Nehemiah 9:3

3 They stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God a fourth part of the day; and [another] fourth part they confessed, and worshiped the LORD their God.

Nehemiah 9:3 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 9:3

And they stood up in their place
In the outward court of the temple, where men used to stand when they prayed and confessed their sins: and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God; that they might the better know the mind and will of God, and do their duty: this they did

one fourth part of the day;
the space of three hours, from sun rising, or six o'clock in the morning, to the time of the morning sacrifice, which was about nine o'clock:

and another fourth part they confessed;
the goodness of God to them, and the sins they had been guilty of:

and worshipped the Lord their God;
bowed down before him in prayer and supplication, and so spent three hours more, which reached to noon or twelve o'clock; and from thence to three o'clock, about the time of the evening sacrifice, and from thence to sun setting, or six o'clock, and so spent the whole day in the above exercises alternately.

Nehemiah 9:3 In-Context

1 Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Yisra'el were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and eretz on them.

2 The seed of Yisra'el separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

3 They stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God a fourth part of the day; and [another] fourth part they confessed, and worshiped the LORD their God.

4 Then stood up on the stairs of the Levites, Yeshua, and Bani, Kadmi'el, Shevanyah, Bunni, Sherevyah, Bani, [and] Kenani, and cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God.

5 Then the Levites, Yeshua, and Kadmi'el, Bani, Hashavneyah, Sherevyah, Hodiyah, Shevanyah, [and] Petachyah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting; and blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.