Nehemiah 8:1–8
Ezra reads the law from morning until midday, and all the people listen closely
Study it word by word1And all the people gathered as one man into the square that is in front of the Water Gate, and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which YHWH had commanded Israel.
2So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, from man to woman, and all who could understand to listen, on the first day of the seventh month.
3And he read in it before the square that is in front of the Water Gate, from the light until the middle of the day, in front of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were toward the book of the law.
4And Ezra the scribe stood on a tower of wood that they had made for this; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, at his right; and at his left Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, Meshullam.
5And Ezra opened the book before the eyes of all the people, for he was above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
6And Ezra blessed YHWH, the great Elohim; and all the people answered, “Amen, amen,” lifting up their hands; and they bowed and prostrated themselves before YHWH with their faces to the ground.
7And Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites were making the people understand the law, and the people were in their place.
8And they read in the book, in the law of Elohim, clearly, and gave the sense, and they understood the reading.
In its context
…
9And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest, the scribe, and the Levites who made the people understand, said to all the people, “This day is holy to YHWH your Elohim; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.
10And he said to them, “Go, eat rich fatty foods and drink sweet drinks, and send portions to the one for whom nothing is prepared, for holy is the day to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of YHWH is your stronghold.”
Its words in the original
- יֵּאָסְפוּyeasfu· gather
Gather, bring together; store up; take away. "Be gathered to one's people" is to die.
- עָםam· people
People: a human group joined by kinship, history and destiny. "My people", said by God, is Israel. Also the people as a crowd, or troops.
- אִישׁish· man, husband, each
Man, male; with a possessive, husband. Also "each one", "anyone". It is "ish", distinct from "adam" (human being); it is used for the man in contrast with the woman ("ishah").
- אֶחָדechad· one
One; only, the same. Also "first" in a series.
- רְחוֹבrechov· square
Square: the open space of a town.
- פְנֵיfene· face, presence
Face. From there "surface" (the face of something) and "presence" (being before someone's face); with a preposition it means "before" or "in front of".
- שַׁעַרshaar· gate
Gate of a city. It was also the open place where the elders met, business was done and disputes were judged.
- מָּיִםmayim· water
Water. In Hebrew it is always plural ("waters").
- יֹּאמְרוּyomru· say
Say, speak. The most common verb for bringing in what someone says; sometimes "think" (say to oneself) or "command".
- עֶזְרָאezra· Ezra
Ezra: a priest and scribe, a descendant of Aaron, who went up from Babylon to Jerusalem to teach the law. Also another man of the same name in Nehemiah. The name means "help".
- סֹּפֵרsofer· count, tell
Count (numbers) and also tell (relate, recount). From here comes the word for "scribe".
- הָבִיאhavi· come, go in, bring
Come, arrive, go in, enter. In the causative form, "bring" or "carry in". "Go in to" a woman is to have marital relations with her.
- סֵפֶרsefer· writing, book
Writing, document, book (in ancient times, a scroll).
- תּוֹרַתtorat· instruction, law
"Torah": instruction, teaching that gives direction; hence "law". Later it is the name of the five books of Moses. This translation uses "instruction", and "law" when the body of laws is meant.
- מֹשֶׁהmoshe· Moses
Moses, the man God called to bring Israel out of Egypt and through whom he gave the Law. His name sounds like "draw out" (Exodus 2:10).
- צִוָּהtsiva· command
Command, give an order; give charge to someone.
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- יִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael· Israel
Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.
- כֹּהֵןkohen· priest
Priest: one who serves God on behalf of the people and presents the offerings.
- קָּהָלkahal· assembly
Assembly: a large group of people gathered; later, the people of Israel gathered before God.
- אִשָּׁהisha· woman, wife
Woman; with a possessive ("his woman"), wife. In Hebrew it is "ishah", which sounds like "ish", man.
- מֵבִיןmevin· understand, discern
Understand, discern: perceive clearly, distinguish, see what ought to be done.
- שְׁמֹעַshemoa· hear, listen, obey
Hear, listen. In the Bible listening truly includes paying heed; so it often means "obey". In the causative form, make heard, proclaim.
- יוֹםyom· day
Day: the hours of light, or a whole day from one evening to the next. Also an indefinite time or age ("in the day that...", "in those days").
