Nehemiah 8:17
What does Nehemiah 8:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 8:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 8:17 means
All who returned from captivity make and dwell in booths. The chronicler notes that such a wholehearted observance had not occurred since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun. This does not mean the feast was never kept, but that it had not been kept with such breadth and zeal. The result is “very great gladness.” Remembering God’s past provision produces present joy. A community that obeys together rejoices together. This feast also looks ahead: in later days, Jesus would teach during this very festival in Jerusalem, revealing Himself as the fulfillment of God’s provision. Here, in Nehemiah’s time, the feast marks a high point of restored worship and communal delight.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949All the people who had been prisoners and had come back, made tents and were living in them: for from the time of Jeshua, the son of Nun, till that day, the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great joy.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And they make--all the assembly of the captives of the captivity--booths, and they sit in booths; for the sons of Israel had not done, from the days of Jeshua son of Nun, so unto that day, and there is very great joy.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And all the assembly of them that were returned from the captivity, made tabernacles, and dwelt in tabernacles: for since the days of Josue the son of Nun the children of Israel had not done so, until that day: and there was exceeding great joy.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And all the congregation of them that had come back from the captivity made booths, and dwelt in the booths. For since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun until that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.
Context
Following the widespread construction of booths, verse 17 offers a historical assessment and records the people’s great joy. This climactic note sets up the final verse, which will describe daily reading of the Law throughout the feast and the concluding solemn assembly, showing that their gladness is grounded in continued attention to God’s Word.
v.16So 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.
v.17This passage
v.18Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the ordinance.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Chronicles 8:13
even as the duty of every day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.
- 2 Chronicles 30:26
So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.
- 2 Chronicles 30:21
And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised Jehovah day by day, singing with loud instruments unto Jehovah.
- Hebrews 4:8
For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.
- 2 Chronicles 7:8
So Solomon held the feast at that time seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath unto the brook of Egypt.
- Hebrews 11:13
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
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