Nehemiah 8 11

Nehemiah 8:11 kjv

So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.

Nehemiah 8:11 nkjv

So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved."

Nehemiah 8:11 niv

The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve."

Nehemiah 8:11 esv

So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved."

Nehemiah 8:11 nlt

And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, "Hush! Don't weep! For this is a sacred day."

Nehemiah 8 verses

Nehemiah 8 11 Meaning

Nehemiah 8:11 describes the Levites' actions in calming the assembly, reinforcing the instruction given by Ezra and Nehemiah. They urged the people to cease their weeping, reminding them that the day was set apart and holy. The command not to be grieved emphasizes that while conviction of sin is valid, a holy day dedicated to God's Word should be marked by rejoicing in His presence and provision, not continuous mourning. It shifts the focus from their failures to God's grace and the celebratory nature of the day.

Nehemiah 8 11 Context

Nehemiah chapter 8 describes a pivotal moment in post-exilic Judah. After rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, the people gathered in the open square. Ezra the scribe, with the Levites, read and explained the Law of Moses to the assembly, an event that deeply moved the people. Upon hearing the words of the Law and understanding their past failures and covenant breaches, the people began to weep bitterly. This weeping reflected their conviction of sin and remorse. Verses 9 and 10 record Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites instructing the people not to grieve or weep, but to celebrate, emphasizing that "the joy of the Lord is your strength." Verse 11 reinforces this instruction, specifically by the Levites who were mediating and explaining the Law. The immediate historical context is the Feast of Booths (Sukkot), which was to begin the next day, a feast commanded to be celebrated with joy. The broader context is the spiritual and physical restoration of Jerusalem and its inhabitants after seventy years of Babylonian captivity, highlighting God's faithfulness and the people's renewed commitment to His covenant.

Nehemiah 8 11 Word analysis

• So: Introduces the continuation of the preceding instruction, linking the Levites' actions to Nehemiah and Ezra's earlier command. It signals a reinforcing or elaborating statement.
• the Levites: (Hebrew: הַלְוִיִּם, ha-Levi'im) A priestly class, descendants of Levi, designated for temple service, teaching the Law, and leading worship. Here, they serve as teachers and facilitators of the Law, directly applying the divine instruction. Their role was crucial in guiding the people's understanding and emotional response, connecting the people to the divine truth.
• quieted: (Hebrew: הֶחֱשׁוּ, hecheshu) From the root חשה (ḥāšâ), meaning "to be silent," "to hold one's peace," "to cause to be quiet." It signifies actively calming or silencing the emotional tumult of the crowd. This was not a suppression of feeling but an orchestration of focus. It points to their authority and the need for order.
• all the people: Highlights the universal application of the command, indicating that the entire assembly, old and young, men and women, were overcome with emotion and needed this calming guidance.
• saying: Indicates direct verbal instruction from the Levites to the people, reinforcing the message of the leaders.
• 'Be still,': (Hebrew: הַסְטוּ, hastanu) From the root הסה (hāsâ), similar to the root for "quieted," meaning "to be silent," "to hold one's peace," "to hush." This is an imperative, a direct command for self-control and inner peace amidst their public weeping. It underscores that God desired an active suppression of their lament at that moment, urging them to control their outward grief. This echoes commands for reverence in God's presence (cf. Zep 1:7; Hab 2:20).
• 'for the day is holy;': (Hebrew: קֹדֶשׁ הוּא הַיּוֹם, qodesh hu ha-yom) "Holy" (קֹדֶשׁ, qodesh) means set apart, consecrated to God, distinct for a sacred purpose. This refers to the specific nature of the occasion: the Feast of Booths was imminent, and the public reading and understanding of the Law itself made the day sacred. The focus shifts from their personal emotional state to the objective reality of God's presence and sacred time. This is a theological grounding for their command.
• 'do not be grieved.' (Hebrew: אַל-תֵּעָצְבוּ, al-te'atsvu) An imperative forbidding outward expression of sadness or continued sorrow. From the root עצב (ʿāṣaḇ), meaning "to be in pain," "to be sad," "to grieve." While godly sorrow leading to repentance is appropriate (2 Cor 7:10), the sustained and overwhelming grief the people displayed was hindering the appropriate response to the grace revealed. The command is not against sincere conviction, but against dwelling in sorrow to the point of incapacitating their ability to celebrate God's goodness and covenant promises. It is a transition from regret over past sins to rejoicing in current grace and future hope. This parallels the teaching that believers should rejoice in the Lord always (Phil 4:4), even amidst trials, focusing on God's sovereignty and redemptive plan.

• "the Levites quieted all the people": This phrase emphasizes the Levites' active role as spiritual mediators and order-keepers. They acted to restore decorum and focus amidst the collective emotional outpouring. This aligns with their biblical duties of instruction and administration, as seen in Num 3:6-9.
• "'Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.'": This forms a concise theological and practical directive. The first part, "Be still," addresses their outward behavior, calming their expressions of distress. The second part, "for the day is holy," provides the divine rationale; the sacred nature of the day demanded a shift in their emotional state and focus. The third part, "do not be grieved," directly counters their prolonged sorrow, pointing them towards the proper disposition for a sacred time with God. This three-part command transforms a moment of grief into one of appropriate reverence and joy, connecting human emotion to divine purpose.

Nehemiah 8 11 Bonus section

The command to "Be still" and "do not be grieved" on a holy day is a significant instruction for the corporate worship life of the community. It illustrates that genuine sorrow for sin is necessary, but it has a God-appointed limit, especially when transitioning to moments of corporate celebration and remembering God's covenant. This specific interaction underscores the spiritual authority of the Levites in managing the public response to God's word and highlights the importance of spiritual guidance in navigating profound religious experiences. It demonstrates that the proper response to understanding God's Word is ultimately not despair, but joy found in His goodness, leading to a vibrant community that could then apply what they had learned through celebratory obedience, as seen in the subsequent celebration of the Feast of Booths. This points to a paradigm shift in post-exilic Judaism, moving from lament to liturgical celebration, anchored in the understanding of the Torah.

Nehemiah 8 11 Commentary

Nehemiah 8:11 shows the practical application of the instruction given in verse 10. The people's weeping was a genuine and understandable response to realizing their deep-seated failures in light of God's holy Law. However, Nehemiah, Ezra, and particularly the Levites in this verse, guided them away from protracted, unproductive sorrow towards a spirit of joy rooted in the Lord's redemptive work. The core message is that God's desire for His people, even in the midst of acknowledging sin, is not perpetual mourning but a joyous recognition of His holiness, grace, and presence, especially on sacred days. The "joy of the Lord," rather than self-condemnation, is identified as the source of strength, transforming conviction into active obedience and celebration. This serves as a vital lesson that true repentance leads to God-given joy, not despair.Example: When convicted by sin, instead of dwelling on guilt to the point of incapacitation, one should accept God's forgiveness, learn from the mistake, and choose to rejoice in His cleansing and new mercies, finding strength to live obediently.