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.
Parallel translations
- 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.
- 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 your salvation, Yahweh. Your law is my delight.
- Ps 119:72The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. YUD
- Ps 119:171Let my lips utter praise, for you teach me your statutes.
- Ps 119:111I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
- Luke 24:32They said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?”
- Ps 119:97How I love your law! It is my meditation all day.
- Ps 119:127Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold.
- Ps 119:103–104How sweet are your promises to my taste, more than honey to my mouth!
- Neh 8:7–8Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law; and the people stayed in their place.
- Ps 119:130The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.
- Ps 119:14I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches.
- Ps 19:8–11Yahweh’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. Yahweh’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.
- Job 23:12I haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
- Ps 119:16I will delight myself in your statutes. I will not forget your word. GIMEL
- Rom 7:18For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good.
- Jer 15:16Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by your name, Yahweh, God of Armies.
- Ps 126:1–3A Song of Ascents. When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream.
- Prov 24:13–14My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:
- Prov 2:10–11For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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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