Nehemiah 8 16

Nehemiah 8:16 kjv

So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.

Nehemiah 8:16 nkjv

Then the people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on the roof of his house, or in their courtyards or the courts of the house of God, and in the open square of the Water Gate and in the open square of the Gate of Ephraim.

Nehemiah 8:16 niv

So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim.

Nehemiah 8:16 esv

So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim.

Nehemiah 8:16 nlt

So the people went out and cut branches and used them to build shelters on the roofs of their houses, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of God's Temple, or in the squares just inside the Water Gate and the Ephraim Gate.

Nehemiah 8 verses

Nehemiah 8 16 Meaning

Nehemiah 8:16 describes the immediate and widespread obedience of the returned exiles to the newly rediscovered command regarding the Feast of Booths. Upon hearing the instructions from the Law of Moses, the people actively went out, gathered the specified leafy branches, and constructed temporary shelters. These booths were erected throughout Jerusalem, utilizing both private spaces—such as the rooftops and courtyards of individual houses—and prominent public areas like the courtyards of the Temple and the squares near the Water Gate and the Gate of Ephraim. This communal effort showcased their profound spiritual renewal and commitment to diligently fulfill God's forgotten ordinances, embracing the joyous commemoration of God's faithful provision during their ancestors' wilderness wanderings.

Nehemiah 8 16 Context

Nehemiah chapter 8 details a pivotal moment of spiritual revival for the Israelites who had returned from Babylonian exile. Prior to this verse, the people had gathered in the square before the Water Gate, where Ezra the scribe read aloud from the Book of the Law of Moses for hours. As they listened, the people began to weep upon understanding their long-standing disobedience to God's commands. However, Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites encouraged them to cease weeping, urging them instead to find joy in the Lord and celebrate this newfound understanding.

Following this, on the second day of reading, the heads of the families, priests, and Levites sought out Ezra to delve deeper into the Law. It was during this inquiry that they discovered the forgotten command to celebrate the Feast of Booths (Sukkot), as prescribed in Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16. The Law explicitly instructed that the Israelites were to dwell in temporary booths during this festival, using specific types of leafy branches gathered from the hills. Nehemiah 8:15 then records the command being issued to all cities and to Jerusalem: "Go out to the hills and bring branches..." Verse 16 describes the immediate and overwhelming response to this newly rediscovered commandment, detailing the widespread construction of these booths across Jerusalem, underscoring the deep impact of the Word on the revitalized community. Historically, the Feast of Booths celebrated God's miraculous provision during Israel's 40-year wilderness wandering, where they dwelt in temporary shelters, and was also a harvest festival, symbolizing God's faithfulness in providing for His people. This revival moment signified a re-establishment of the covenant and identity with God for the returning exiles.

