New English Translation
Nehemiah 8:10
10He said to them, “Go and eat delicacies and drink sweet drinks and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for 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 from the book of God’s law, explaining it and imparting insight. Thus the people gained understanding from what was read. 9Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priestly scribe, and the Levites who were imparting understanding to 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 had been weeping when they heard the words of the law. He said to them, “Go and eat delicacies and drink sweet drinks and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the lord is your strength.” 11Then the Levites quieted all the people saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy. Do not grieve.” 12So all the people departed to eat and drink and to share their food with others and to enjoy tremendous joy, for they had gained insight in the matters that had been made known 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 people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.
- Ecclesiastes 3:13and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.
- Ecclesiastes 5:18I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.
- Ecclesiastes 9:7Go, eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, because God has already approved your works.
- 1 Timothy 6:17Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.
- Deuteronomy 26:11You will celebrate all the good things that the Lord your God has given you and your family, along with the Levites and the resident foreigners among you.
- Esther 9:19This is why the Jews who are in the rural country – those who live in rural cities – set aside the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a holiday for happiness, banqueting, holiday, and sending gifts to one another.
- Job 31:16If I have refused to give the poor what they desired, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
- Ecclesiastes 11:2Divide your merchandise among seven or even eight investments, for you do not know what calamity may happen on earth.
- Luke 11:41But give from your heart to those in need, and then everything will be clean for you.
- Revelation 11:10And those who live on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate, even sending gifts to each other, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
- Psalms 28:7The Lord strengthens and protects me; I trust in him with all my heart. I am rescued and my heart is full of joy; I will sing to him in gratitude.
- Psalms 149:2Let Israel rejoice in their Creator! Let the people of Zion delight in their king!
- Proverbs 17:22A cheerful heart brings good healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
- Isaiah 6:7He touched my mouth with it and said, “Look, this coal has touched your lips. Your evil is removed; your sin is forgiven.”
- Isaiah 12:1At that time you will say: “I praise you, O Lord, for even though you were angry with me, your anger subsided, and you consoled 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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