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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Nehemiah 8:2 On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/nehemiah/8-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/16_Neh_08_02.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Nehemiah 8:2 - Ezra Reads the Law" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen 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class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/nehemiah/8.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/nehemiah/8.htm">New International Version</a> So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. <a href="/nlt/nehemiah/8.htm">New Living Translation</a> So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. <a href="/esv/nehemiah/8.htm">English Standard Version</a> So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. <a href="/bsb/nehemiah/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. <a href="/kjv/nehemiah/8.htm">King James Bible</a> And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. <a href="/nkjv/nehemiah/8.htm">New King James Version</a> So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. <a href="/nasb_/nehemiah/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Then Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. <a href="/nasb/nehemiah/8.htm">NASB 1995</a> Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. <a href="/nasb77/nehemiah/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. <a href="/lsb/nehemiah/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could understand when listening, on the first day of the seventh month. <a href="/amp/nehemiah/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a> So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. <a href="/csb/nehemiah/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> On the first day of the seventh month, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. <a href="/hcsb/nehemiah/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. <a href="/asv/nehemiah/8.htm">American Standard Version</a> And 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. <a href="/erv/nehemiah/8.htm">English Revised Version</a> And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation, both men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. <a href="/gwt/nehemiah/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Then Ezra the priest brought the Teachings in front of the assembly. This included men, women, and any [children] who could understand what they heard. This took place on the first day of the seventh month. <a href="/gnt/nehemiah/8.htm">Good News Translation</a> So Ezra brought it to the place where the people had gathered--men, women, and the children who were old enough to understand. <a href="/isv/nehemiah/8.htm">International Standard Version</a> So on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought out the Law before the assembled people. Both men and women were in attendance, as well as all who could understand what they were hearing. <a href="/msb/nehemiah/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. <a href="/net/nehemiah/8.htm">NET Bible</a> So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly which included men and women and all those able to understand what they heard. (This happened on the first day of the seventh month.) <a href="/nheb/nehemiah/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> 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. <a href="/wbt/nehemiah/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. <a href="/web/nehemiah/8.htm">World English Bible</a> 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. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/nehemiah/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And Ezra the priest brings the Law before the assembly, both of men and women, and everyone intelligent to hear, on the first day of the seventh month, <a href="/ylt/nehemiah/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 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, <a href="/slt/nehemiah/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Ezra the priest will bring the law before the convocation, from man and even to woman, and all understanding to hear in one day to the seventh month.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/nehemiah/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Then Esdras the priest brought the law before the multitude of men and women, and all those that could understand, in the first day of the seventh month. <a href="/cpdv/nehemiah/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Therefore, Ezra the priest brought the law before the multitude of men and women, and all those who were able to understand, on the first day of the seventh month. <a href="/nabre/nehemiah/8.htm">New American Bible</a> On the first day of the seventh month, therefore, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, which consisted of men, women, and those children old enough to understand. <a href="/nrsvce/nehemiah/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/nehemiah/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And Ezra the priest brought the book of the law before the congregation, both of men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. <a href="/hpbt/nehemiah/8.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And Azra the Priest brought the Scroll of the Law before the people of the men and unto the women and everyone who was prepared to hear on the first of the seventh month.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/nehemiah/8.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And Ezra the priest brought the Law before the congregation, both men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. <a href="/sep/nehemiah/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> 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. <a href="/parallel/nehemiah/8-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZsQrw7rBvgc?start=2005" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/8.htm">Ezra Reads the Law</a> 1At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. 2<a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: ’e·ḥāḏ (Number-ms) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">On the first</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: bə·yō·wm (Prep-b:: N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">day</a> <a href="/hebrew/7637.htm" title="7637: haš·šə·ḇî·‘î (Art:: Number-oms) -- Seventh (an ord. number). Or shbi iy; ordinal from shib'iym. seventh.">of the seventh</a> <a href="/hebrew/2320.htm" title="2320: la·ḥō·ḏeš (Prep-l, Art:: N-ms) -- New moon, a month. From chadash; the new moon; by implication, a month.">month,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5830.htm" title="5830: ‘ez·rā (N-proper-ms) -- Help, three Isr. A variation of ezrah; Ezra, an Israelite.">Ezra</a> <a href="/hebrew/3548.htm" title="3548: hak·kō·hên (Art:: N-ms) -- Priest. Active participle of kahan; literally, one officiating, a priest; also an acting priest.">the priest</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: way·yā·ḇî (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">brought</a> <a href="/hebrew/8451.htm" title="8451: hat·tō·w·rāh (Art:: N-fs) -- Direction, instruction, law. Or torah; from yarah; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch.">the Law</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: lip̄·nê (Prep-l:: N-cpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">before</a> <a href="/hebrew/6951.htm" title="6951: haq·qā·hāl (Art:: N-ms) -- Assembly, convocation, congregation. From qahal; assemblage.">the assembly</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: mê·’îš (Prep-m:: N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">of men</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: wə·‘aḏ- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’iš·šāh (N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">women</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: wə·ḵōl (Conj-w:: N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">and all</a> <a href="/hebrew/8085.htm" title="8085: liš·mō·a‘ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To hear. A primitive root; to hear intelligently.">who could listen</a> <a href="/hebrew/995.htm" title="995: mê·ḇîn (V-Hifil-Prtcpl-ms) -- To discern. A primitive root; to separate mentally, i.e.(generally) understand.">and understand.</a> 3So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/ezra/7-6.htm">Ezra 7:6</a> this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him. <a href="/deuteronomy/31-11.htm">Deuteronomy 31:11-12</a> when all Israel comes before the LORD your God at the place He will choose, you are to read this law in the hearing of all Israel. / Assemble the people—men, women, children, and the foreigners within your gates—so that they may listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and to follow carefully all the words of this law. <a href="/2_kings/23-2.htm">2 Kings 23:2</a> And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the prophets—all the people small and great—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD. <a href="/2_chronicles/34-30.htm">2 Chronicles 34:30</a> And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the Levites—all the people great and small—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD. <a href="/leviticus/23-24.htm">Leviticus 23:24</a> “Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly announced by trumpet blasts. <a href="/exodus/24-7.htm">Exodus 24:7</a> Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” <a href="/joshua/8-34.htm">Joshua 8:34-35</a> Afterward, Joshua read aloud all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. / There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua failed to read before the whole assembly of Israel, including the women, the little ones, and the foreigners who lived among them. <a href="/2_chronicles/17-9.htm">2 Chronicles 17:9</a> They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people. <a href="/acts/13-15.htm">Acts 13:15</a> After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.” <a href="/luke/4-16.htm">Luke 4:16-17</a> Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read, / the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written: <a href="/acts/15-21.htm">Acts 15:21</a> For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” <a href="/matthew/13-54.htm">Matthew 13:54</a> Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked. <a href="/mark/6-2.htm">Mark 6:2</a> When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles? <a href="/john/7-14.htm">John 7:14-15</a> About halfway through the feast, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach. / The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?” <a href="/acts/8-30.htm">Acts 8:30-31</a> So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. / “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>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.priest<a href="/deuteronomy/17-18.htm">Deuteronomy 17:18</a> And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:<a href="/deuteronomy/31-9.htm">Deuteronomy 31:9,10</a> And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel… <a href="/malachi/2-7.htm">Malachi 2:7</a> For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.congregation<a href="/deuteronomy/31-11.htm">Deuteronomy 31:11-13</a> When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing… <a href="/2_chronicles/17-7.htm">2 Chronicles 17:7-9</a> Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah… <a href="/acts/15-21.htm">Acts 15:21</a> For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.could hear with understanding.<a href="/isaiah/28-9.htm">Isaiah 28:9</a> Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.the first<a href="/leviticus/23-24.htm">Leviticus 23:24</a> Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.<a href="/numbers/29-1.htm">Numbers 29:1</a> And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/nehemiah/7-61.htm">Able</a> <a href="/nehemiah/7-66.htm">Assembly</a> <a href="/nehemiah/7-66.htm">Congregation</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-1.htm">Ezra</a> <a href="/nehemiah/7-5.htm">First</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-20.