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Nehemiah 8:13

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.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    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.

  • KJV King James Version

    And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.

  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And on the second day were gathered together the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the Law.

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Cross-references (11)

Passages linked to Nehemiah 8:13 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • Proverbs 2:1-6 My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you, so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures: then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God. For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
  • Proverbs 8:33-34 Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it. Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
  • Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.
  • 2 Chronicles 30:23 The whole assembly took counsel to keep another seven days, and they kept another seven days with gladness.
  • Nehemiah 8:7-8 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. They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.
  • Mark 6:33-34 They saw them going, and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him. Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.
  • Luke 19:47-48 He was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests, the scribes, and the leading men among the people sought to destroy him. They couldn’t find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said.
  • Luke 24:32 They said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?”
  • Acts 4:1 As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them,
  • Acts 13:42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
  • 2 Timothy 2:24-25 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle toward all, able to teach, patient, in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

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Explain this verse (13 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Neh 8:13 And on the second day were gathered…

Neh 8:13 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.

Ver. 13. And on the second day] The next day after they had heard the law expounded, but were not so well satisfied in some points or cases: they "follow on to know the Lord," Hos 6:3. Divine knowledge is as a great lady, that will not easily be acquainted with us but upon further suit, Pro 2:3-4.

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Were gathered together the chief of the fathers, &c.] Aeneas Sylvius was wont to say of knowledge, Popular men should esteem it as silver, noblemen as gold, princes prize it as pearls.

The priests, and Levites] These teachers of others took no scorn to learn from Ezra, that perfect scribe. The wisest here know but in part; because we prophesy but in part, 1Co 13:9; that is, we are taught but imperfectly, and those that should show us the way are themselves to seek; to teach us to run to Ithiel, the arch-prophet, as that great wise man did, Pro 30:1. The greatest part of those things which we know is the least part of the things which we know not, as that father saith.

Unto Ezra the scribe] Who was well instructed to the kingdom of God; and no less ready to throw out of his treasury, &c., Mat 13:52. It is said of Tacitus, that he knew all that he should know of the affairs of the world; and that he was primus in Historia; first in history, and that ex eius ore nil temere excidit he cut up nothing rashly from his mouth. (Scalig.). Think the same of Ezra, and much more; he was an able teacher of the ablest teachers, a sacred oracle, a living library, the argutest and accuratest of men after the prophets; as Austin is said to have been after the apostles, in contemplation and disputation.

Even to understand the words of the law] Which he had the day before expounded; and in some passages whereof they had a desire to be better resolved and satisfied. No man can possibly speak all at once, or deliver the mind of God so clearly and fully, but that there may be place left for cases and queries.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Choosing rather to confess their ignorance for their edification,…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain We have here,
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And on the second day were gathered together,.... The…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Levites - Chusing rather to confess their ignorance than…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Neh 8:13. On the second day were gathered to…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain To understand - Rather, “to consider.”
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Law, concerning some difficulties, particularly the manner of keeping…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES, Neh_8:13-18.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 13–18. The Feast of Tabernacles
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (13) The chief of the fathers.—Not the vast multitude…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain And on the second day were gathered together the…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On the second day

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