Nehemiah 8:1-8

Ezra Reads the Law

1 And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of ¹the Water Gate, and they asked ²Ezra the scribe to bring ³the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel.

2 Then ⁴Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on ⁵the first day of the seventh month.

3 He read from it before the square which was in front of ⁶the Water Gate from early morning until midday *, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

4 Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand.

5 Ezra opened ⁷the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above * all the people; and when he opened it, all the people ⁸stood up.

6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, "⁹Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then ¹⁰they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place.

8 They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

Nehemiah 8:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 8

Ezra being desired to bring forth the book of the law, read it to the people and others, expounded it to them, Ne 8:1-8 and Nehemiah exhorted the people to express joy and gladness on this occasion, which they did, Ne 8:9-12 and observing the feast of tabernacles was in the law commanded to be observed, they kept it very strictly and joyfully, Ne 8:13-18.

Cross References

• 1. Nehemiah 3:26
• 2. Ezra 7:6
• 3. 2 Chronicles 34:15
• 4. Deuteronomy 31:9-11; Nehemiah 8:9
• 5. Leviticus 23:24
• 6. Nehemiah 8:1
• 7. Nehemiah 8:3
• 8. Judges 3:20; 1 Kings 8:12-14
• 9. Nehemiah 5:13
• 10. Exodus 4:31

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "said to"
• [b]. Lit "commanded"
• [c]. Lit "the light"
• [d]. Or "explaining"