New English Translation
Nehemiah 8:3
3So he read it before the plaza in front of the Water Gate from dawn till noon before the men and women and those children who could understand. All the people were eager to hear the book of the law.
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
1all the people gathered together in the plaza which was in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the lord had commanded Israel. 2So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly which included men and women and all those able to understand what they heard. (This happened on the first day of the seventh month.) So he read it before the plaza in front of the Water Gate from dawn till noon before the men and women and those children who could understand. All the people were eager to hear the book of the law. 4Ezra the scribe stood on a towering wooden platform constructed for this purpose. Standing near him on his right were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Masseiah. On his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5Ezra opened the book in plain view of all the people, for he was elevated above all the people. When he opened the book, all the people stood up.
Read all of Nehemiah 8Nehemiah 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 4:16Now Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,
- Acts 13:15After the reading from the law and the prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, “Brothers, if you have any message of exhortation for the people, speak it.”
- Acts 15:21For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, because he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
- Acts 20:7On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul began to speak to the people, and because he intended to leave the next day, he extended his message until midnight.
- Acts 28:23They set a day to meet with him, and they came to him where he was staying in even greater numbers. From morning until evening he explained things to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets.
- Matthew 7:28When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed by his teaching,
- Mark 12:37If David himself calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.
- Luke 8:18So listen carefully, for whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”
- Luke 19:48but they could not find a way to do it, for all the people hung on his words.
- Acts 16:14A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, a God-fearing woman, listened to us. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying.
- Acts 17:11These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe.
- Hebrews 2:1Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
- Revelation 2:29The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
- Revelation 3:22The one who has an ear had better hear 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
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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