On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to study the words of the Law.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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 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.
- NKJV Now on the second day the heads of the fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, in order to understand the words of the Law.
- NASB Then on the second day the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe so that they might gain insight into the words of the Law.
- NLT On October 9 the family leaders of all the people, together with the priests and Levites, met with Ezra the scribe to go over the Law in greater detail.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
On the next day the family heads, priests, and Levites gathered to Ezra to study the Law more closely. Hunger for God's word led to deeper, continued study.
Overview
The day after the great assembly, the leaders returned to Ezra specifically to gain deeper insight into the Law. This eager, ongoing study shows that genuine encounter with Scripture creates a desire to learn more, not less. Their diligence here leads directly to rediscovering the Feast of Booths (8:14ff.), illustrating how careful study of God's word bears fruit in obedience.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Prov 8:33–34Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
- Prov 12:1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
- Prov 2:1–6My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,
- Luke 19:47–48Jesus was teaching at the temple every day, but the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people were intent on killing Him.
- Luke 24:32They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
- Acts 13:42As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath.
- Mark 6:33–34But many people saw them leaving and recognized them. They ran together on foot from all the towns and arrived before them.
- 2 Tim 2:24–25And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
- Acts 4:1While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,
- Neh 8:7–8The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places.
- 2 Chr 30:23The whole assembly agreed to observe seven more days, so they observed seven days with joy.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The rebuilt walls and renewed covenant community foreshadow the greater builder who gathers and secures a people for God, the one who declares 'I will build my church.'
How Nehemiah 8:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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