The Meaning of Nehemiah 8:11 Explained

Nehemiah 8:11

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

YLT: And the Levites are keeping all the people silent, saying, 'Be silent, for to-day is holy, and be not grieved.'

Darby: And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, Be still! for the day is holy; neither be grieved.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Nehemiah 8:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 8:1-18 - New Light From God's Law
Surely this was the first public Bible-reading! When will the people be again as hungry for the Word of God as these Jews who stood in the open space from early dawn till the scorching noon? What reverence for the Word! When Ezra opened the Book, all the people stood up. What holy worship! When he blessed the great God, all the people answered, Amen, amen! What a model to us all! They gave the sense, so that they understood. What searching of heart! The people wept when they heard the words of the law.
There is nothing which weakens us so much as does unrestrained remorse. Contriteness of heart is wholesome and helpful, but excessive grief incapacitates us for our duties. It is well therefore to cultivate holy joy; the joy of sin forgiven, of acceptance with God, of hope that anchors us to the unseen, and that cannot be ashamed. You may not be able to joy in yourself or your surroundings, but you may always rejoice in the Lord. [source]

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 8

1  The reverent manner of reading and hearing the law
9  They comfort the people
13  The eagerness of the people to hear and be instructed
16  They keep the feast of tabernacles

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 8:11 mean?

So the Levites quieted all the people saying Be still for the day [is] holy and not do be grieved
וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם מַחְשִׁ֤ים לְכָל־ הָעָם֙ לֵאמֹ֣ר הַ֔סּוּ כִּ֥י הַיּ֖וֹם קָדֹ֑שׁ וְאַל־ תֵּעָצֵֽבוּ

וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם  So  the  Levites 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
מַחְשִׁ֤ים  quieted 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural
Root: חָשָׁה  
Sense: to be silent, quiet, still, inactive.
הָעָם֙  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
לֵאמֹ֣ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַ֔סּוּ  Be  still 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הַס 
Sense: (Piel) hush, keep silence, be silent, hold peace, hold tongue, still v.
הַיּ֖וֹם  the  day  [is] 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
קָדֹ֑שׁ  holy 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קָדֹושׁ  
Sense: sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart.
וְאַל־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
תֵּעָצֵֽבוּ  do  be  grieved 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: עָצַב 
Sense: to hurt, pain, grieve, displease, vex, wrest.

What are the major concepts related to Nehemiah 8:11?

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