Bible Strands
Nehemiah 12:43
On that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Nehemiah narrates the dedication of Jerusalem's rebuilt wall, where the assembled people, priests, and Levites gather after the wall's completion to offer sacrifices and celebrate.
The words — וַ/יִּזְבְּח֣וּ (va/yizbe.chu) denotes the act of sacrificing, and וַ/יִּשְׂמָ֗חוּ (va/yis.ma.chu) describes the collective rejoicing that follows.
The thread — The audible joy echoes Ezra 3:13, where the temple dedication noise is heard from a distance, and aligns with Psalms 92:4, which attributes gladness to God's works.
Why it lands — The text records that the community's celebration was so extensive it reached distant observers, requiring the reader to note the physical scale of the worship without adding theological commentary.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
Cross-references
- Ezra 3:13 The people could not distinguish the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people were making so much noise. And the sound was heard from afar.
- Psalms 92:4 For You, O LORD, have made me glad by Your deeds; I sing for joy at the works of Your hands.
- Psalms 148:11 kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth,
- Jeremiah 31:13 Then the maidens will rejoice with dancing, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy, and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow.
- Exodus 15:20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing.
- Numbers 10:10 And on your joyous occasions, your appointed feasts, and the beginning of each month, you are to blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings to serve as a reminder for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”
- Deuteronomy 12:11 then the LORD your God will choose a dwelling for His Name. And there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice offerings you vow to the LORD.
- 1 Samuel 4:5 When the ark of the covenant of the LORD entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a great shout that the ground shook.
- 1 Chronicles 29:21 The next day they offered sacrifices and presented burnt offerings to the LORD: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, along with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.
- 2 Chronicles 7:5 And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.