Christian Standard Bible
Nehemiah 8:10
10Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
- New International Version (NIV)Nehemiah said, “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.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Context of Nehemiah 8:10
8They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read. 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. Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Don’t grieve.” 12Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration, because they had understood the words that were explained to them.
Read all of Nehemiah 8Nehemiah 8:10 word by word
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֡ם לְכוּ֩ אִכְל֨וּ מַשְׁמַנִּ֜ים וּשְׁת֣וּ מַֽמְתַקִּ֗ים וְשִׁלְח֤וּ מָנוֹת֙ לְאֵ֣ין נָכ֣וֹן ל֔וֹ כִּֽי־קָד֥וֹשׁ הַיּ֖וֹם לַאֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ וְאַל־תֵּ֣עָצֵ֔בוּ כִּֽי־חֶדְוַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה הִ֥יא מָֽעֻזְּכֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto them, Go your wayיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- the fatמַשְׁמָןmashmân · fat pieceH4924
- and drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
- the sweetמַמְתַֿקִּיםmamtaq · sweetnessH4477
- and sendשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- portionsמָנָהmânâh · portionH4490
- unto them for whom nothing is preparedכּוּןkûn · to establish: prepareH3559
- dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- holyקָדוֹשׁqâdôsh qâdôsh · holyH6918
- unto our Lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
- neither be ye sorryעָצַב‛âtsab · to hurtH6087
- for the joyחֶדְוָהchedvâh · joyH2304
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- is your strengthמָעוֹזmâ‛ôz mâ‛ûz mâ‛ôz mâ‛ûz · securityH4581
Cross-references for Nehemiah 8:10
- Ecclesiastes 2:24There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand,
- Ecclesiastes 3:13It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts.
- Ecclesiastes 5:18Here is what I have seen to be good: It is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward.
- Ecclesiastes 9:7Go, eat your bread with pleasure, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already accepted your works.
- 1 Timothy 6:17Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.
- Deuteronomy 26:11You, the Levites, and the resident aliens among you will rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given you and your household.
- Esther 9:19This explains why the rural Jews who live in villages observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a time of rejoicing and feasting. It is a holiday when they send gifts to one another.
- Job 31:16If I have refused the wishes of the poor or let the widow’s eyes go blind,
- Ecclesiastes 11:2Give a portion to seven or even to eight, for you don’t know what disaster may happen on earth.
- Luke 11:41But give from what is within to the poor, and then everything is clean for you.
- Revelation 11:10Those who live on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
- Psalms 28:7The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart celebrates, and I give thanks to him with my song.
- Psalms 149:2Let Israel celebrate its Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
- Proverbs 17:22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
- Isaiah 6:7He touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.
- Isaiah 12:1On that day you will say: “I will give thanks to you, Lord, although you were angry with me. Your anger has turned away, and you have comforted me.
Commentaries on Nehemiah 8:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10Eat the fat, and drink the sweet - Eat and drink the best that you have; and while ye are feeding yourselves in the fear of the Lord, remember those who cannot feast; and send portions to them, that the joy and the thanksgiving may be general. Let the poor have reason to rejoice as well as you. For the joy of the Lord is your strength - This is no gluttonous and drunken festival that enervates the body, and enfeebles the mind: from your religious feast…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10The “sending of portions” to the poor is not distinctly mentioned in any but the later historical Scriptures (compare the margin reference). The practice naturally grew out of this injunction of the Law Deuteronomy 16:11, Deuteronomy 16:14.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-12Verses 9-12 It was a good sign that their hearts were tender, when they heard the words of the law. The people were to send portions to those for whom nothing was prepared. It is the duty of a religious feast, as well as of a religious fast, to draw out the soul to the hungry; God's bounty should make us bountiful. We must not only give to those that offer themselves, but send to those out of sight. Their strength consisted in joy in the Lord. The better…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10People ate rich foods like meat only on special occasions. Sweet drinks meant unfermented juice, unlike the vinegar common laborers drank (see Ruth 2:14). It is good to share with those in need (see Deuteronomy 15:11; Job 29:16; Proverbs 31:20; Matthew 6:2–3; Acts 4:34–35).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-159-10. This day is holy unto the Lord ... mourn not, nor weep--A deep sense of their national sins, impressively brought to their remembrance by the reading of the law and its denunciations, affected the hearts of the people with penitential sorrow. But notwithstanding the painful remembrances of their national sins which the reading of the law awakened, the people were exhorted to cherish the feelings of joy and thankfulness associated with a sacred…Read the comment
Topics related to Nehemiah 8:10
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Nehemiah 8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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