Nehemiah 8:1
What does Nehemiah 8:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 8:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 8:1 means
This verse shows a remarkable, Spirit-stirred unity. “All the people” gather “as one man” in a public square, not waiting for leaders to summon them but asking Ezra to bring “the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel.” Their desire is not for novelty but for God’s revealed will. Meeting by the water gate, outside the temple courts, underscores that God’s Word is for the whole community, not only the clergy. True renewal begins when people themselves hunger for Scripture. Here Israel’s restoration moves from stones and gates to hearts and minds, as they seek the covenant’s terms to order their lives under Jehovah’s authority.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their towns. And all the people came together like one man into the wide place in front of the water-doorway; and they made a request to Ezra the scribe that he would put before them the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had given to Israel.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And 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.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the seventh month came: and the children of Israel were in their cities. And all the people were gathered together as one man to the street which is before the water gate, and they spoke to Esdras the scribe, to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890all 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.
Context
After the wall’s completion and the listing of returnees, the narrative shifts from building projects to spiritual rebuilding. Verse 1 opens the scene with a unified crowd and their request for the Law. This sets the tone for the entire chapter: the Word of God takes center stage. What follows will describe how that Word is read, honored, and explained, and how the people respond. The next verses introduce Ezra’s role, the timing, and the inclusiveness of the assembly that has gathered to hear God’s law.
v.1This passage
v.2And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter.
- Nehemiah 8:16
So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, 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.
- Ezra 7:6
this Ezra went up from Babylon. And he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Jehovah, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him.
- Matthew 13:52
And he said unto them, Therefore every scribe who hath been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
- Ezra 3:1
And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.
- Matthew 23:2
saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat:
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