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Nehemiah · Free Bible Version

Nehemiah 8 Free Bible Version

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  • Individual translator
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew
  • NT: Critical text
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Dynamic (thought for thought)
  • 2018
  • CC BY-SA 4.0

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

FBV Free Bible Version
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 and the people gathered together as one in the square beside the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had ordered Israel to follow.
1 All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the wide place that was in front of the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded to Israel.
2 On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly—men and women, and all those children who could listen and understand.
2 Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.
3 He read from it in front of the square before the Water Gate from early morning till noon to everyone there, the men and the women and those who could understand. All the people listened carefully to the Book of the Law.
3 He read from it before the wide place that was in front of the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand. The ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.
4 Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden stage built for this event. On his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and on his left Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
4 Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5 Ezra opened the book while they were all watching because the whole crowd could see him. When he opened it they all stood up.
5 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people), and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and everyone answered, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted up their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
6 Then Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God. All the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” with the lifting up of their hands. They bowed their heads, and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the ground.
7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were the Levites present, explained the Law to the people as they remained standing there.
7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law; and the people stayed in their place.
8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making clear the meaning so that the people could understand what it said.
8 They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were teaching the people told them all, “This is a holy day to the Lord your God. Don't mourn or cry,” for everyone was crying as they heard the Law being read.
9 Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “Today is holy to Yahweh your God. Don’t mourn, nor weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
10 Nehemiah went on, “Go and enjoy some good food and sweet drinks, and share some with those who don't have anything ready, because today is a special, holy day to our Lord. Don't be sad, for your strength comes from the Lord who makes you happy.”
10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.”
11 The Levites too were quieting everyone down, telling them, “Don't cry! This is a holy day and you shouldn't be sad.”
11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Hold your peace, for the day is holy. Don’t be grieved.”
12 Then everyone went away to eat and drink, and to share their food. They celebrated happily because now they understood the Law as it had been explained to them.
12 All the people went their way to eat, to drink, to send portions, and to celebrate, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
13 The next day family leaders of all the people, as well as the priests and Levites, joined with Ezra the scribe to study the Law in more depth.
13 On the second day, the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered together to Ezra the scribe, to study the words of the law.
14 They discovered written in the Law the Lord had ordered to be observed through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in shelters during the festival of the seventh month.
14 They found written in the law how Yahweh had commanded by Moses that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month;
15 They were to make an announcement in all their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go into the hills and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees, to make shelters to live in, as the Law requires.”
15 and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain, and get olive branches, branches of wild olive, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make temporary shelters, as it is written.”
16 So they went out and brought back branches and made shelters for themselves on the roofs of their houses, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of God's Temple, and in the squares near the Water Gate and the Ephraim Gate.
16 So the people went out and brought them, and made themselves temporary shelters, everyone on the roof of his house, in their courts, in the courts of God’s house, in the wide place of the water gate, and in the wide place of Ephraim’s gate.
17 Everyone who came back from exile made shelters and stayed in them. They had not celebrated like this since the time of Joshua, son of Nun. Everyone was very happy.
17 All the assembly of those who had come back out of the captivity made temporary shelters and lived in the temporary shelters, for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day the children of Israel had not done so. There was very great gladness.
18 Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites observed the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day they met together in assembly, as the Law required.
18 Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.

People & places in this chapter

From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.

People

  • Akkub

    Levite gatekeeper

    Akkub is named among the gatekeepers, with Shallum as their chief (1 Chronicles 9:17).

    Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 9:17; Nehemiah 8:7

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  • Anaiah

    Stood at Ezra’s right

    Stood at Ezra’s right side on the wooden platform when he read the Law.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:4

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  • Azariah

    Levite

    Levite named Azariah in the Levites who instructed the people in the Law (Nehemiah 8:7). The lists do not say whether same-named Levites in different lists are one man.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:7

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  • Bani

    Levite

    Levite named Bani in the Levites who taught the Law, led confession and sealed the covenant (Nehemiah 8:7, 9:4-5, 10:13). The lists do not say whether same-named Levites in…

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:7; Nehemiah 9:4; Nehemiah 9:5

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  • Hanan

    Levite

    Levite named Hanan in the Levites who taught the Law and sealed the covenant. The lists do not say whether same-named Levites in different lists are one man.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:7; Nehemiah 10:10

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  • Hash-baddanah

    Stood at Ezra’s left

    Stood at Ezra’s left side on the wooden platform when he read the Law.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:4

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  • Hashum

    Stood at Ezra’s left

    Stood at Ezra’s left side on the wooden platform when he read the Law.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:4

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  • Hilkiah

    Stood at Ezra’s right

    Stood at Ezra’s right side on the wooden platform when he read the Law.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:4

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  • Hodiah

    Levite

    Levite named Hodiah in the Levites who taught the Law, led prayer and sealed the covenant. The lists do not say whether same-named Levites in different lists are one man.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:7; Nehemiah 9:5; Nehemiah 10:10

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  • Jamin

    Levite

    Levite named Jamin in the Levites who instructed the people in the Law (Nehemiah 8:7). The lists do not say whether same-named Levites in different lists are one man.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:7

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  • Jeshua

    Levite leader

    Levite who returned with Zerubbabel, supervised the temple work with Kadmiel, taught the people the Law, and led the confession and blessing. The list in Neh 10:9 names a Jeshua…

