Devine Scripture

Nehemiah 9:1

What does Nehemiah 9:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Nehemiah 9:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Nehemiah 9:1 means

The people of Israel gather on the twenty-fourth day in a posture of deep repentance. Fasting, wearing sackcloth, and putting earth on their heads are outward signs of inward sorrow for sin and humility before God. This is no casual assembly; it is a solemn, corporate recognition that their spiritual condition needs addressing. The nation acknowledges that returning from exile is not the end of their restoration; hearts must be aligned with God. The verse highlights that genuine renewal begins with honest grief over disobedience and a willingness to express that grief publicly, seeking mercy. These actions anticipate the extended confession and worship that follow, showing repentance as both personal and communal work.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth upon them.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth upon them.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel came together, taking no food and putting haircloth and dust on their bodies.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And in the twenty and fourth day of this month have the sons of Israel been gathered, with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth upon them;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And in the four and twentieth day of the month the children of Israel came together with fasting and with sackcloth, and earth upon them.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.

Context

Following the reading of the Law and the celebration in the previous chapter, the people now move from festival joy to sober reflection. The date anchors this moment shortly after the Feast of Booths. What comes next will explain why they are so mournful: they separate from foreign influences, read the Law, and confess sins at length. The mood sets the stage for the Levites’ leadership in prayer, which will recount Israel’s history to highlight God’s faithfulness and their need for mercy.

v.1This passage

v.2And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Joel 1:13

    Gird yourselveswith sackcloth, and lament, ye priests; wail, ye ministers of the altar; come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meal-offering and the drink-offering are withholden from the house of your God.

  • Joshua 7:6

    And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of Jehovah until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust upon their heads.

  • Ezra 8:23

    So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.

  • Joel 2:15

    Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly;

  • Judges 20:26

    Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto Beth-el, and wept, and sat there before Jehovah, and fasted that day until even; and they offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah.

  • Esther 4:16

    Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

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