Nehemiah 9:1 - Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, with sackcloth, and dirt on them.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Nehemiah 9:1" mean?
This verse from Nehemiah 9:1 describes a public display of repentance and mourning by the Israelites. Let's break it down:
"Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month..." This sets the time frame. We'd need to look at the context of Nehemiah to know which month is being referred to (in Nehemiah 8:14 it seems to be the seventh month). This date is significant because it comes after a time of celebration (the Feast of Tabernacles) and a period of listening to the Law being read.
"...the children of Israel were assembled..." This indicates a large, collective gathering of the Israelite people.
"...with fasting..." This means they were abstaining from food, a common practice in times of mourning and repentance. It symbolizes humility and a focus on spiritual matters rather than physical needs.
"...with sackcloth..." Sackcloth was a coarse, rough fabric (usually made of goat hair) worn as a sign of mourning, repentance, and humility. It was uncomfortable and symbolized a turning away from earthly comforts.
"...and dirt on them." Putting dirt or ashes on their heads was another ancient practice of expressing grief, humiliation, and repentance. It further emphasized their lowered status and their sorrow over their sins.
In summary, this verse depicts a deliberate and public act of contrition and repentance by the Israelites. After hearing the Law, they realized their shortcomings and their ancestors' failures. They showed their sorrow and humility through fasting, wearing sackcloth, and putting dirt on themselves as they gathered together.
The context of Nehemiah 9 will reveal the specific reasons for their repentance, which generally revolve around the Israelites' disobedience to God's law and their resulting suffering throughout their history. This verse sets the stage for Nehemiah's prayer of confession that follows in the rest of the chapter.
Nehemiah 9:1 - Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, with sackcloth, and dirt on them.
What does "Nehemiah 9:1" mean?
This verse from Nehemiah 9:1 describes a public display of repentance and mourning by the Israelites. Let's break it down:
"Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month..." This sets the time frame. We'd need to look at the context of Nehemiah to know which month is being referred to (in Nehemiah 8:14 it seems to be the seventh month). This date is significant because it comes after a time of celebration (the Feast of Tabernacles) and a period of listening to the Law being read.
"...the children of Israel were assembled..." This indicates a large, collective gathering of the Israelite people.
"...with fasting..." This means they were abstaining from food, a common practice in times of mourning and repentance. It symbolizes humility and a focus on spiritual matters rather than physical needs.
"...with sackcloth..." Sackcloth was a coarse, rough fabric (usually made of goat hair) worn as a sign of mourning, repentance, and humility. It was uncomfortable and symbolized a turning away from earthly comforts.
"...and dirt on them." Putting dirt or ashes on their heads was another ancient practice of expressing grief, humiliation, and repentance. It further emphasized their lowered status and their sorrow over their sins.
In summary, this verse depicts a deliberate and public act of contrition and repentance by the Israelites. After hearing the Law, they realized their shortcomings and their ancestors' failures. They showed their sorrow and humility through fasting, wearing sackcloth, and putting dirt on themselves as they gathered together.
The context of Nehemiah 9 will reveal the specific reasons for their repentance, which generally revolve around the Israelites' disobedience to God's law and their resulting suffering throughout their history. This verse sets the stage for Nehemiah's prayer of confession that follows in the rest of the chapter.