Nehemiah 8:3
New International Version
He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

New Living Translation
He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.

English Standard Version
And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

Berean Standard Bible
So 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.

King James Bible
And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

New King James Version
Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

New American Standard Bible
And he read from it before the public square which was in front of the Water Gate, from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

NASB 1995
He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

NASB 1977
And he read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the ears of the people were attentive to the book of the law.

Amplified Bible
Then he read from it, in front of the open square which was in front of the Water Gate, from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and women, those who could understand; and all the people listened carefully to the Book of the Law.

Christian Standard Bible
While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the law.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the law.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
From early morning till noon, he read the Law of Moses to them, and they listened carefully.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
From daybreak until noon, he read from it in the courtyard in front of Water Gate to the men, women, and [children] who could understand it. All the people listened to the Book of Moses' Teachings.

Good News Translation
There in the square by the gate he read the Law to them from dawn until noon, and they all listened attentively.

International Standard Version
Ezra read from it, facing the plaza in front of the Water Gate, from early in the morning until mid-day in the presence of the men and women, as well as all who could understand. All the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

Majority Standard Bible
So 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.

NET Bible
So he read it before the plaza in front of the Water Gate from dawn till noon before the men and women and those children who could understand. All the people were eager to hear the book of the law.

New Heart English Bible
And he read in it before the square that was before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the scroll of the law.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he read therein before the street that was before the water-gate from the morning until mid-day, before 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.

World English Bible
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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he reads in it before the broad place that [is] before the Water Gate, from the light until the middle of the day, in front of the men, and the women, and those intelligent, and the ears of all the people [are] toward the Scroll of the Law.

Young's Literal Translation
and he readeth in it before the broad place that is 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 are unto the book of the law.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will read in it before the broad place which is before the gate of the waters, from the light even to the half of the day, before the men and the women, and those understanding; and the ears of all the people will be to the book of the law.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he read it plainly in the street that was before the water gate, from the morning until midday, before the men, and the women, and all those that could understand: and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he read it openly in the street which was before the water gate, from morning even until midday, in the sight of the men and women, and those who understood. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the book.

New American Bible
In the square in front of the Water Gate, Ezra read out of the book from daybreak till midday, in the presence of the men, the women, and those children old enough to understand; and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.

New Revised Standard Version
He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he read the book in the street that was in front of the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women and before those who could hear: and the ears of the people were attentive to the book of the law.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he read the scroll in the street of the Water Gate from dawn and unto midday before the men and the women and before those who listened, and the ears of the people were inclined and they listened to the commandments of the Torah.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ezra Reads the Law
2On 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. 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. 4Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for this occasion. At his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and at his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.…

Cross References
Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Deuteronomy 31:11-13
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. / Then their children who do not know the law will listen and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

2 Kings 23:2
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.

Joshua 8:34-35
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.

2 Chronicles 34:30
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.

Acts 13:15
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.”

Luke 4:16-20
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: / “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, ...

Acts 15:21
For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

Matthew 13:19
When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

Mark 12:37
David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?” And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.

Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.

Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

1 Timothy 4:13
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.

Revelation 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.

Psalm 1:2
But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.


Treasury of Scripture

And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before 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.

he read

Luke 4:16-20
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read…

Acts 13:15,27
And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on…

Acts 15:21
For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

morning.

Acts 20:7,11
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight…

Acts 28:23
And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

ears

Matthew 7:28,29
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: …

Mark 12:37
David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

Luke 8:18
Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

Jump to Previous
Attentive Book Broad Early Ears Front Gate Law Midday Mid-Day Morning Presence Read Square Street Therein Understand Water Water-Gate Women
Jump to Next
Attentive Book Broad Early Ears Front Gate Law Midday Mid-Day Morning Presence Read Square Street Therein Understand Water Water-Gate Women
Nehemiah 8
1. The reverent manner of reading and hearing the law
9. They comfort the people
13. The eagerness of the people to hear and be instructed
16. They keep the feast of tabernacles














So Ezra read it aloud
The act of reading aloud in ancient times was a communal activity, often used to ensure that everyone, regardless of literacy, could hear and understand the sacred texts. The Hebrew root for "read" is קָרָא (qara), which implies a proclamation or a public reading. Ezra, a scribe and priest, was fulfilling his duty to make the Law accessible to the people, emphasizing the importance of oral tradition in preserving and transmitting God's Word.

