Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
What does Nehemiah 8:10 mean?
It was a good sign that their hearts were tender, when they heard the words of the law. The people were to send portions to those for whom nothing was prepared.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Nehemiah 8:9-12 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Nehemiah 8:10
The "sending of portions" to the poor is not distinctly mentioned in any but the later historical Scriptures (compare the margin reference). The practice naturally grew out of this injunction of the Law Deuteronomy 16:11 , Deuteronomy 16:14 .
Key words
- them
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Then he said unto them,.
Context in Nehemiah 8
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Nehemiah 8 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as public Torah reading and covenant renewal. Nehemiah recounts the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls, the renewal of covenant identity, and the hard maintenance of communal reform. Read this chapter with the wider themes of restoration, leadership, and reform in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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Verses on gladness, rejoicing in God, joy in hardship, and why biblical joy is deeper than mood alone.
Passages on asking, persistence, confession, dependence, and the way prayer shapes Christian life and attention.
Passages on godly leadership, servant leadership, the responsibilities of leaders, and examples of leadership in Scripture.