New King James Version
Nehemiah 8:4
4So 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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. To his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. To his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
Context of Nehemiah 8:4
2So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3Then 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. 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. 5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
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 11:5and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.
- Nehemiah 10:3Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,
- Nehemiah 10:18Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
- Ezra 10:33of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei;
- Nehemiah 10:7Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
- Nehemiah 11:7And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah;
- Nehemiah 12:13of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;
- Ezra 10:29of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Ramoth;
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries