Nehemiah Chapter 8
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
and seventeen.
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The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four.
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The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred forty and eight.
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The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred thirty and eight.
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The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
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the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
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the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai,
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the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
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the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
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the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah.
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The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim,
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the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
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the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
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the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,
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the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
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The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,
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the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
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the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Amon.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
all the people gathered together as one man to the open place that was before the water-gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded Israel.
2
And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation, both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.
3
And he read in it before the open place that was before the water-gate from the morning until midday, in presence of the men and the women, and those that could understand. And the ears of all the people were [attentive] to the book of the law.
4
And Ezra the scribe stood upon a high stage of wood, which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkijah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddana, Zechariah, Meshullam.
5
And 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.
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And Ezra blessed Jehovah, the greatGod; and all the people answered, Amen, Amen! with lifting up of their hands; and they bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground.
7
And Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law; and the people [stood] in their place.
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And they read in the law ofGod distinctly out of the book, and gave the sense, and caused [them] to understand the reading.
9
And Nehemiah, that is, the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that explained to the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to Jehovah yourGod: mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
10
And he said to them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to them for whom nothing is prepared; for the day is holy to our Lord; and be not grieved, for the joy of Jehovah is your strength.
11
And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, Be still! for the day is holy; neither be grieved.
12
And all the people went their way, to eat and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great rejoicing. For they had understood the words that were declared to them.
13
And on the second day were gathered together the chief fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, to Ezra the scribe, even to gain wisdom as to the words of the law.
14
And they found written in the law which Jehovah had commanded through Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month,
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and that they should publish and proclaim through all their cities, and at Jerusalem, saying, Go forth to the mount, and fetch olive-branches, and wild olive-branches, and myrtle-branches, and palm-branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
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And the people went forth and brought [them], and made themselves booths, everyone upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house ofGod, and in the open space of the water-gate, and in the open space of the gate of Ephraim.
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And all the congregation of them that had come back from the captivity made booths, and dwelt in the booths. For since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun until that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.
18
Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law ofGod. And they observed the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
And the seventh month arrived, and the children of Israel [were settled] in their cities; and all the people were gathered as one man to the broad place before the water-gate, and they told Esdras the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord commanded Israel.
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So Esdras the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and every one who had understanding [was present] to hearken, on the first day of the seventh month.
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And he read in it from the time of sun-rise to the middle of the day, before the men and the women; and they understood [it], and the ears of all the people [were attentive] to the book of the law.
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And Esdras the scribe stood on a wooden stage, and there stood next to him Mattathias, and Samaeas, and Ananias, and Urias, and Chelcia, and Massia, on his right hand; and on his left Phadaeas, and Misael, and Melchias, and Asom, and Asabadma, and Zacharias, and Mesollam.
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And Esdras opened the book before all the people, for he was above the people; and it came to pass when he had opened it, [that] all the people stood.
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And Esdras blessed the Lord, the great God: and all the people answered, and said, Amen, lifting up their hands: and they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their face to the ground.
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And Jesus and Banaias and Sarabias instructed the people in the law, and the people [stood] in their place.
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And they read in the book of the law of God, and Esdras taught, and instructed them distinctly in the knowledge of the Lord, and the people understood [the law] in the reading.
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And Neemias, and Esdras the priest and scribe, and the Levites, and they that instructed the people, spoke and said to all the people, It is a holy day to the Lord our God; do not mourn, nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
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And [the governor] said to them, Go, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to them that have nothing; for the day is holy to our Lord: and faint not, for the Lord is our strength.
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And the Levites caused all the people to be silent, saying, Be silent, for [it is] a holy day, and despond not.
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So all the people departed to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, for they understood the words which he made known to them.
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And on the second day the heads of families assembled with all the people, [also] the priests and Levites, to Esdras the scribe, to attend to all the words of the law.
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And they found written in the law which the Lord commanded Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths, in the feast in the seventh month:
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and that they should sound with trumpets in all their cities, and in Jerusalem. And Esdras said, Go forth to the mountain, and bring branches of olive, and branches of cypress trees, and branches of myrtle, and branches of palm trees, and branches of [every] thick tree, to make booths, according to that which was written.
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And the people went forth, and brought [them], and made booths for themselves, each one upon his roof, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the streets of the city, and as far as the gate of Ephraim.
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And all the congregation who had returned from the captivity, made booths, and dwelt in booths: for the children of Israel [had] not done so from the days of Jesus the son of Naue until that day: and there was great joy.
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And [Esdras] read in the book of the law of God daily, from the first day even to the last day: and they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
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Et venerat mensis septimus: filii autem Israel erant in civitatibus suis. Congregatusque est omnis populus quasi vir unus ad plateam, quæ est ante portam aquarum: et dixerunt Esdræ scribæ ut afferret Librum legis Moysi, quam præceperat Dominus Israeli.
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Attulit ergo Esdras sacerdos legem coram multitudine virorum et mulierum, cunctisque qui poterant intelligere, in die prima mensis septimi.
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Et legit in eo aperte in platea quæ erat ante portam aquarum, de mane usque ad mediam diem, in conspectu virorum et mulierum, et sapientium: et aures omnis populi erant erectæ ad Librum.
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Stetit autem Esdras scriba super gradum ligneum, quem fecerat ad loquendum: et steterunt iuxta eum Mathathias, et Semeia, et Ania, et Uria, et Helcia, et Maasia, ad dexteram eius: et ad sinistram, Phadaia, Misael, et Melchia, et Hasum, et Hasbadana, Zacharia, et Mosollam.
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Et aperuit Esdras Librum coram omni populo: super universum quippe populum eminebat: et cum aperuisset eum, stetit omnis populus.
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Et benedixit Esdras Domino Deo magno: et respondit omnis populus: Amen, Amen: elevans manus suas. et incurvati sunt, et adoraverunt Deum proni in terram.
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Porro Iosue, et Bani, et Serebia, Iamin, Accub, Septhai, Odia, Maasia, Celita, Azarias, Iozabed, Hanan, Phalaia, Levitæ, silentium faciebant in populo ad audiendam legem: populus autem stabat in gradu suo.
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Et legerunt in Libro legis Dei distincte, et aperte ad intelligendum: et intellexerunt cum legeretur.
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Dixit autem Nehemias (ipse est Athersatha) et Esdras sacerdos et scriba, et Levitæ interpretantes universo populo: Dies sanctificatus est Domino Deo nostro, nolite lugere, et nolite flere. Flebat enim omnis populus cum audiret verba legis.
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Et dixit eis: Ite, comedite pinguia, et bibite mulsum, et mittite partes his, qui non præparaverunt sibi: quia sanctus dies Domini est, et nolite contristari: gaudium etenim Domini est fortitudo nostra.
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Levitæ autem silentium faciebant in omni populo, dicentes: Tacete, quia dies sanctus est, et nolite dolere.
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Abiit itaque omnis populus ut comederet et biberet, et mitteret partes, et faceret lætitiam magnam: quia intellexerant verba, quæ docuerat eos.
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Et in die secundo congregati sunt principes familiarum universi populi, Sacerdotes et Levitæ ad Esdram scribam, ut interpretaretur eis verba Legis.
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Et invenerunt scriptum in Lege præcepisse Dominum in manu Moysi ut habitent filii Israel in tabernaculis, in die sollemni, mense septimo:
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et ut prædicent, et divulgent vocem in universis urbibus suis, et in Ierusalem, dicentes: Egredimini in montem, et afferte frondes olivæ, et frondes ligni pulcherrimi, frondes myrti, et ramos palmarum, et frondes ligni nemorosi ut fiant tabernacula, sicut scriptum est.
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Et egressus est populus, et attulerunt. Feceruntque sibi tabernacula unusquisque in domate suo, et in atriis suis, et in atriis domus Dei, et in platea portæ aquarum, et in platea portæ Ephraim.
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Fecit ergo universa ecclesia eorum, qui redierant de captivitate, tabernacula, et habitaverunt in tabernaculis: non enim fecerant a diebus Iosue filii Nun taliter filii Israel usque ad diem illum. Et fuit lætitia magna nimis.
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Legit autem in Libro legis Dei per dies singulos, a die primo usque ad diem novissimum. et fecerunt sollemnitatem septem diebus, et in die octavo collectam iuxta ritum.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
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 the LORD had commanded to Israel.
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 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 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 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
Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. All the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” with the lifting up of their hands. They bowed their heads, and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
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 in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.
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 the LORD your God. Don’t mourn, nor weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
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 the LORD is your strength.”
11
So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Hold your peace, for the day is holy. Don’t be grieved.”
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
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 found written in the law how the LORD had commanded by Moses that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month;
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 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
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
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.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And all the people are gathered as one man unto the broad place that <FI>is<Fi> before the water-gate, and they say to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, that Jehovah commanded Israel.
2
And Ezra the priest bringeth the law before the assembly, both of men and women, and every one intelligent to hear, on the first day of the seventh month,
3
and he readeth in it before the broad place that <FI>is<Fi> before the water-gate, from the light till the middle of the day, over-against the men, and the women, and those intelligent, and the ears of all the people <FI>are<Fi> unto the book of the law.
4
And Ezra the scribe standeth on a tower of wood that they made for the purpose, and Mattithiah standeth near him, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right; and on his left Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddana, Zechariah, Meshullam.
5
And Ezra openeth the book before the eyes of all the people--for above all the people he hath been--and at his opening <FI>it<Fi> all the people have stood up,
6
and Ezra blesseth Jehovah, the great God, and all the people answer, `Amen, Amen,' with lifting up of their hands, and they bow and do obeisance to Jehovah--faces to the earth.
7
And Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, giving the people understanding in the law, and the people, <FI>are<Fi> on their station,
8
and they read in the book, in the law of God, explaining--so as to give the meaning, and they give understanding to the convocation.
9
And Nehemiah--he <FI>is<Fi> the Tirshatha--saith (and Ezra the priest, the scribe, and the Levites who are instructing the people) to all the people, `To-day is holy to Jehovah your God, do not mourn, nor weep:' for all the people are weeping at their hearing the words of the law.
10
And he saith to them, `Go, eat fat things, and drink sweet things, and sent portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for to-day <FI>is<Fi> holy to our Lord, and be not grieved, for the joy of Jehovah is your strength.'
11
And the Levites are keeping all the people silent, saying, `Be silent, for to-day <FI>is<Fi> holy, and be not grieved.'
12
And all the people go to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great joy, because they have understood concerning the words that they made known to them.
13
And on the second day have been gathered heads of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to act wisely concerning the words of the law.
14
And they find written in the law that Jehovah commanded by the hand of Moses, that the sons of Israel dwell in booths in the feast, in the seventh month,
15
and that they proclaim and cause to pass over all their cities, (and in Jerusalem,) saying, `Go ye out to the mount, and bring leaves of the olive, and leaves of the oil tree, and leaves of the myrtle, and leaves of the palms, and leaves of thick trees, to make booths as it is written.'
16
And the people go out, and bring in, and make for themselves booths, each on his roof, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad place of the water-gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.
17
And they make--all the assembly of the captives of the captivity--booths, and they sit in booths; for the sons of Israel had not done, from the days of Jeshua son of Nun, so unto that day, and there is very great joy.
18
And he readeth in the book of the law of God day by day, from the first day till the last day, and they make a feast seven days, and on the eighth day a restraint, according to the ordinance.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).