    Cited in the guide: Ezra 2:40; Ezra 3:9; Nehemiah 8:7

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  • Jozabad

    Levite

    Levite named Jozabad in the Levites who taught the Law, and among the leaders who supervised work outside the house of God. The lists do not say whether same-named Levites in…

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:7; Nehemiah 11:16

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  • Kelita

    Levite

    Levite named Kelita in the Levites who taught the Law and sealed the covenant. The lists do not say whether same-named Levites in different lists are one man.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:7; Nehemiah 10:10

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  • Maaseiah

    Stood at Ezra’s right

    Stood at Ezra’s right side on the wooden platform when he read the Law.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:4

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  • Maaseiah

    Levite

    Levite named Maaseiah in the Levites who instructed the people in the Law (Nehemiah 8:7). The lists do not say whether same-named Levites in different lists are one man.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:7

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  • Malchijah

    Stood at Ezra’s left

    Stood at Ezra’s left side on the wooden platform when he read the Law.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:4

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  • Mattithiah

    Stood at Ezra’s right

    Stood at Ezra’s right side on the wooden platform when he read the Law.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:4

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  • Meshullam

    Stood at Ezra’s left

    Stood at Ezra’s left side on the wooden platform when he read the Law.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:4

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  • Mishael

    Stood at Ezra’s left

    Stood at Ezra’s left side on the wooden platform when he read the Law.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:4

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  • Nehemiah

    Cupbearer, governor, wall builder

    Son of Hacaliah and cupbearer to Artaxerxes at Susa; grieved over Jerusalem, was sent as governor, rebuilt the wall in 52 days despite opposition, led the covenant renewal, and…

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 1:1; Nehemiah 8:9; Nehemiah 10:1

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  • Pedaiah

    Stood at Ezra’s left

    Stood at Ezra’s left side on the wooden platform when he read the Law.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:4

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  • Pelaiah

    Levite

    Levite named Pelaiah in the Levites who taught the Law and sealed the covenant. The lists do not say whether same-named Levites in different lists are one man.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:7; Nehemiah 10:10

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  • Shabbethai

    Levite who instructed the people

    Levite who supported the opposition to the plan in Ezra 10:15; a Levite of this name also helps explain the Law (Neh 8:7) and supervises work outside the temple (Neh 11:16).

    Cited in the guide: Ezra 10:15; Nehemiah 8:7; Nehemiah 11:16

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  • Shema

    Stood at Ezra’s right

    Stood at Ezra’s right side on the wooden platform when he read the Law.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:4

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  • Sherebiah

    Levite of insight

    A man of insight from the line of Mahli son of Levi, brought to Ezra with 18 sons and brothers; he was set apart to guard the silver and gold. A Levite of this name also teaches…

    Cited in the guide: Ezra 8:18; Ezra 8:24; Nehemiah 8:7

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  • Uriah

    Stood at Ezra’s right

    Stood at Ezra’s right side on the wooden platform when he read the Law.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:4

    See in the family tree

  • Zechariah

    Stood at Ezra’s left

    Stood at Ezra’s left side on the wooden platform when he read the Law.

    Cited in the guide: Nehemiah 8:4

    See in the family tree

Cross references (18)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 Ezra 7:6; 2 Chronicles 34:15; Nehemiah 3:26; Matthew 13:52; Ezra 3:1–13
  2. 2 Leviticus 23:24; Malachi 2:7; Numbers 29:1; Isaiah 28:9; Acts 15:21
  3. 3 Revelation 3:22; Luke 4:16–20; Hebrews 2:1–3; Revelation 2:29; Acts 28:23
  4. 4 Nehemiah 10:18; Nehemiah 10:25; Ezra 10:33; Ezra 10:29; Nehemiah 10:3
  5. 5 Judges 3:20; 1 Kings 8:14; Luke 4:16–17
  6. 6 1 Timothy 2:8; Lamentations 3:41; Exodus 4:31; 2 Chronicles 20:18; Revelation 7:11
  7. 7 Nehemiah 9:4; Leviticus 10:11; Nehemiah 3:23; Ezra 10:22–23; Malachi 2:7
  8. 8 Luke 24:45; Acts 28:23; Acts 17:2–3; Luke 24:32; Acts 8:30–35
  9. 9 Nehemiah 7:65; Nehemiah 7:70; Deuteronomy 12:12; Deuteronomy 16:11; Nehemiah 8:2
  10. 10 Psalm 28:7–8; Proverbs 17:22; 2 Corinthians 12:8–9; Ecclesiastes 9:7; Isaiah 12:1–3
  11. 11 Numbers 13:30
  12. 12 Psalm 119:174; Psalm 119:171; Psalm 119:72; Luke 24:32; Nehemiah 8:7–8
  13. 13 Proverbs 8:33–34; Proverbs 12:1; Proverbs 2:1–6; Acts 4:1; 2 Chronicles 30:23
  14. 14 Leviticus 23:34; Leviticus 23:40–43; Deuteronomy 16:13–15; Zechariah 14:16–19; John 7:2
  15. 15 Leviticus 23:40; Deuteronomy 16:16; Leviticus 23:4; Judges 9:48–49; Genesis 8:11
  16. 16 Nehemiah 12:39; 2 Kings 14:13; Nehemiah 3:26; Nehemiah 12:37; Nehemiah 8:3
  17. 17 2 Chronicles 8:13; 2 Chronicles 7:8–10; Ezra 3:4; John 1:14; Hebrews 11:9
  18. 18 Leviticus 23:36; Numbers 29:35; Deuteronomy 31:10–13; John 7:37

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences