NEH 8:1 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, green:YHWH.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrTr And the seventh month arrived, and the children of Israel were settled in their cities; and all the people were gathered as one man to the broad place before the water-gate, and they told Esdras the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord commanded Israel.

ULT And all the people gathered as one man to the open area that is before the face of the gate of water. And they said to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded Israel.

UST A huge crowd of people gathered together in the plaza that was near the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the scroll of the law that Moses had written down, and which Yahweh had given to the people of Israel for them to obey its rules and commands.

BSB § At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

OEB all the people gathered themselves together as one man to the broad place that was before the Water Gate. And they spoke to Ezra the priest and scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded Israel.

LSB And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they said to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which Yahweh had commanded to Israel.

WEBBE 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 the LORD had commanded to Israel.

WMBB 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 scroll of the Torah of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

MSG By the time the seventh month arrived, the People of Israel were settled in their towns. Then all the people gathered as one person in the town square in front of the Water Gate and asked the scholar Ezra to bring the Book of The Revelation of Moses that God had commanded for Israel.

NET all the people gathered together in the plaza which was in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had commanded Israel.

LSV And all the people are gathered as one man to the broad place that [is] before the Water Gate, and they say to Ezra the scribe to bring the Scroll of the Law of Moses, that YHWH commanded Israel.

FBV and the people gathered together as one in the square beside the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe[fn] to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had ordered Israel to follow.

8:1 “Scribe”: as elsewhere in Scripture, a scribe is not merely someone who can write, but a teacher, particularly of God's Law.

T4T Ezra, who taught people the laws of Moses, had a scroll on which the laws of Moses were written. Those were the laws that Yahweh had commanded the Israeli people to obey. On October 8 of that year, all the people gathered together in the plaza/square that was close to the Water Gate. Men and women and children who were old enough to understand gathered together. Someone told Ezra to bring out that scroll.

LEB All of the people gathered as one to the public square before the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law[fn] of Moses that Yahweh had commanded Israel.

8:1 Hebrew torah

NAB Now when the seventh month came, the whole people gathered as one in the square in front of the Water Gate, and they called upon Ezra the scribe to bring forth the book of the law of Moses which the
d LORD
d* had commanded for Israel.

BBE And when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their towns. And all the people came together like one man into the wide place in front of the water-doorway; and they made a request to Ezra the scribe that he would put before them the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had given to Israel.

Moff No Moff NEH book available

JPS all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spoke unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

ASV And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel.

DRA And the seventh month came: and the children of Israel were in their cities. And all the people were gathered together as one mall to the street which is before the water gate, and they spoke to Esdras the scribe, to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.

YLT And all the people are gathered as one man unto the broad place that [is] before the water-gate, and they say to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, that Jehovah commanded Israel.

Drby all the people gathered together as one man to the open place that was before the water-gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded Israel.

RV And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

Wbstr And all the people assembled as one man in the street that was before the water-gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

KJB-1769 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

KJB-1611 ¶ [fn]And all the people gathered themselues together, as one man, into the street that was before the water gate, and they spake vnto Ezra the scribe, to bring the booke of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation and footnotes)

8:1 Ezra 3.1. and 7.6.

Bshps And all the people gathered them selues together as one man, in the streete that was before the water gate, and they saide vnto Esdras the scribe, that he should fetch the booke of the law of Moyses, which the Lorde commaunded to Israel.
(And all the people gathered themselves together as one man, in the street that was before the water gate, and they said unto Esdras the scribe, that he should fetch the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord commanded to Israel.)

Gnva And all the people assembled themselues together, in the streete that was before the watergate, and they spake vnto Ezra the Scribe, that hee would bring the booke of ye Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.
(And all the people assembled themselves together, in the street that was before the watergate, and they spake unto Ezra the Scribe, that he would bring the book of ye/you_all Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. )

Cvdl Now whan the seuenth moneth drue nye, and ye children of Israel were in their cities, all the people gathered them selues together as one man vpon the strete before the Watergate, and sayde vnto E?dras the scrybe, that he shulde fetch the boke of the lawe of Moses, which the LORDE commaunded Israel.
(Now when the seventh month drew near, and ye/you_all children of Israel were in their cities, all the people gathered themselves together as one man upon the street before the Watergate, and said unto E?dras the scrybe, that he should fetch the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD commanded Israel.)

Wycl And the seuenthe monethe `was comun vndur Esdras and Neemye; sotheli the sones of Israel weren in her cytees. And al the puple was gaderid togydere as o man, to the street which is bifor the yate of watris. And thei seiden to Esdras, the scribe, that he schulde brynge the book of the lawe of Moises, which the Lord hadde comaundid to Israel.
(And the seventh month `was comun under Esdras and Neemye; truly the sons of Israel were in her cytees. And all the people was gathered togydere as o man, to the street which is before the gate of waters. And they said to Esdras, the scribe, that he should bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.)

Luth Da nun herzukam der siebente Mond, und die Kinder Israel in ihren Städten waren, versammelte sich das ganze Volk wie ein Mann auf die breite Gasse vor dem Wassertor und sprachen zu Esra, dem Schriftgelehrten, daß er das Gesetzbuch Mose holete, das der HErr Israel geboten hatte.
(So now herzukam the/of_the siebente Mond, and the children Israel in your cities were, gatherede itself/yourself/themselves the ganze people like a man on the breite Gasse before/in_front_of to_him watertor and said to Esra, to_him Schriftgelehrten, that he the lawbuch Mose holete, the the/of_the LORD Israel offered had.)

ClVg Et venerat mensis septimus: filii autem Israël erant in civitatibus suis. Congregatusque est omnis populus quasi vir unus ad plateam quæ est ante portam aquarum: et dixerunt Esdræ scribæ ut afferret librum legis Moysi, quam præceperat Dominus Israëli.[fn]
(And venerat mensis septimus: children however Israel they_were in civitatibus to_his_own. Congregatusque it_is everyone populus as_if man unus to plateam which it_is before the_gate waterrum: and dixerunt Esdræ scribæ as afferret librum legis of_Moses, how had_ordered Master Israeli. )

8.1 Et venerat mensis septimus. BEDA, in Esdr., lib. 3, cap. 26, tom. 2. Qui non longe aberat. Cum enim murus esset vicesima quinta die sexti mensis completus quinque tantum dies ad exordium septimi mensis supererant, qui a prima die usque ad vicesimam secundam totus legitimis cæremoniis consecratus est, quibus ita rite celebratis, deinde ad disponendos urbis mansores cum principibus et plebe reversus est. Congregatusque omnis populus quasi vir unus ad plateam quæ, etc. BED., ibid. Notanda devotio populi et concordia, etc., usque ad quarum cantu populus inter orationes et hostias ardentius ad legis memoriam excitaretur. Mystice quoque ædificata civitate oportet sequi lectionem divinam, et tubas sonare crebriores, ut populus, sacramentis cœlestibus initiatus etiam sacris eloquiis ex tempore solertius qualiter vivere debeat, instruatur. Ante portam aquarum. ID., ibid. Portam aquarum reor dici in atrio sacerdotum, etc., usque ad bene ergo ante portam aquarum collectus est populus tanquam per antistitem suum fluentis Scripturarum spiritualiter potandus.

8.1 And venerat mensis septimus. BEDA, in Esdr., lib. 3, cap. 26, tom. 2. Who not/no longe aberat. Since because murus was vicesima quinta day sexti mensis completus quinque only days to exordium septimi mensis supererant, who from the_first day until to vicesimam secundam totus legitimis cæremoniis consecratus it_is, to_whom ita rite celebratis, deinde to disponendos urbis mansores when/with principibus and plebe returned it_is. Congregatusque everyone populus as_if man unus to plateam quæ, etc. BED., ibid. Notanda devotio of_the_people and concordia, etc., until to quarum cantu populus between orationes and hostias ardentius to legis memoriam excitaretur. Mystice too ædificata civitate oportet sequi lectionem divinam, and tubas sonare crebriores, as populus, sacramentis cœlestibus initiatus also sacred eloquiis from tempore solertius qualiter vivere debeat, instruatur. Ante the_gate waterrum. ID., ibid. Portam waterrum reor dici in atrio sacerdotum, etc., until to bene therefore before the_gate waterrum collectus it_is populus tanquam through antistitem his_own fluentis Scripturarum spiritualiter potandus.

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

The Centrality of God’s Word

When God gave the Law to his people at Sinai, it was written in stone (Exod 34:1) and was to be taught to children (Deut 6:7), worn on the hands and forehead, and written on doorposts (Deut 6:8-9), so that people would constantly be reminded of what God had said. God’s instructions were also to be read to the people every seven years so that they would remember to fear God (Deut 31:9-13). Success depended on meditating on God’s word and following it (Josh 1:7-8; Pss 1:2; 119:15). Obedience was far more important than offering sacrifices (1 Sam 15:22).

But when God’s people neglect his Word and take their eyes off his truth, we have a tendency to fall away from the life he envisions for us. In the time of Josiah, even the priests had lost and forgotten the Book of the Law. When it was discovered in the Temple (2 Kgs 22:8-13), the young king read it and tore his clothing, realizing how the nation had forsaken the covenant.

In the fall of 445 BC, Nehemiah finished rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. Just five days later, on the first day of the seventh month, the settlers in Judah came together to celebrate the Festival of Trumpets. During and after the festival, Ezra read from the Law, and as the people listened they mourned and wept, for they realized they had not obeyed God’s law. They confessed their sins, studied God’s word to learn what he required, and obeyed what they learned. The Book of the Law of Moses thus transformed their lives and behavior.

These events provide a dramatic reminder that God’s word is central to the lives of his people. God’s word provides the essential guide to life or death (Gen 2:16-17), and his promises prove true (e.g., Gen 17:15-21; 18:10-14).

