Nehemiah 9:3
What does Nehemiah 9:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 9:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 9:3 means
Israel spends half the day immersed in God’s Law and the other half confessing and worshiping. The length and balance are instructive: hearing God’s word and responding to it with confession and adoration belong together. Their actions show that true reform is not a flash of emotion but a disciplined, time-consuming return to God. This public rhythm—Scripture, confession, worship—trains the community to live by what God says. The verse underscores the centrality of the Law for shaping repentance. As they listen, they learn how they have strayed; as they confess, they agree with God’s assessment; as they worship, they honor Him for His holiness and mercy.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God a fourth part of the day; andanotherfourth part they confessed, and worshipped Jehovah their God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God a fourth part of the day; andanotherfourth part they confessed, and worshipped Jehovah their God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And for a fourth part of the day, upright in their places, they were reading from the book of the law of their God; and for a fourth part of the day they were requesting forgiveness and worshipping the Lord their God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and rise up on their station, and read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God a fourth of the day, and a fourth they are confessing and bowing themselves to Jehovah their God.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they rose up to stand: and they read in the book of the law of the Lord their God, four times in the day, and four times they confessed, and adored the Lord their God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Jehovah theirGod a fourth part of the day; and a fourth part they confessed, and worshipped Jehovah theirGod.
Context
The people’s sorrow now takes structured form. After separating themselves and acknowledging sin, they devote themselves to listening to the Law—likely the Torah—and then praying in response. This prepares for the Levites’ leadership in verses 4–5 and the great prayer that follows (verses 5–38). Understanding the Law’s content will fuel the remembrance of God’s acts in creation, covenant, exodus, and beyond. The pattern shows that prayer grows out of Scripture, not mere sentiment.
v.2And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
v.3This passage
v.4Then stood up upon the stairs of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto Jehovah their God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Nehemiah 8:7
Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
- Nehemiah 8:3
And he read therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
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