Nehemiah · Chapter 8 · Strength
Nehemiah 8:10 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
For the day that asks more than you feel ready to give.
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.”"
KJV · King James Version
"Then he said559 unto them, Go your way3212, eat398 the fat4924, and drink8354 the sweet4477, and send7971 portions4490 unto them for whom nothing is prepared3559: for this day3117 is holy6918 unto our Lord113: neither be ye sorry6087; for the joy2304 of the LORD3068 is your strength4581."
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses unto, this, day, neither, while the WEB renders these as him, today, don, grieved. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
Nehemiah 8:10 in Nehemiah 8
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Nehemiah 8:10 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Nehemiah 8. Read the full chapter →
- v.8 They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.
- v.9 Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, “Today is holy to Yahweh your God. Don’t mourn, nor weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
- v.10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.”
- v.11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Hold your peace, for the day is holy. Don’t be grieved.”
- v.12 All the people went their way to eat, to drink, to send portions, and to celebrate, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
Book background
About the Book of Nehemiah
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Genre
- Historical narrative
- Author
- Nehemiah (with Ezra)
- Date written
- c. 430 BC
- Audience
- Post-exile Jews in Jerusalem
- Chapters
- 13
Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, returned to Jerusalem to rebuild its broken walls in just 52 days despite intense opposition. The book is a masterclass in prayer-saturated leadership — every chapter contains a prayer. It closes with covenant renewal under Ezra and the public reading of the Law.
Setting: Nehemiah's governorship in Jerusalem under Persian rule.
Key themes: leadership · rebuilding · prayer · reform · community
Memorisation aid
How to memorise Nehemiah 8:10
Nehemiah 8:10 contains 42 words in 8 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.
- 1
Then he said to them
THSTT
- 2
“Go your way
GYW
- 3
Eat the fat
ETF
- 4
drink the sweet
DTS
- 5
and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared
ASPTHF
- 6
for today is holy to our Lord
FTIHTO
- 7
Don’t be grieved
DBG
- 8
for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.”
FTJOYI
Frequently asked
FAQ about Nehemiah 8:10
What does Nehemiah 8:10 say?
Nehemiah 8:10 reads: "Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.”" — from the Old Testament, Nehemiah (Historical narrative). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.
What book of the Bible is Nehemiah 8:10 in?
Nehemiah 8:10 is in the book of Nehemiah, traditionally attributed to Nehemiah (with Ezra) and written around c. 430 BC. Nehemiah is historical narrative in the Old Testament, originally addressed to Post-exile Jews in Jerusalem. Best known for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days.
What is Nehemiah 8:10 about?
Nehemiah 8:10 is primarily a Bible verse about Strength, with related themes including Gratitude. Within Nehemiah, Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, returned to Jerusalem to rebuild its broken walls in just 52 days despite intense opposition. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.
What is the difference between Nehemiah 8:10 in WEB and KJV?
Nehemiah 8:10 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.”". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "Then he said559 unto them, Go your way3212, eat398 the fat4924, and drink8354 the sweet4477, and send7971 portions4490 unto them for whom nothing is prepared3559: for this day3117 is holy6918 unto our Lord113: neither be ye sorry6087; for the joy2304 of the LORD3068 is your strength4581.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.
How long is Nehemiah 8:10?
Nehemiah 8:10 is 42 words in the WEB translation (210 characters), broken into 8 clauses. It is a longer verse, often broken into smaller phrases for memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 13 seconds.
How can I memorise Nehemiah 8:10?
To memorise Nehemiah 8:10, split it into its 8 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.
Why does Nehemiah 8:10 matter in Nehemiah?
Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, returned to Jerusalem to rebuild its broken walls in just 52 days despite intense opposition. The book is a masterclass in prayer-saturated leadership — every chapter contains a prayer. It closes with covenant renewal under Ezra and the public reading of the Law. Nehemiah 8:10 sits within this larger story — Nehemiah as a whole emphasises leadership, rebuilding, prayer.
How can I apply Nehemiah 8:10 today?
Many readers use Nehemiah 8:10 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Nehemiah 8:10 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
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