danger. As scholars note, there was a real fear of poisoning, so the cupbearer's integrity was paramount. They often tasted the wine first, sometimes even pouring it from a decanter into their own cup before offering it to the king.
Calculated Risk
Nehemiah states, "Now I had not been sad in his presence." This wasn't just about maintaining a happy face. Persian court etiquette often viewed sadness or gloom in the king's presence as ill-omened or a sign of discontent. To appear downcast could be interpreted as disloyalty or rebellion, carrying severe consequences.
Nehemiah's sorrow, however, had reached a point where it was hard to conceal, and he recognized that this specific moment, offering the king his wine, was the opportune time for his carefully planned appeal.
It had been four months since Nehemiah heard the devastating news about Jerusalem. Why the delay? Was he hesitant, or was God working behind the scenes?
The passage of time between hearing the news of Jerusalem's plight and Nehemiah's appeal is significant. It wasn't a rash, impulsive moment, but a period marked by prayer, waiting, and strategic planning.
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A Season of Prayer
Scholars suggest this four-month gap (from Kislev to Nisan) was not idleness but a crucial time for Nehemiah to engage in deep prayer and fasting, as detailed in chapter 1. He needed to seek God's wisdom and favor before approaching the powerful Persian king.
Waiting for the Right Moment
Nehemiah explains he hadn't been sad beforetime in the king's presence. This implies he had been presenting a cheerful demeanor until now. The delay wasn't due to lack of opportunity to serve, but perhaps waiting for his specific turn as cupbearer or for a moment when the king was receptive and the circumstances were right. He likely didn't have a fully formed plan until this period of seeking God.
His approach wasn't one of demanding but of carefully orchestrated petition, trusting that God would providentially arrange the circumstances for his request.
Understand the original words
Nisan · Hebrew Noun
The first month of the Jewish religious calendar, roughly corresponding to March/April. It marks the time of the Passover and the departure from Egypt, signifying a time of new beginnings and divine deliverance.
ra'ah · Hebrew Adjective
A state of sorrow, grief, or distress. In a biblical context, it often refers to the outward manifestation of inner emotional pain or spiritual burden.
The four-month gap between Nehemiah hearing the bad news and approaching the king highlights the strategic patience and deep prayer that underpinned his courageous action.
c. 465-424 BC
Reign of Artaxerxes I Longimanus
Artaxerxes I Longimanus ruled the Persian Empire. This period saw ongoing tension and political maneuvering within the vast empire, affecting Jewish communities.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Hears of Jerusalem's Distress
Nehemiah, serving as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, hears devastating news about the broken walls and vulnerable state of Jerusalem.
c. 445 BC (after Nehemiah 1:1)
Nehemiah's Prayer and Fasting
Devastated by the news, Nehemiah spends months in prayer and fasting, seeking God's guidance and intervention for his people.
March/April 445 BC— this verse
Nehemiah Approaches King Artaxerxes
In the month of Nisan, during a royal banquet, Nehemiah, appearing unusually sad, presents wine to King Artaxerxes, seizing the moment to reveal his concerns.
c. 445 BC
King Grants Nehemiah Leave and Authority
Artaxerxes, moved by Nehemiah's plea and recognizing his faithfulness, grants him permission and resources to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Arrives in Jerusalem
Nehemiah arrives in Judah, facing immediate opposition from surrounding enemies who are displeased with his mission to strengthen the Jewish people.
This passage describes how Ahasuerus's feast involved drinking wine, a setting where a subordinate's demeanor could be noticed by the king, similar to Nehemiah's situation as cupbearer.
Daniel 2:12Daniel's desperate situation, where he and his companions faced death due to the king's decree, parallels the underlying urgency and potential danger behind Nehemiah's sadness.
Proverbs 15:13This proverb highlights how a person's outward appearance, specifically a sad countenance, can reveal their inner state, mirroring how Nehemiah's grief became evident to the king.
1 Samuel 16:18David is described as 'skillful in playing,' 'a mighty valiant man,' 'prudent in speech, and a comely person,' indicating that good character and composure were valued in royal service, which Nehemiah maintained until his burden became too great.
Nehemiah 1:4This verse shows Nehemiah's profound sadness and mourning over the state of Jerusalem, providing the direct cause for the sorrow that eventually became visible in the king's presence.
clarkeNehemiah 2:1: "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."
Month Nisan - Answering to a part of our March and April. I took up the wine - It is supposed that the kings of Persia had a different cup-bearer for each quarter of the year, and that it had just now come to Nehemiah's turn.
pulpitNehemiah 2:1: "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."
Verse 1. - In the month Nisan. The fourth month after Chisleu, corresponding nearly to our April. How it came about that Nehemiah did not put the king's favour to the proof until more than three months had gone by we can only conjecture. Perhaps the court had been abse…
The verse highlights Nehemiah's careful timing and understanding of Persian court customs; subjects were expected to appear cheerful, so his unusual sadness wasn't just a personal display, but a calculated move to signal a serious issue requiring the king's attention at a moment when Nehemiah's duties as cupbearer would draw the king's notice.
Months after hearing devastating news about Jerusalem, Nehemiah finds himself in the king's presence during a royal meal, a moment where he typically maintained a cheerful demeanor. This specific occasion, however, marks a shift, as his long-held grief becomes apparent, setting the stage for the king to notice and inquire about his distress.
Months after hearing devastating news about Jerusalem, Nehemiah finds himself in the king's presence during a royal meal, a moment where he typically maintained a cheerful demeanor. This specific occasion, however, marks a shift, as his long-held grief becomes apparent, setting the stage for the king to notice and inquire about his distress.
"In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence." — The verse highlights Nehemiah's careful timing and understanding of Persian court customs; subjects were expected to appear cheerful, so his unusual sadness wasn't just a personal display, but a calc…
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Last reviewed October 2026