Nehemiah 8:16
What does Nehemiah 8:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 8:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 8:16 means
The people respond wholeheartedly. They gather branches and build booths everywhere—on rooftops, in their courtyards, in the temple courts, and in the public squares by the water gate and the gate of Ephraim. This sweeping obedience transforms the city’s appearance and rhythms. Families inhabit temporary shelters, tangibly recalling God’s care in the wilderness and their pilgrim identity. Worship is woven into domestic and civic life. The description of locations emphasizes inclusivity: every household, every neighborhood, and the house of God itself share in the observance. When God’s Word is embraced, it reshapes ordinary spaces into places of remembrance and joy.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000So 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 broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.
KJV
King James Version · 1611So 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901So 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 broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the people went out and got them and made themselves tents, every one on the roof of his house, and in the open spaces and in the open squares of the house of God, and in the wide place of the water-doorway, and the wide place of the doorway of Ephraim.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the people go out, and bring in, and make for themselves booths, each on his roof, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad place of the water-gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the people went forth, and brought. And they made themselves tabernacles every man on the top 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.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the people went forth and brought [them], and made themselves booths, everyone upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house ofGod, and in the open space of the water-gate, and in the open space of the gate of Ephraim.
Context
The proclamation of verse 15 bears fruit here: practical, visible obedience across Jerusalem. This prepares for the evaluative statement in the next verse, which will compare this observance with Israel’s history and highlight the extraordinary gladness that accompanies their renewed faithfulness. The flow shows how teaching leads to doing, and doing leads to joy.
v.15and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and branches of wild olive, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
v.16This passage
v.17And all the assembly of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and dwelt in the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Nehemiah 8:3
And he read therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
- Jeremiah 32:29
and the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set this city on fire, and burn it, with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink-offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.
- 2 Chronicles 20:5
And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Jehovah, before the new court;
- Deuteronomy 22:8
When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thy house, if any man fall from thence.
- Nehemiah 12:39
and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, and the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the gate of the guard.
- 2 Samuel 11:2
And it came to pass at eventide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
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