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/25-8.htm">Intelligent</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-1.htm">Law</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-2.htm">Meeting</a> <a href="/nehemiah/7-73.htm">Month</a> <a href="/nehemiah/7-65.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/nehemiah/7-73.htm">Seventh</a> <a href="/ezra/8-18.htm">Understanding</a> <a href="/nehemiah/7-67.htm">Women</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/nehemiah/8-8.htm">Able</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-17.htm">Assembly</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-17.htm">Congregation</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-4.htm">Ezra</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-18.htm">First</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-9.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/job/11-12.htm">Intelligent</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-3.htm">Law</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-1.htm">Meeting</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-13.htm">Month</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-9.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-14.htm">Seventh</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-8.htm">Understanding</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-3.htm">Women</a><div class="vheading2">Nehemiah 8</div>1. <a href="/nehemiah/8-1.htm">The reverent manner of reading and hearing the law</a> 9. <a href="/nehemiah/8-9.htm">They comfort the people</a> 13. <a href="/nehemiah/8-13.htm">The eagerness of the people to hear and be instructed</a> 16. <a href="/nehemiah/8-16.htm">They keep the feast of tabernacles</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/nehemiah/8.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/nehemiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/nehemiah/8.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>On the first day of the seventh month This date corresponds to the Jewish New Year, known as Rosh Hashanah, a time of spiritual renewal and reflection. It marks the beginning of the civil year in the Jewish calendar and is a time of gathering and celebration. Biblically, the seventh month, Tishri, is significant for several festivals, including the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. These festivals are times of repentance, atonement, and thanksgiving, setting a fitting backdrop for the public reading of the Law.Ezra the priest Ezra was a scribe and priest, a descendant of Aaron, who played a crucial role in the spiritual reformation of the Jewish people after their return from Babylonian exile. His priestly role underscores the importance of spiritual leadership and the teaching of God's Law. Ezra's dedication to studying and teaching the Law (<a href="/ezra/7-10.htm">Ezra 7:10</a>) highlights the importance of scriptural literacy and understanding in maintaining covenant faithfulness.brought the Law The Law refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, which contain the foundational legal and ethical instructions given by God to the Israelites. Bringing the Law before the people signifies a return to covenantal faithfulness and a desire to align the community's life with God's commandments. This act of public reading and teaching is reminiscent of <a href="/deuteronomy/31-10.htm">Deuteronomy 31:10-13</a>, where Moses instructed the Israelites to read the Law every seven years during the Feast of Tabernacles.before the assembly of men and women The inclusion of both men and women in the assembly emphasizes the communal nature of the covenant and the importance of everyone, regardless of gender, in understanding and adhering to God's Law. This inclusive gathering reflects the egalitarian aspects of the covenant community, where all are called to participate in the spiritual life of Israel.and all who could listen and understand This phrase indicates that the assembly included not only adults but also children and others capable of comprehension. It underscores the importance of understanding in the practice of faith, as knowledge of the Law is essential for living according to God's will. The emphasis on understanding aligns with the biblical principle that faith involves both hearing and doing (<a href="/james/1-22.htm">James 1:22</a>), and it highlights the role of teaching and interpretation in the community's spiritual life.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/e/ezra_the_priest.htm">Ezra the Priest</a> A scribe and priest who played a crucial role in the spiritual renewal of Israel. He was responsible for teaching the Law to the people. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_assembly.htm">The Assembly</a> This refers to the gathering of men, women, and children who were capable of understanding the reading of the Law. It signifies the inclusivity of the community in spiritual matters. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_law.htm">The Law</a> The Torah, or the first five books of the Bible, which contains the laws and commandments given by God to the Israelites. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_first_day_of_the_seventh_month.htm">The First Day of the Seventh Month</a> This date is significant as it marks the beginning of the Jewish civil year and the Feast of Trumpets, a time of gathering and reflection. 5. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a> The city where this event took place, serving as the spiritual and political center for the Jewish people.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_scripture_in_community_life.htm">The Importance of Scripture in Community Life</a> The public reading of the Law underscores the centrality of Scripture in guiding the community's spiritual and moral life. <a href="/topical/i/inclusivity_in_worship_and_learning.htm">Inclusivity in Worship and Learning</a> The assembly included all who could understand, highlighting the importance of making God's Word accessible to everyone, regardless of age or gender. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_spiritual_leaders.htm">The Role of Spiritual Leaders</a> Ezra's role as a priest and teacher emphasizes the responsibility of spiritual leaders to faithfully communicate God's Word to the people. <a href="/topical/t/the_significance_of_sacred_times.htm">The Significance of Sacred Times</a> The timing of this event on the first day of the seventh month shows the importance of aligning spiritual practices with God's appointed times for reflection and renewal. <a href="/topical/u/understanding_and_obedience.htm">Understanding and Obedience</a> The emphasis on understanding the Law points to the need for comprehension as a precursor to obedience, encouraging believers to seek clarity and insight into God's Word.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_nehemiah_8.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Nehemiah 8</a> <a href="/q/could_all_ages_stand_attentive_for_hours.htm">In Nehemiah 8:3, is it plausible that people of all ages could stand attentive “from early morning until midday”? </a> <a href="/q/how_was_nehemiah_10_31's_sabbath_feasible.htm">How can Nehemiah 10:31’s strict Sabbath regulations be feasible, given the economic and agricultural demands of that era? </a> <a href="/q/what_is_a_family_integrated_church.htm">What defines a Family Integrated Church?</a> <a href="/q/how_did_all_hear_the_law_in_neh._8_1-3.htm">How could the entire community realistically gather and hear the Law for hours, as stated in Nehemiah 8:1–3? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/nehemiah/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) Both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding.--Men, women, and children who had reached years of discretion.Upon the first day of the seventh month.--As the seventh was the most important month, in a religious sense, so the first day, the Feast of Trumpets, was the most important new moon (<a href="/leviticus/23-24.htm" title="Speak to the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall you have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.">Leviticus 23:24</a>).<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/nehemiah/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 2. - Ezra the priest brought the law. Ezra, God's true priest, at once responded to the call He did not say, "The law is difficult, hard to be understood, might mislead you, should be reserved for the learned;" but at once "brought it," and "read therein" before the congregation both of men and women, and of all that could hear with understanding, i.e. of all (youths and maidens) that were old enough to understand the words. <a href="/commentaries/nehemiah/8-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>On the first אֶחָ֖ד (’e·ḥāḏ) Number - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> United, one, first day בְּי֥וֹם (bə·yō·wm) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> A day of the seventh הַשְּׁבִיעִֽי׃ (haš·šə·ḇî·‘î) Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7637.htm">Strong's 7637: </a> Seventh (an ordinal number) month, לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ (la·ḥō·ḏeš) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2320.htm">Strong's 2320: </a> The new moon, a month Ezra עֶזְרָ֣א (‘ez·rā) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5830.htm">Strong's 5830: </a> Ezra -- 'help', three Israelites the priest הַ֠כֹּהֵן (hak·kō·hên) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3548.htm">Strong's 3548: </a> Priest brought וַיָּבִ֣יא (way·yā·ḇî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> To come in, come, go in, go the Law הַתּוֹרָ֞ה (hat·tō·w·rāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8451.htm">Strong's 8451: </a> Direction, instruction, law before לִפְנֵ֤י (lip̄·nê) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> The face the assembly הַקָּהָל֙ (haq·qā·hāl) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6951.htm">Strong's 6951: </a> Assembly, convocation, congregation of men מֵאִ֣ישׁ (mê·’îš) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> A man as an individual, a male person and וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-) Conjunctive waw | Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> As far as, even to, up to, until, while women אִשָּׁ֔ה (’iš·šāh) Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> Woman, wife, female and all וְכֹ֖ל (wə·ḵōl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> The whole, all, any, every who could listen לִשְׁמֹ֑עַ (liš·mō·a‘) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8085.htm">Strong's 8085: </a> To hear intelligently and understand. מֵבִ֣ין (mê·ḇîn) Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_995.htm">Strong's 995: </a> To separate mentally, understand <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/nehemiah/8-2.htm">Nehemiah 8:2 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/nehemiah/8-2.htm">Nehemiah 8:2 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/nehemiah/8-2.htm">Nehemiah 8:2 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/nehemiah/8-2.htm">Nehemiah 8:2 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/nehemiah/8-2.htm">Nehemiah 8:2 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/nehemiah/8-2.htm">Nehemiah 8:2 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/nehemiah/8-2.htm">Nehemiah 8:2 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/nehemiah/8-2.htm">Nehemiah 8:2 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/nehemiah/8-2.htm">Nehemiah 8:2 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/nehemiah/8-2.htm">Nehemiah 8:2 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-2.htm">OT History: Nehemiah 8:2 Ezra the priest brought the law before (Neh Ne) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/nehemiah/8-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Nehemiah 8:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 8:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/nehemiah/8-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Nehemiah 8:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 8:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>