God’s word is perfect. It has the power to restore, make wise, and give joy (Ps 19:7-9). Godly individuals love God’s word (Ps 119:97). It sheds light on their paths (Ps 119:105) and keeps them from sin (Ps 119:9). God’s word accomplishes its purpose (Isa 55:11) and remains perpetually relevant (Matt 5:17-19; 24:35; 2 Tim 3:14-17).

Passages for Further Study

Exod 24:7; 34:1; Deut 4:2; 6:4-9; 31:9-13; Josh 1:7-8; 1 Sam 15:22; Neh 8:1–10:39; 13:1-3; Pss 1:2-3; 19:7-9; 119:9, 15, 97, 105; Isa 55:10-11; Matt 5:17-19; 13:3-23; 24:35; 2 Tim 3:14-17

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

כָל־הָ⁠עָם֙

all the,people

The word all is a generalization that indicates that everyone who was able and available came to Jerusalem for this occasion. By “the people,” Nehemiah means the groups he described in the previous verse who had come back to live in Judah and Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “The people of Judah”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וַ⁠יֵּאָסְפ֤וּ & כְּ⁠אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד

and,gathered & as,man one(ms)

Verses 8 and 9 explain that the people had gathered for a festival, and 8:2 states that this was the first day of the seventh month, which means that the people had gathered in Jerusalem for the Festival of Trumpets. In the Law of Moses, Yahweh had commanded the people to observe this celebration on this date. If it would be helpful to your readers to know why the people came together on this day, you could say that specifically. Alternate translation: “gathered in Jerusalem in a huge crowd for a special celebration known as the Festival of Trumpets.”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

כְּ⁠אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד

as,man one(ms)

As one man is an idiom that means “as if they were a single person,” that is, all in once place at the same time. Alternate translation: “gathered in a huge crowd”

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

אֶל־הָ֣⁠רְח֔וֹב

to/towards the,square

This means a “plaza” or “square” in the city where there were no buildings and so where public events like this could be held. Alternate translation: “in the square”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י שַֽׁעַר־הַ⁠מָּ֑יִם

to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before gate the=waters

Here, face means the front of an object. Alternate translation: “in front of the Water Gate”

Note 6 topic: translate-names

שַֽׁעַר־הַ⁠מָּ֑יִם

gate the=waters

This is the name of one of the gates of Jerusalem. See how you translated it in 3:26. Alternate translation: “the Water Gate”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וַ⁠יֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ לְ⁠עֶזְרָ֣א הַ⁠סֹּפֵ֔ר לְ⁠הָבִ֗יא אֶת־סֵ֨פֶר֙ תּוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה

and=they_said to,Ezra the,scribe to=bring DOM writing law Mosheh

They means the crowd, though they likely made this request to Ezra through their leaders. The implication is that they wanted him not just to bring the book forward, but to read to them from it out loud (as 8:3 indicates he did). This was because they wanted to learn what was in it. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “The crowd had asked Ezra the scribe to read to them from a scroll that contained the Law of Moses because they wanted to know what it commanded.”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וַ⁠יֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ לְ⁠עֶזְרָ֣א

and=they_said to,Ezra

Since the rest of the chapter describes arrangements that the leaders must have made in advance, the crowd, once it gathered, did not start shouting spontaneously for Ezra to come forward and read. Rather, they had made this request in advance. Alternate translation: “And the crowd had asked Ezra”

Note 9 topic: writing-participants

לְ⁠עֶזְרָ֣א הַ⁠סֹּפֵ֔ר

to,Ezra the,scribe

This introduces Ezra as a new character in the story. The expression “the scribe” identifies him as a teacher who had carefully studied the Law of Moses. Since he is a new participant, if it would be helpful to your readers, you could call him something like “a man named Ezra, who was a teacher of the Law of Moses”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

לְ⁠עֶזְרָ֣א הַ⁠סֹּפֵ֔ר

to,Ezra the,scribe

The biblical book of Ezra indicates that this man returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon 13 years before Nehemiah did. He led many reforms in the community. But in this book, Nehemiah does not say whether Ezra had remained in the city all that time, or whether he had gone back to Babylon and had recently returned to Jerusalem again. Even if your language, in telling a story, ordinarily accounts for how a person came to be on the scene, it might be best not to try to address that question here in your translation. Even though Nehemiah seems to expect that his readers will know where Ezra had been, Nehemiah does not say specifically where he was, and so the answer is unknown.

Note 11 topic: translate-unknown

אֶת־סֵ֨פֶר֙ תּוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה

DOM writing law Mosheh

This book was most likely a scroll, and it most likely contained what is now known as the Torah or the “five books of Moses.” Alternate translation: “a scroll that contained the law of Moses”

אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

which/who given YHWH DOM Yisrael

Alternate translation: “These were the commandments that Yahweh had told Israel to follow”

Parallel NEH 8:1