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Nehemiah 8: Ezra Reads God's Law

All the people gathered as one man at the water gate and asked Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses. Ezra read from early morning until midday, and all the people listened attentively. When he opened the book, all the people stood up, and they answered with Amen, Amen, and worshiped Yahweh. The Levites read distinctly and gave the sense, so that the people understood. The people wept when they heard the law, but Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites told them this day was holy, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength. They celebrated with great joy and kept the feast of booths, hearing the law read every day.

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Bible:

Read Nehemiah 8

World English Bible · 18 verses

  1. 1 All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the wide place that was in front of the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded to Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  2. 2 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  3. 3 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  4. 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  5. 5 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people), and when he opened it, all the people stood up.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  6. 6 Then Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God. All the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” with the lifting up of their hands. They bowed their heads, and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the ground.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  7. 7 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  8. 8 They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  9. 9 Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “Today is holy to Yahweh your God. Don’t mourn, nor weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  10. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  11. 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Hold your peace, for the day is holy. Don’t be grieved.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  12. 12 All the people went their way to eat, to drink, to send portions, and to celebrate, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  13. 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  14. 14 They found written in the law how Yahweh had commanded by Moses that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  15. 15 and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain, and get olive branches, branches of wild olive, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make temporary shelters, as it is written.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  16. 16 So the people went out and brought them, and made themselves temporary shelters, everyone on the roof of his house, in their courts, in the courts of God’s house, in the wide place of the water gate, and in the wide place of Ephraim’s gate.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  17. 17 All the assembly of those who had come back out of the captivity made temporary shelters and lived in the temporary shelters, for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day the children of Israel had not done so. There was very great gladness.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  18. 18 Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Nehemiah 8 · Preschool

Listening to God's Word

Name Date

Color Ezra reading God's word to the people!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.”

Nehemiah 8:8 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Ezra read God's word to all the people. They listened carefully. Teachers helped them understand it. God's word gives us joy!

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

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