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.
Parallel translations
- WEB All the people went their way to eat, to drink, to send portions, and to celebrate, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
- KJV And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
- ESV And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
- NKJV And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them.
- NASB Then all the people went away to eat, drink, to send portions, and to celebrate a great feast, because they understood the words which had been made known to them.
- NLT So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The people went to eat, drink, share portions, and celebrate greatly, because they now understood the words taught to them. Understanding God's word produced great joy.
Overview
Having grasped the meaning of the Law, the people obeyed by feasting and sharing in joyful celebration. Their great rejoicing flowed directly from understanding Scripture, showing that comprehension leads to glad obedience. This links true joy to knowing and heeding God's word, a joy that is deepened for those who understand the gospel of Christ (Luke 24:32).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Ps 119:174I long for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight.
- Ps 119:72The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
- Ps 119:171My lips pour forth praise, for You teach me Your statutes.
- Ps 119:111Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
- Luke 24:32They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
- Ps 119:97Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation.
- Ps 119:127Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold.
- Ps 119:103–104How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth!
- Neh 8:7–8The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places.
- Ps 119:130The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.
- Ps 119:14I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.
- Ps 19:8–11The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
- Job 23:12I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.
- Ps 119:16I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
- Rom 7:18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
- Jer 15:16Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts.
- Ps 126:1–3A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers.
- Prov 24:13–14Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
- Prov 2:10–11For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight your soul.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The rebuilt walls and renewed covenant community foreshadow the greater builder who gathers and secures a people for God, the one who declares 'I will build my church.'
How Nehemiah 8:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.