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Nehemiah 8:1-8
Expanded Bible
Nehemiah 8:1-8
Expanded Bible
Ezra Reads the Teachings
8 All the people of Israel ·gathered [assembled] ·together [L like one man/person] in the square ·by [in front of] the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the ·teacher [scribe] to bring out the ·Book [scroll] of the ·Teachings [Law; L Torah] of Moses, which the Lord had ·given to [commanded/prescribed for] Israel.
2 So on the first day of the seventh month [C October 8], Ezra the priest brought out the ·Teachings [Laws; Instructions; L Torah] for the ·crowd [assembly]. Men, women, and all who could ·listen and understand [understand what they heard; C presumably older children] had ·gathered [assembled]. 3 At the square by the Water Gate Ezra read the ·Teachings [Laws; Instructions; L Torah] out loud from early morning until noon to the men, women, and everyone who could ·listen and understand [understand what they heard; C presumably older children]. All the people listened ·carefully [attentively; eagerly] to the ·Book [scroll] of the ·Teachings [Laws; Instructions; L Torah].
4 Ezra the ·teacher [scribe] stood on a high ·wooden platform [dais; L tower of wood; 2 Chr. 6:13] that had been built just for this ·time [occasion; purpose]. On his right were 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 [scroll] ·in full view [L to the eyes] of everyone, because he was above them. As he opened it, all the people stood up [C a sign of respect; Judg. 3:20; Job 29:8; Ezek. 2:1]. 6 Ezra ·praised [blessed] the Lord, the great God, and all the people ·held up [lifted] their hands [Ezra 9:5; Ps. 28:2; 134:2] and said, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed ·down [low] and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
7 These Levites ·explained [instructed regarding; 2 Chr. 17:7–9] the ·Teachings [Laws; Instructions; L Torah] to the people as they ·stood there [remained in place]: Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah. 8 They read from the ·Book [scroll] of the ·Teachings [Laws; Instructions; L Torah] of God and ·explained [clarified; or translated] what it meant so the people understood what was being read.
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Nehemiah 8:1-8
New International Version
Nehemiah 8:1-8
New International Version
8 1 all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate.(A) They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses,(B) which the Lord had commanded for Israel.
2 So on the first day of the seventh month(C) Ezra the priest brought the Law(D) 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(E) 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(F) 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(G) above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands(H) and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
7 The Levites(I)—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed(J) the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear[a] and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
Footnotes
- Nehemiah 8:8 Or God, translating it
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