- חֹדֶשׁchodesh· month, new moon
Month. The Hebrew month begins with the new moon; so the same word also means "new moon".
- שְּׁבִיעִיshevii· seventh
Seventh.
- יִּקְרָאyikra· call, proclaim
Call: speak out to someone, summon, invite, give a name, proclaim; also read aloud. "Call on the name of YHWH" is to pray to him and worship him.
- אוֹרor· light
Light: daylight, the light of a lamp or of the heavenly bodies. Figuratively, life, joy or well-being.
- מַחֲצִיתmachatsit· half
Half.
- נֶגֶדneged· in front of, counterpart
In front of, opposite, before. The full phrase "as in front of him" means someone who corresponds to him, a counterpart.
- אָזְנֵיazne· ear
Ear. "Speak in someone's ears" is to tell him something directly.
- יַּעֲמֹדyaamod· stand
Stand; stay, remain, endure. "Stand before" someone is to serve him or be in his presence. In another form of the verb, set up, place, appoint.
- מִגְדַּלmigdal· tower
Tower.
- עֵץets· tree, wood
Tree; also wood and what is made of it (a stick, a pole).
- עָשׂוּasu· do, make
Do, make, in the widest sense: build, produce, carry out, keep (a command), prepare.
- דָּבָרdavar· word, matter, thing
Word; what is said. Also "matter" or "thing": what is spoken about, an affair, an event.
- אֶצְלetsl· beside
Beside, next to.
- מַתִּתְיָהmatitya· Mattithiah
Mattithiah: the name of several Israelites. The name means "gift of YHWH."
- שֶׁמַעshema· Shema
Shema: the name of several Israelites and of a place in Judah.
- עֲנָיָהanaya· Anaiah
Anaiah: the name of one of those who stood beside Ezra when he read the law; also one of those who sealed the covenant (Nehemiah 10:22).
- אוּרִיָּהuriya· Uriah
Uriah: the name of several men; the best known is the Hittite, one of David's mighty men and husband of Bathsheba, whom David had killed in battle (2 Samuel 11). It means "my light is YHWH."
- חִלְקִיָּהchilkiya· Hilkiah
Hilkiah: a name meaning "my portion is YHWH," borne by several men: the father of Eliakim (2 Kings 18:18); the high priest who found the book of the law in Josiah's time (2 Kings 22:8); the father of the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:1), and others.
- מַעֲשֵׂיָהmaaseya· Maaseiah
Maaseiah: name of many Israelites. It means "work of YHWH."
- יְמִינyemin· right hand, south
Right, right hand. Facing the east, the right is the south. It is also the side of honor and of strength.
- שְּׂמֹאלsemol· left, north
Left, left hand. Facing the east, the left is the north.
- פְּדָיָהpedaya· Pedaiah
Pedaiah. A personal name meaning "YHWH has ransomed." In 2 Kings 23:36 he is the maternal grandfather of King Jehoiakim; other men also bear it (1 Chronicles 3:18; Nehemiah 3:25).
- מִישָׁאֵלmishael· Mishael
Mishael: the name of several Israelites, among them a son of Uzziel, cousin of Moses, and a companion of Daniel.
- מַלְכִּיָּהmalkiya· Malchijah
Malchijah: the name of several Israelites. The name means "my king is YHWH."
- חָשֻׁםchashum· Hashum
Hashum: head of a family that returned from the exile.
- חַשְׁבַּדָּנָהchashbadana· Hashbaddanah
Hashbaddanah: the name of one of those who stood at Ezra's left when he read the law.
- זְכַרְיָהzecharya· Zechariah
Zechariah: a name meaning "YHWH has remembered," one of the most frequent in the Bible. Borne, among others, by the king of Israel son of Jeroboam (2 Kings 14:29; 15:8), the son of the priest Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:20) and the prophet of the book that bears his name.
- מְשֻׁלָּםmeshulam· Meshullam
Meshullam: a very frequent name, from the root of "peace, be complete." In 2 Kings 22:3 the grandfather of Shaphan the scribe; also borne by many men of the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.
- יִּפְתַּחyiftach· open, engrave
Open; loosen, set free. In another form, engrave (cut lines in stone or metal).
- עֵינֵיene· eye
Eye. "In someone's eyes" means "in his opinion"; "find favor in the eyes of" is to please him. Also a spring of water.
