Nehemiah 8:3

Nehemiah 8:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

Context of Nehemiah 8:3

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⌟. 2Then Ezra the priest brought the Teachings in front of the assembly. This included men, women, and any ⌞children⌟ who could understand what they heard. This took place on the first day of the seventh month. From 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. 4Ezra the scribe stood on a raised wooden platform made for this occasion. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right. Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam stood beside him on his left. 5Ezra, standing higher than all the other people, opened the book in front of all the people. As he opened it, all the people stood up.

Nehemiah 8:3 word by word

וַיִּקְרָא־בוֹ֩ לִפְנֵ֨י הָרְח֜וֹב אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀ לִפְנֵ֣י שַֽׁעַר־הַמַּ֗יִם מִן־הָאוֹר֙ עַד־מַחֲצִ֣ית הַיּ֔וֹם נֶ֛גֶד הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים וְהַמְּבִינִ֑ים וְאָזְנֵ֥י כָל־הָעָ֖ם אֶל־סֵ֥פֶר הַתּוֹרָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he readקָרָאqârâ' · to call: read outH7121
• therein beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• the streetרְחוֹבrechôb rechôb · street/plazaH7339
• the waterמַיmayim · Water (Gate)H4325
• gateשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
• from the morningאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
• until middayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• until middayמַחֲצִיתmachătsîyth · halfH4276
• before the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• and the womenאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• and those that could understandבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
• and the earsאֹ֫זֶן'ôzen · earH241
• of all the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• unto the bookסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: bookH5612
• of the lawתּוֹרָהtôrâh tôrâh · instructionH8451

Cross-references for Nehemiah 8:3

• 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.
• 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.”
• Acts 20:7On Sunday we met to break bread. Paul was discussing ⌞Scripture⌟ with the people. Since he intended to leave the next day, he kept talking until midnight.
• Acts 28:23On a designated day a larger number of influential Jews ⌞than expected⌟ went to the place where Paul was staying. From morning until evening, Paul was explaining God’s kingdom to them. He was trying to convince them about Jesus from Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets.
• Matthew 7:28When Jesus finished this speech, the crowds were amazed at his teachings.
• Mark 12:37David calls him Lord. So how can he be his son?” The large crowd enjoyed listening to him.
• Luke 8:18“So pay attention to how you listen! Those who understand ⌞these mysteries⌟ will be given ⌞more knowledge⌟. However, some people don’t understand ⌞these mysteries⌟. Even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”
• Luke 19:48But they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were eager to hear him.
• Acts 16:14A woman named Lydia was present. She was a convert to Judaism from the city of Thyatira and sold purple dye for a living. She was listening because the Lord made her willing to pay attention to what Paul said.
• Acts 17:11The people of Berea were more open-minded than the people of Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive God’s message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13Here is another reason why we never stop thanking God: When you received God’s word from us, you realized it wasn’t human words. Instead, you accepted it for what it really is—God’s word. This word is at work in you believers.
• Hebrews 2:1For this reason we must pay closer attention to what we have heard. Then we won’t drift away ⌞from the truth⌟.
• Revelation 2:29Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
• Revelation 3:22Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Commentaries on Nehemiah 8:3

• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The time from early morning until noon allowed about six hours for reading and interpreting (Nehemiah 8:7–8). understand (see also Nehemiah 8:2, 8, 12): This was more than a ritual reading of the law. It included explanations, insights, and applications.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-81. all the people gathered themselves together as one man--The occasion was the celebration of the feast of the seventh month (Ne 7:73). The beginning of every month was ushered in as a sacred festival; but this, the commencement of the seventh month, was kept with distinguished honor as "the feast of trumpets," which extended over two days. It was the first day of the seventh ecclesiastical year, and the new year's day of the Jewish civil year, on which…Read the comment

Topics related to Nehemiah 8:3

• Children
• Commandments
• Feasts
• Law
• Repentance
• Synagogue
• Word of God
• Worship

In the dictionaries

• Ezra
• Read
• Atonement, Day of
• Bible, the
• City
• Criticism of the Bible
• Israel, History of
• Leviticus
• Midday
• Reading

Commentaries on Nehemiah 8

• 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