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.
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.
- BSB 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.
- 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 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 have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.
- Ps 119:72The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
- Ps 119:171My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
- Ps 119:111Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
- Luke 24:32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
- Ps 119:97O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
- Ps 119:127Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
- Ps 119:103–104How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
- Neh 8:7–8Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
- Ps 119:130The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
- Ps 119:14I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
- Ps 19:8–11The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
- Job 23:12Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
- Ps 119:16I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
- Rom 7:18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
- Jer 15:16Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
- Ps 126:1–3When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
- Prov 24:13–14My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
- Prov 2:10–11When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
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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
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