- הָיָהhaya· be, become, happen
Be, exist; also "become" or "happen". It is the verb of "there was", "it was" and "it came to pass".
- יְבָרֶךְyevarech· bless, kneel
Bless. When God blesses, he gives good: life, children, fruit, prosperity. When a person "blesses God", he gives him nothing: he praises and thanks him. Between people, it is wishing the other the good that comes from God; also greet. The root also means kneel.
- אֱלֹהִיםelohim· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.
- גָּדוֹלgadol· great
Great in size, number, age or importance; also "the elder" of two; "high priest" is "great priest".
- יַּעֲנוּyaanu· answer
Answer, reply; also speak up, testify, or sing in response.
- אָמֵןamen· amen
Amen: "so it is," "so be it." Whoever says it accepts as firm and true what has just been said.
- מֹעַלmoal· lifting up
The act of lifting up the hands, as a gesture of prayer or of agreement.
- יְדֵיyede· hand, power
Hand. Figuratively, power or control ("into the hand of" = into the power of); also side, part, or share. Also a projecting piece, such as a tenon.
- יִּקְּדוּyikdu· bow down
Bow the head or the body as a sign of respect.
- יִּשְׁתַּחֲוֻּyishtachavu· bow down, worship
Bow down: bend down to the ground. It was the gesture of respect before someone greater (a king, a visitor) and also the gesture of worshiping God.
- אַפַּיִםapayim· anger, nose
Nose, nostrils. Since breathing grows hard in anger, the same word also means "anger"; sometimes "face".
- אָרְצָartsa· earth, land
The earth, in two senses: the whole world in contrast with the heavens, or a particular country or region ("the land of Egypt").
- יֵשׁוּעַyeshua· Jeshua
Jeshua: name of several Israelites; above all the high priest who returned with Zerubbabel, also a priest head of the ninth division, Levites and others; also a town of Judah. It is a late form of the name Joshua and means "YHWH saves"; from it comes the name "Jesus."
- בָנִיvani· Bani
Bani, the name of several men: a Gadite, one of David's mighty men (2 Samuel 23:36), and several Levites and heads of families in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.
- שֵׁרֵבְיָהsherevya· Sherebiah
Sherebiah: a Levite of the sons of Mahli who joined Ezra; later he helped to explain the law to the people (Nehemiah 8:7).
- יָמִיןyamin· Jamin
Jamin, a son of Simeon; also the name of two other Israelites.
- עַקּוּבakuv· Akkub
Akkub: the name of several Israelites, above all Levite gatekeepers after the exile.
- שַׁבְּתַיshabtay· Shabbethai
Shabbethai: the name of a Levite of the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. It comes from "shabbat".
- הוֹדִיָּהhodiya· Hodiah
Hodiah: the name of several Levites of the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. It means "majesty of YHWH".
- קְלִיטָאkelita· Kelita
Kelita: another name of the Levite Kelaiah; he also appears among those who explained the law to the people (Nehemiah 8:7).
- עֲזַרְיָהazarya· Azariah
Azariah: the name of many men in the Bible: priests and officials in the time of Solomon (1 Kings 4:2, 5), a king of Judah also called Uzziah (2 Kings 15), one of Daniel's companions (Daniel 1:6), and others. The name means "YHWH has helped."
- יוֹזָבָדyozavad· Jozabad
Jozabad: name of several Israelites. It means "YHWH has given."
- חָנָןchanan· Hanan
Hanan: the name of several Israelites. The name means "he has shown favor."
- פְּלָאיָהpelaya· Pelaiah
Pelaiah: the name of several Israelites. The name means "YHWH has done something wonderful."
- לְוִיִּםleviyim· Levite
Levite: of the tribe of Levi.
- עָמְדָamda· place, post
Post: the fixed place where someone is to stand to do his service.
- מְפֹרָשׁmeforash· make clear, declare
Declare clearly, explain what had not been decided. Also scatter, separate.
- שׂוֹםsom· put, set
Put, place, set; appoint, establish; make something into something.
- שֶׂכֶלsechel· insight, good sense
Understanding, good judgment, the intelligence to act well.
- מִּקְרָאmikra· convocation
Convocation: a gathering to which the whole people is called; also a reading (Nehemiah 8:8).