God’s Word Translation
Nehemiah 8:4
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.
Nehemiah 8:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
- New International Version (NIV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
Context of Nehemiah 8:4
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. 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. Ezra 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. 6Ezra thanked the Lord, the great God. All the people responded, “Amen! Amen!” as they raised their hands and then bowed with their faces to the ground and worshiped the Lord.
Read all of Nehemiah 8Nehemiah 8:4 word by word
וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֞ד עֶזְרָ֣א הַסֹּפֵ֗ר עַֽל־מִגְדַּל־עֵץ֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשׂ֣וּ לַדָּבָר֒ וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֣ד אֶצְל֡וֹ מַתִּתְיָ֡ה וְשֶׁ֡מַע וַ֠עֲנָיָה וְאוּרִיָּ֧ה וְחִלְקִיָּ֛ה וּמַעֲשֵׂיָ֖ה עַל־יְמִינ֑וֹ וּמִשְּׂמֹאל֗וֹ פְּ֠דָיָה וּמִֽישָׁאֵ֧ל וּמַלְכִּיָּ֛ה וְחָשֻׁ֥ם וְחַשְׁבַּדָּ֖נָה זְכַרְיָ֥ה מְשֻׁלָּֽם׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Ezraעֶזְרָא‛ezrâ' · EzraH5830
- the scribeסֹפֵרsâphar · secretaryH5608
- stoodעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
- upon a pulpitמִגְדָּלmigdâl migdâlâh · towerH4026
- of woodעֵץ‛êts · tree: woodH6086
- which they had madeעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
- for the purposeדָּבָרdâbâr · word: becauseH1697
- and besideאֵ֫צֶל'êtsel · besideH681
- Mattithiahמַתִּתְיָ֫הוּmattithyâh mattithyâhû · MattithiahH4993
- and Shemaשֶׁ֫מַעshema‛ · ShemaH8087
- and Anaiahעֲנָיָה‛ănâyâh · AnaiahH6043
- and Urijahאוּרִיָּה'ûrîyâh 'ûrîyâhû · UriahH223
- and Hilkiahחִלְקִיָּהוּchilqîyâh chilqîyâhû · HilkiahH2518
- and Maaseiahמַעֲשֵׂיָהוּma‛ăώêyâh ma‛ăώêyâhû · MaaseiahH4641
- on his right handיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
- and on his left handשְׂמֹאלώemô'l ώem'ôl · leftH8040
- Pedaiahפְּדָיָהוּpedâyâh pedâyâhû · PedaiahH6305
- and Mishaelמִישָׁאֵלmîyshâ'êl · MishaelH4332
- and Malchiahמַלְכִּיָּהוּmalkîyâh malkiyâhû · MalchijahH4441
- and Hashumחָשֻׁםchâshûm · HashumH2828
- and Hashbadanaחַשְׁבַּדָּנָהchashbaddânâh · HashbaddanahH2806
- Zechariahזְכַרְיָהוּzekaryâh zekaryâhû · ZechariahH2148
- Meshullamמְשֻׁלָּםmeshûllâm · MeshullamH4918
Cross-references for Nehemiah 8:4
- Nehemiah 10:25Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
- Nehemiah 11:5Maaseiah was the son of Baruch, who was the son of Col Hozeh, who was the son of Hazaiah, who was the son of Adaiah, who was the son of Joiarib, who was the son of Zechariah, who was the son of Shiloni.
- Nehemiah 10:3Pashhur, Amariah, Malchiah,
- Nehemiah 10:18Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
- Ezra 10:33From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei
- Nehemiah 10:7Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
- Nehemiah 11:7These are the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu, who was the son of Meshullam, who was the son of Joed, who was the son of Pedaiah, who was the son of Kolaiah, who was the son of Maaseiah, who was the son of Ithiel, who was the son of Jeshaiah,
- Nehemiah 12:13from Ezra, Meshullam; from Amariah, Jehohanan;
- Ezra 10:29From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth
Commentaries on Nehemiah 8:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Stood upon a pulpit of wood - מגדל migdal, a tower, a platform, raised up for the purpose, to elevate him sufficiently for the people both to see and hear him; for it is said, Nehemiah 8:5, that he was above all the people. This is the first intimation we have of a pulpit, or structure of this kind. But we must not suppose that it was any thing similar to those tubs or barrels ridiculously set up in churches and chapels, in which a preacher is nearly as…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The 13 persons mentioned were probably the chief priests of the course (shift) which was at the time performing the temple service.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4These thirteen people were likely community leaders. Some may have helped Ezra roll the scroll while he read.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Ezra ... stood upon a pulpit of wood--Not made in the form known to us, but only a raised scaffold or platform, broad enough to allow fourteen persons to stand with ease upon it. Ezra's duty was very laborious, as he continued reading aloud from morning until midday, but his labor was lightened by the aid of the other priests present. Their presence was of importance, partly to show their cordial agreement with Ezra's declaration of divine truth; and…Read the comment
Topics related to Nehemiah 8:4
In the dictionaries
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
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