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.
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.
- BSB 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.
- 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 8:33–34Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
- Prov 12:1Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
- Prov 2:1–6My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
- Luke 19:47–48And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,
- Luke 24:32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
- Acts 13:42And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
- Mark 6:33–34And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
- 2 Tim 2:24–25And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
- Acts 4:1And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
- Neh 8:7–8Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
- 2 Chr 30:23And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness.
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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