Nehemiah 8:10

Translations

Modern

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.”

Traditional

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.

Literal

And he said to them, “Go, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to those with nothing prepared for them, for the day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of YHWH is your strength.”

Latin

Et dixit eis: Ite, comedite pinguia, et bibite mulsum, et mittite partes his qui non præparaverunt sibi, quia sanctus dies Domini est: et nolite contristari: gaudium etenim Domini est fortitudo nostra.

Original

Hebrew

English

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.”

Notes

Nehemiah 8:10

People 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).

Nehemiah 8:9–10

Ezra the priest and scribe: See study note on Ezra 7:6.
This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep: God moved the people's hearts, leading them to regret not following his laws. While weeping is a suitable reaction to sin (see Ezekiel 9:4; Luke 6:21), Ezra and Nehemiah urged the people to celebrate what God had done. This New Year's festival was meant to be joyful (Numbers 29:1–6), and weeping would have ruined the day's spirit.

Nehemiah 7:73–10:39

This section, possibly from Ezra’s personal memoirs, explains how Ezra’s teaching of God’s law renewed the people's commitment to serve God and follow his instructions. Spiritual revival occurred alongside the civic work of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Theme notes and profiles

Ezra Nehemiah God's Word at the Center The Priestly Blessing

Related verses

Psalm 28:7–8
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I give thanks to Him with my song.
Proverbs 17:22
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
2 Corinthians 12:8–9
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
Ecclesiastes 9:7
Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:
Isaiah 12:1–3
In that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You. Although You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away, and You have comforted me.
Isaiah 61:10
I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Psalm 149:2
Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
Esther 9:19
This is why the rural Jews, who live in the villages, observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting. It is a holiday for sending gifts to one another.
2 Corinthians 8:2
In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.
Esther 9:22
…as the days on which the Jews gained rest from their enemies and the month in which their sorrow turned to joy and their mourning into a holiday. He wrote that these were to be days of feasting and joy, of sending gifts to one another and to the poor.
Ecclesiastes 2:24
Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:13
…and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God.

Nehemiah 8:10

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