Nehemiah 8:11

11 And the Levites caused all the people to be silent, saying, Be silent, for a holy day, and despond not.

Nehemiah 8:11 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 8:11

So the Levites stilled all the people
Made them quiet and easy, being backed by the governor:

saying, hold your peace;
refrain from weeping and mourning:

for the day is holy;
a festival, set apart for joy and gladness:

neither be ye grieved;
inwardly; as they were not to show any signs of sorrow outwardly, so they were not to cherish grief inwardly.

Nehemiah 8:11 In-Context

9 And Neemias, and Esdras the priest and scribe, and the Levites, and they that instructed the people, spoke and said to all the people, It is a holy day to the Lord our God; do not mourn, nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.

10 And said to them, Go, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to them that have nothing; for the day is holy to our Lord: and faint not, for the Lord is our strength.

11 And the Levites caused all the people to be silent, saying, Be silent, for a holy day, and despond not.

12 So all the people departed to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, for they understood the words which he made known to them.

13 And on the second day the heads of families assembled with all the people, the priests and Levites, to Esdras the scribe, to attend to all the words of the law.