Nehemiah 8 16 Word analysis

• So (וַיֵּצְאוּ - va-yetze'u): This conjunction signifies a direct, immediate, and volitional consequence of the previous command in Nehemiah 8:15. It highlights the ready and widespread obedience of the people to God's newly heard Word.
• the people (הָעָם - ha'am): Refers to the entire gathered congregation in Jerusalem and the surrounding towns, emphasizing the unified, corporate nature of their response. It indicates a national commitment rather than isolated individual actions.
• went out (וַיֵּצְאוּ - va-yetze'u): Denotes physical action and mobilization. They did not just passively receive the command; they actively ventured forth from their homes or places of assembly to gather the necessary materials.
• and brought them (וַיָּבִיאוּ - va-yaviy'u): Specifically refers to bringing the branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and leafy trees as commanded in Nehemiah 8:15. This illustrates practical, literal adherence to the biblical instruction.
• and made themselves shelters (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ לָהֶם סֻכּוֹת - va-ya'asu lahem sukkot): The Hebrew word sukkot (סֻכּוֹת) is the plural of sukkah (סֻכָּה), meaning a temporary booth, hut, or tabernacle. This action signifies not just compliance but personal involvement in fulfilling the religious observance. The act of constructing emphasizes their participation in embodying the commemorative act of the wilderness journey.
  • Word-group: "made themselves shelters" – This phrase conveys that the building of these booths was a personal and communal endeavor, reflecting their engagement and commitment. It highlights their active role in restoring this significant biblical festival, a tangible demonstration of their faith.
• each on the roof of his house (אִישׁ עַל גַּגּוֹ - ish al gaggō): Flat rooftops in ancient Israel served as accessible, open-air extensions of homes, often used for various domestic activities. Building sukkot there shows the integration of religious observance into daily life and private dwelling spaces.
• and in their courts (וּבְחַצְרֹתֵיהֶם - u'vehǎtsrôthehêm): Refers to the private courtyards adjacent to individual houses, providing additional open space for erecting the booths. This further indicates the pervasive nature of the observance within private households.
  • Word-group: "on the roof of his house, and in their courts" – This specifies the private locations where booths were erected, emphasizing the widespread nature of the celebration, permeating individual homes, not just public spaces. It signifies a personal commitment to the law within the family unit.
• and in the courts of the house of God (וּבְחַצְרוֹת בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים - u'vehatsrot Beit ha'Elohim): This refers to the sacred precincts around the Temple. Erecting booths here signified the central importance of God's dwelling place in their corporate worship and reinforced the spiritual significance of the feast, tying the remembrance of the wilderness with the place of God's present dwelling.
• and in the open square at the Water Gate (וּבָרְחוֹב שַׁעַר הַמַּיִם - u'varechov Sha'ar haMayim): This was a major public thoroughfare and gathering place in Jerusalem, notably where Ezra had already read the Law (Neh 8:1). Placing booths here demonstrated public declaration and celebration of the feast, making it visible to all who entered the city.
• and in the open square at the Gate of Ephraim (וּבָרְחוֹב שַׁעַר אֶפְרַיִם - u'varechov Sha'ar Efrayim): Another prominent public gate and square, typically on the northern side of Jerusalem, through which traffic from the northern territories, including Ephraim, would enter. Mentioning this gate further emphasizes the expansive scale of the observance, transforming the entire city into a canvas of devotion.
  • Word-group: "in the open square at the Water Gate and in the open square at the Gate of Ephraim" – These locations signify the public, visible, and widespread nature of the observance throughout the capital city. They served as vital public gathering places, showing that the feast was not confined to homes but became a community-wide spectacle of worship and remembrance.

Nehemiah 8 16 Bonus section

• The profound contrast between Israel's spiritual apathy prior to this point and their overwhelming enthusiasm shown in Nehemiah 8:16 and 8:17, where it's noted that such a widespread and meticulous observance of Sukkot had not occurred "from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to this day." This highlights the truly unique nature of this particular spiritual awakening.
• The deliberate specification of different types of branches (olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, leafy branches) in Nehemiah 8:15 (the preceding instruction) reinforces the meticulous adherence to the rediscovered Law, demonstrating a deep reverence for God's detailed commands.
• The placement of booths in both private and public spaces indicates that the renewal was comprehensive, affecting personal devotion and public witness alike. This outward display served to teach the new generation and remind the entire community of God's faithfulness and their covenant identity.
• The Feast of Booths, in addition to remembering the wilderness wandering, also served as a harvest festival, celebrating God's provision. The physical act of building and dwelling in these temporary shelters would have served as a dual reminder of both God's past care in the wilderness and His current provision through the land.

Nehemiah 8 16 Commentary

Nehemiah 8:16 stands as a powerful testament to the transformative power of God's Word on a repentant people. After years of spiritual neglect, the rediscovery and public reading of the Torah brought immediate conviction and, crucially, immediate and joyous obedience. This verse vividly portrays the comprehensive fulfillment of the rediscovered Feast of Booths command. The detailed list of locations for booth-building—from private rooftops and courtyards to the Temple precincts and major city squares—underscores the totality of the revival. The celebration wasn't just a religious formality but permeated every aspect of communal and individual life. It highlights a people eager to demonstrate their renewed covenant faithfulness. This active, corporate, and geographically pervasive observance speaks volumes about their sincerity, turning theoretical understanding into tangible, worshipful action. The very act of constructing these temporary dwellings served as a tangible link to their history, reminding them of God's wilderness provision and fostering dependence on Him. This joyous communal endeavor fortified their identity as God's chosen people, actively participating in His ongoing redemptive plan.