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

9 Nehemiah 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.

10 Then 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.”

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

12 Then 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

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 15:3 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 12:12 Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 3:4 Classic cross-references Nehemiah 7:65 Classic cross-references Nehemiah 7:70 Classic cross-references John 15:11 OliveGrove study links Philippians 4:4 OliveGrove study links Romans 3:20-24 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Nehemiah נְחֶמְיָ֣ה H5166 Noun - proper - masculine singular ה֣וּא ה֣וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular the governor הַתִּרְשָׁ֡תָא H8660 Article | Adjective - masculine singular Ezra וְעֶזְרָ֣א H5830 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular the priest הַכֹּהֵ֣ן׀ H3548 Article | Noun - masculine singular and scribe הַסֹּפֵ֡ר H5608 Article | Noun - masculine singular and the Levites וְהַלְוִיִּם֩ H3881 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural who were instructing הַמְּבִינִ֨ים H995 Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the people הָעָ֜ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to all לְכָל־ H3605 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct [of them] הָעָ֗ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular This הוּא֙ H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular day הַיּ֤וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular is holy קָדֹֽשׁ־ H6918 Adjective - masculine singular to the LORD לַיהוָ֣ה H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb mourn תִּֽתְאַבְּל֖וּ H56 Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine plural . . . וְאַל־ H408 Conjunctive waw | Adverb or weep תִּבְכּ֑וּ H1058 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural For כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֔ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular were weeping בוֹכִים֙ H1058 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural as they heard כְּשָׁמְעָ֖ם H8085 Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the words דִּבְרֵ֥י H1697 Noun - masculine plural construct of the Law הַתּוֹרָֽה׃ H8451 Article | Noun - feminine singular

Verse 10

Cross-references

Psalms 28:7 Classic cross-references Proverbs 17:22 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 12:8 Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 9:7 Classic cross-references Isaiah 12:1 Classic cross-references John 15:11 OliveGrove study links Philippians 4:4 OliveGrove study links Romans 3:20-24 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Then [Nehemiah] told וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular them לָהֶ֡ם Preposition | third person masculine plural Go לְכוּ֩ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural and eat אִכְל֨וּ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural what is rich מַשְׁמַנִּ֜ים H4924 Noun - masculine plural drink וּשְׁת֣וּ H8354 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural what is sweet מַֽמְתַקִּ֗ים H4477 Noun - masculine plural and send out וְשִׁלְח֤וּ H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural portions מָנוֹת֙ H4490 Noun - feminine plural to those who have nothing לְאֵ֣ין H369 Preposition-l | Adverb prepared נָכ֣וֹן H3559 Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular since כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction today הַיּ֖וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular is holy קָד֥וֹשׁ H6918 Adjective - masculine singular to our Lord לַאֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ H113 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural Do not וְאַל־ H408 Conjunctive waw | Adverb grieve תֵּ֣עָצֵ֔בוּ H6087 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction the joy חֶדְוַ֥ת H2304 Noun - feminine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular is הִ֥יא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular your strength מָֽעֻזְּכֶֽם׃ H4581 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural

Verse 11

Cross-references

Esther 2:18 Classic cross-references John 15:11 OliveGrove study links Philippians 4:4 OliveGrove study links Romans 3:20-24 OliveGrove study links

Original words

And the Levites וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם H3881 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural calmed מַחְשִׁ֤ים H2814 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural all לְכָל־ H3605 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָם֙ H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular saying לֵאמֹ֣ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Be still הַ֔סּוּ H2013 Interjection since כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction today הַיּ֖וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular is holy קָדֹ֑שׁ H6918 Adjective - masculine singular Do not וְאַל־ H408 Conjunctive waw | Adverb grieve תֵּעָצֵֽבוּ׃ H6087 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural

Verse 12

Cross-references

James 1:19 Classic cross-references Psalms 119:174 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 30:19 Classic cross-references Luke 24:32 Classic cross-references Nehemiah 8:7 Classic cross-references John 15:11 OliveGrove study links Philippians 4:4 OliveGrove study links Romans 3:20-24 OliveGrove study links

Original words

- וַיֵּלְכ֨וּ H1980 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Then all כָל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֜ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular began to eat לֶאֱכֹ֤ל H398 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct and drink וְלִשְׁתּוֹת֙ H8354 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct to send out וּלְשַׁלַּ֣ח H7971 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct portions מָנ֔וֹת H4490 Noun - feminine plural and וְלַעֲשׂ֖וֹת H6213 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct to rejoice שִׂמְחָ֣ה H8057 Noun - feminine singular greatly גְדוֹלָ֑ה H1419 Adjective - feminine singular because כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction they understood הֵבִ֙ינוּ֙ H995 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural the words בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים H1697 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative had been made known הוֹדִ֖יעוּ H3045 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural to them לָהֶֽם׃ס Preposition | third person masculine plural

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