God’s Word Translation
Nehemiah 13:1
1On that day the Book of Moses was read while the people were listening. They heard the passage that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into God’s assembly.
Nehemiah 13:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;
- New International Version (NIV)On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God,
- English Standard Version (ESV)On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,
- New King James Version (NKJV)On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God,
Context of Nehemiah 13:1
On that day the Book of Moses was read while the people were listening. They heard the passage that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into God’s assembly. 2(After all, they didn’t welcome the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam to curse the Israelites. But our God turned the curse into a blessing.) 3After the people heard this Teaching, they separated the non-Israelites from the Israelites.
Read all of Nehemiah 13Nehemiah 13:1 word by word
בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא נִקְרָ֛א בְּסֵ֥פֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּאָזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם וְנִמְצָא֙ כָּת֣וּב בּ֔וֹ אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹא־יָב֨וֹא עַמֹּנִ֧י וּמֹאָבִ֛י בִּקְהַ֥ל הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- On that dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- they readקָרָאqârâ' · to call: read outH7121
- in the bookסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: bookH5612
- of Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
- in the audienceאֹ֫זֶן'ôzen · ear: hearingH241
- of the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- and therein was foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
- writtenכָּתַבkâthab · to writeH3789
- that the Ammoniteעַמּוֹנִי‛ammônîy · AmmonH5984
- and the Moabiteמוֹאָבִיmô'âbîy mô'âbîyâh mô'âbîyth · MoabiteH4125
- should not comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- into the congregationקָהָלqâhâl · assemblyH6951
- of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- forעַד‛ad · tillH5704
- everעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769
Cross-references for Nehemiah 13:1
- Nehemiah 8:3From daybreak until noon, he read from it in the courtyard in front of Water Gate to the men, women, and ⌞children⌟ who could understand it. All the people listened to the Book of Moses’ Teachings.
- Nehemiah 9:3They stood in their places, and for one-fourth of the day, ⌞they listened as⌟ the Book of the Teachings of the Lord their God was read, and for another fourth ⌞of the day⌟, they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God.
- Deuteronomy 31:11all the Israelites will come into the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose. Read these teachings so that they can hear them.
- 2 Kings 23:2The king, everyone in Judah, everyone living in Jerusalem, the priests, the prophets, and all the people (young and old) went to the Lord’s temple. Josiah read everything written in the Book of the Promise found in the Lord’s temple so that they could hear it.
- Isaiah 34:16Search the Lord’s book, and read it. Not one of these animals will be missing. Not one will lack a mate, because the Lord has commanded it, and his Spirit will gather them together.
- Luke 4:16Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. As usual he went into the synagogue on the day of rest—a holy day. He stood up to read the lesson.
- Luke 10:26Jesus answered him, “What is written in Moses’ Teachings? What do you read there?”
- Acts 13:15After reading from Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent ⌞a message⌟ to Paul and Barnabas. The message said, “Brothers, if you have any words of encouragement for the people, feel free to speak.”
- Acts 15:21After all, Moses’ words have been spread to every city for generations. His teachings are read in synagogues on every day of rest—a holy day.”
- Nehemiah 13:23In those days I saw some Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
- Deuteronomy 23:3Ammonites or Moabites may not join the assembly of the Lord. Not one descendant of theirs may join the assembly of the Lord for ten generations.
- Isaiah 15:1This is the divine revelation about Moab. In a single night Ar in Moab is laid waste and destroyed! In a single night Kir in Moab is laid waste and destroyed!
- Jeremiah 48:1This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says about Moab: How horrible it will be for Nebo; it will be destroyed. Kiriathaim will be put to shame; it will be captured. Its stronghold will be put to shame and torn down.
- Ezekiel 25:1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said,
- Amos 2:1This is what the Lord says: Because Moab has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime, I will not change my plans. The Moabites have cremated Edom’s king.
- Nehemiah 2:10But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, they were very upset that someone had come to give the people of Israel so much assistance.
Commentaries on Nehemiah 13:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1On that day - I am quite of Calmet's mind that the transaction detailed in this chapter did not immediately succeed the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem. It is most likely that, when this dedication was ended, Nehemiah returned to Babylon, as himself particularly marks, Nehemiah 13:6, for he did return in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes; and then, after certain days, supposed to be about the term of one year, he got leave to return to Jerusalem…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1On that day - Or, “at that time,” as in Nehemiah 12:44. The entire Pentateuch is probably meant by “the Book of Moses”.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Nehemiah turns out the mixed multitude. (1-9) Nehemiah's reform in the house of God. (10-14) Sabbath-breaking restrained. (15-22) The dismissal of strange wives. (23-31) Verses 1-9 Israel was a peculiar people, and not to mingle with the nations. See the benefit of publicly reading the word of God; when it is duly attended to, it discovers to us sin and duty, good and evil, and shows wherein we have erred. We profit, when we are thus wrought upon to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3On the same day the temple workers were appointed (Nehemiah 12:44), the text from Deuteronomy 23:3–6 was read. It stated that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God. Nehemiah later discovered (Nehemiah 13:4–14) that people were no longer following these teachings.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-91. On that day--This was not immediately consequent on the dedication of the city wall and gates, but after Nehemiah's return from the Persian court to Jerusalem, his absence having extended over a considerable period. The transaction here described probably took place on one of the periodical occasions for the public readings of the law, when the people's attention was particularly directed to some violations of it which called for immediate correction…Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Nehemiah 13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries