Focused Passage

Nehemiah 8:9-12

The People Hear the Law, Understand It, Rejoice, and Keep the Festival of Booths

The gathered people ask for the Law, receive its reading and explanation with reverence and weeping, are directed into holy joy, and obey the written Word by celebrating the Festival of Booths with great rejoicing.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

9Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law.

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.”

11And the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve.”

12Then all the people began to eat and drink, to send out portions, and to rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that had been made known to them.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 9

Original words

Nehemiahנְחֶמְיָ֣הH5166Noun - proper - masculine singularה֣וּאה֣וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularthe governorהַתִּרְשָׁ֡תָאH8660Article | Adjective - masculine singularEzraוְעֶזְרָ֣אH5830Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularthe priestהַכֹּהֵ֣ן׀H3548Article | Noun - masculine singularand scribeהַסֹּפֵ֡רH5608Article | Noun - masculine singularand the Levitesוְהַלְוִיִּם֩H3881Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine pluralwho were instructingהַמְּבִינִ֨יםH995Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe peopleהָעָ֜םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto allלְכָל־H3605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct[of them]הָעָ֗םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularThisהוּא֙H1931Pronoun - third person masculine singulardayהַיּ֤וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularis holyקָדֹֽשׁ־H6918Adjective - masculine singularto the LORDלַיהוָ֣הH3068Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔םH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralDo notאַל־H408Adverbmournתִּֽתְאַבְּל֖וּH56Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine plural. . .וְאַל־H408Conjunctive waw | Adverbor weepתִּבְכּ֑וּH1058Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralForכִּ֤יH3588Conjunctionallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe peopleהָעָ֔םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularwere weepingבוֹכִים֙H1058Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralas they heardכְּשָׁמְעָ֖םH8085Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יH1697Noun - masculine plural constructof the Lawהַתּוֹרָֽה׃H8451Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 10

Original words

Then [Nehemiah] toldוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthemלָהֶ֡םPreposition | third person masculine pluralGoלְכוּ֩H1980Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluraland eatאִכְל֨וּH398Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralwhat is richמַשְׁמַנִּ֜יםH4924Noun - masculine pluraldrinkוּשְׁת֣וּH8354Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralwhat is sweetמַֽמְתַקִּ֗יםH4477Noun - masculine pluraland send outוְשִׁלְח֤וּH7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralportionsמָנוֹת֙H4490Noun - feminine pluralto those who have nothingלְאֵ֣יןH369Preposition-l | Adverbpreparedנָכ֣וֹןH3559Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularsinceכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctiontodayהַיּ֖וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularis holyקָד֥וֹשׁH6918Adjective - masculine singularto our Lordלַאֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּH113Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common pluralDo notוְאַל־H408Conjunctive waw | Adverbgrieveתֵּ֣עָצֵ֔בוּH6087Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralforכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthe joyחֶדְוַ֥תH2304Noun - feminine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularisהִ֥יאH1931Pronoun - third person feminine singularyour strengthמָֽעֻזְּכֶֽם׃H4581Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Verse 11

Original words

And the Levitesוְהַלְוִיִּ֞םH3881Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine pluralcalmedמַחְשִׁ֤יםH2814Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine pluralallלְכָל־H3605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructthe peopleהָעָם֙H5971Article | Noun - masculine singularsayingלֵאמֹ֣רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructBe stillהַ֔סּוּH2013Interjectionsinceכִּ֥יH3588Conjunctiontodayהַיּ֖וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularis holyקָדֹ֑שׁH6918Adjective - masculine singularDo notוְאַל־H408Conjunctive waw | Adverbgrieveתֵּעָצֵֽבוּ׃H6087Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Verse 12

Original words

-וַיֵּלְכ֨וּH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralThen allכָל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe peopleהָעָ֜םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularbegan to eatלֶאֱכֹ֤לH398Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructand drinkוְלִשְׁתּוֹת֙H8354Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructto send outוּלְשַׁלַּ֣חH7971Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructportionsמָנ֔וֹתH4490Noun - feminine pluralandוְלַעֲשׂ֖וֹתH6213Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructto rejoiceשִׂמְחָ֣הH8057Noun - feminine singulargreatlyגְדוֹלָ֑הH1419Adjective - feminine singularbecauseכִּ֤יH3588Conjunctionthey understoodהֵבִ֙ינוּ֙H995Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralthe wordsבַּדְּבָרִ֔יםH1697Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine pluralthatאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativehad been made knownהוֹדִ֖יעוּH3045Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralto themלָהֶֽם׃סPreposition | third person masculine plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.