from daybreak till noon
This phrase highlights the dedication and reverence the people had for the Word of God. The Hebrew day began at sunrise, and the extended period of reading signifies a deep hunger and respect for divine instruction. It also reflects the communal commitment to understanding and applying the Law in their lives, a testament to the spiritual revival occurring in Jerusalem.

as he faced the square before the Water Gate
The Water Gate was a significant location in Jerusalem, likely near a source of water, symbolizing purification and life. The choice of this public space for the reading underscores the accessibility of God's Word to all people. Archaeological findings suggest that city gates were central places for community gatherings, legal matters, and public announcements, making it an ideal setting for this pivotal event.

in the presence of the men, women, and others who could understand
This inclusive gathering indicates that the Law was meant for everyone, not just a select few. The Hebrew word for "understand" is בִּין (bin), which implies discernment and insight. The emphasis on understanding suggests that the reading was not merely a ritual but an opportunity for the community to engage with and internalize God's commandments.

And all the people listened attentively
The phrase "listened attentively" conveys a deep focus and eagerness to hear God's Word. The Hebrew root שָׁמַע (shama) means to hear, listen, or obey, indicating that the act of listening was both an auditory and a spiritual exercise. This attentiveness reflects a collective desire for spiritual renewal and a commitment to live according to God's will.

to the Book of the Law
The "Book of the Law" refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, which contain the foundational laws and teachings given to Moses. This public reading was a reaffirmation of the covenant between God and His people, reminding them of their identity and responsibilities as His chosen nation. The Torah served as the ultimate guide for righteous living and community governance, central to the Jewish faith and tradition.

(3) From the morning.--From daylight. The Book of the Law must have been a comprehensive one. Out of it Ezra and his companions read hour after hour, selecting appropriate passages.

And the ears of all the people . . . unto the book.--A general statement; the detail now follows.

Verse 3. - From the morning until midday. Or, "from daylight." He began as soon as it was light enough, and read on (he and his assistants - ver. 7) till noon, that is, for six hours or more. The reading appears to have been varied by occasional exposition (vers. 7, 8). The ears of all the people were attentive. Though there is no word in the Hebrew for "attentive," yet the meaning is quite correctly given: "the ears of all the people were to the book" Ñ fixed on that, and on nothing else.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So [Ezra] read
וַיִּקְרָא־ (way·yiq·rā-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

it aloud
בוֹ֩ (ḇōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

daybreak
הָאוֹר֙ (hā·’ō·wr)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 216: Illumination, luminary

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

noon
מַחֲצִ֣ית (ma·ḥă·ṣîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4276: A halving, the middle

as he faced
לִפְנֵ֨י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the square
הָרְח֜וֹב (hā·rə·ḥō·wḇ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7339: A broad open place, plaza

before
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the Water
הַמַּ֗יִם (ham·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

Gate,
שַֽׁעַר־ (ša·‘ar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

in front of
נֶ֛גֶד (ne·ḡeḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5048: A front, part opposite, a counterpart, mate, over against, before

the men
הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים (hā·’ă·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

and women
וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים (wə·han·nā·šîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

and those who could understand.
וְהַמְּבִינִ֑ים (wə·ham·mə·ḇî·nîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

And all
כָל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the people
הָעָ֖ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

listened attentively to
וְאָזְנֵ֥י (wə·’ā·zə·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - fdc
Strong's 241: Broadness, the ear

the Book
סֵ֥פֶר (sê·p̄er)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5612: A missive, document, writing, book

of the Law.
הַתּוֹרָֽה׃ (hat·tō·w·rāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law


Links
Nehemiah 8:3 NIV
Nehemiah 8:3 NLT
Nehemiah 8:3 ESV
Nehemiah 8:3 NASB
Nehemiah 8:3 KJV

Nehemiah 8:3 BibleApps.com
Nehemiah 8:3 Biblia Paralela
Nehemiah 8:3 Chinese Bible
Nehemiah 8:3 French Bible
Nehemiah 8:3 Catholic Bible

OT History: Nehemiah 8:3 He read therein before the broad place (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 8:2
Top of Page
Top of Page