Nehemiah 8:1

Ezra Reads the Law

1 all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

Nehemiah 8:1 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel.
New Living Translation (NLT)
1 all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had given for Israel to obey.
The Message Bible (MSG)
1 By the time the seventh month arrived, the People of Israel were settled in their towns. Then all the people gathered as one person in the town square in front of the Water Gate and asked the scholar Ezra to bring the Book of The Revelation of Moses that God had commanded for Israel.
American Standard Version (ASV)
1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
1 [When the seventh month came,] all the people gathered together in the courtyard in front of Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of Moses' Teachings, which the Lord had commanded Israel [to follow].
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
1 all the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had given Israel.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
1 all of them gathered together. They went to the open area in front of the Water Gate. They told Ezra to bring out the Scroll of the Law of Moses. The LORD had given Israel that law so they would obey him. Ezra was a teacher of the law.

Nehemiah 8:1 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 8:1

And all the people gathered themselves together as one man
into the street that was before the watergate
A large and commodious street for such a company of people, which led to the water gate, of which see ( Nehemiah 3:26 ) hither the people gathered with great unanimity, zeal, and affection:

and they spoke unto Ezra the scribe;
the same who is called Ezra the priest, and scribe of the law of God, and said to be a ready one, ( Ezra 7:6 Ezra 7:11 Ezra 7:12 ) , who came to Jerusalem thirteen years before this time; but very probably returned to Babylon again, and was lately come from thence:

to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to
Israel;
to observe what was commanded in it, and which he had ordered to be read, particularly every seventh year, at the feast of tabernacles, ( Deuteronomy 31:10 Deuteronomy 31:11 ) which was now drawing near, though this was not the precise time of reading it; hence some have thought this year was the sabbatical year; see ( Nehemiah 5:11 ) .

Nehemiah 8:1 In-Context

1 all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.
2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand.
3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
4 Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.
5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Nehemiah 3:26
  • 2. S Deuteronomy 28:61; S 2 Chronicles 34:15; Ezra 7:6
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