Nehemiah 8 — The law is read and the feast is kept — Hebrew and Greek compared

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:1

All the people gathered as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which YHWH had commanded Israel.

Greek–English (G)

G 18:1

All the people gathered as one man in the open space before the Water Gate. They told Esdra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:2

Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly—men, women and everyone able to understand by listening—on the first day of the seventh month.

Greek–English (G)

G 18:2

Esdras the priest brought the law before the assembly—men, women and everyone able to understand by listening—on the first day of the seventh month,

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:3

He read from it before the square in front of the Water Gate, from daylight until midday, before the men, women and those who understood. The ears of all the people were directed toward the book of the law.

Greek–English (G)

G 18:3

and read from it from the hour when the sun gave light until midday, before the men and women, who were understanding; the ears of all the people were directed toward the book of the law.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:4

Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. Beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah on his right, and on his left Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.

Greek–English (G)

G 18:4

Esdras the scribe stood on a wooden platform. Beside him stood Mattathias, Samaias, Ananias, Ouria, Elkia and Maasaia on his right, and on his left Phadaias, Misael, Melchias, Osam, Asabdana, Zacharias and Mosollam.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:5

Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people. When he opened it, all the people stood.

Greek–English (G)

G 18:5

Esdras opened the book before all the people—for he was above the people—and when he opened it, all the people stood.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:6

Ezra blessed YHWH, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, amen,” lifting their hands. They bowed and worshiped YHWH with their faces to the ground.

Greek–English (G)

G 18:6

Esdras blessed the Lord, the great God. All the people answered and said, “Amen,” lifting their hands, and they bowed and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:7

Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah and the Levites were helping the people understand the law, while the people remained in their places.

Greek–English (G)

G 18:7

Jesus, Banaias and Sarabia were helping the people understand the law, while the people remained in their places.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:8

They read from the book, from the law of God, distinctly, giving the sense, and they understood the reading.

Greek–English (G)

G 18:8

They read from a book of God's law, and Esdras taught and explained with knowledge of the Lord; the people understood the reading.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:9

Nehemiah, who was the Tirshatha, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who helped the people understand said to all the people, “This day is holy to YHWH your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.

Greek–English (G)

G 18:9

Neemias, Esdras the priest and scribe, and the Levites who helped the people understand said to all the people, “The day is holy to the Lord our God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:10

He said to them, “Go, eat rich food and drink sweet drinks, and send portions to anyone for whom nothing is prepared, for the day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of YHWH is your stronghold.”

Greek–English (G)

G 18:10

He said to them, “Go, eat rich food and drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who have none, for the day is holy to our Lord. Do not lose heart, for it is your strength.”

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:11

The Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy. Do not be grieved.”

Greek–English (G)

G 18:11

The Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be silent, for the day is holy. Do not be downcast.”

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:12

All the people went to eat and drink, to send portions and to celebrate with great joy, because they understood the words that had been made known to them.

Greek–English (G)

G 18:12

All the people went to eat and drink, to send portions and to celebrate with great gladness, because they understood the words that he had made known to them.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:13

On the second day the ancestral heads of all the people, the priests and the Levites gathered around Ezra the scribe to gain insight into the words of the law.

Greek–English (G)

G 18:13

On the second day the heads of the families for all the people, the priests and the Levites gathered around Esdras the scribe to attend to all the words of the law.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:14

They found written in the law that YHWH had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel should live in booths during the feast in the seventh month,

Greek–English (G)

G 18:14

They found written in the law, which the Lord had commanded Moses, that the sons of Israel should live in tents during the feast in the seventh month,

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:15

and that they should announce and spread a proclamation in all their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out to the hill country and bring foliage of olive trees, oil trees, myrtles, palms and leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.”

Greek–English (G)

G 18:15

and that they should give a signal with trumpets in all their towns and in Jerusalem. Esdras said, “Go out to the hill country and bring leaves of olive trees, cypresses, myrtles, palms and dense trees, to make tents according to what is written.”

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:16

The people went out and brought the foliage. They made booths for themselves, each on his roof and in their courtyards, in the courts of God's house, in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Ephraim Gate.

Greek–English (G)

G 18:16

The people went out and brought the leaves. They made tents for themselves, each on his roof and in their courtyards, in the courts of God's house, in the city's open squares and as far as the Ephraim Gate.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:17

The whole assembly who had returned from captivity made booths and lived in them, for the sons of Israel had not done so from the days of Jeshua son of Nun until that day. There was very great joy.

Greek–English (G)

G 18:17

The whole assembly who had returned from captivity made tents and lived in them, for the sons of Israel had not done so from the days of Jesus son of Naue until that day. There was great gladness.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 8:18

He read from the book of God's law day by day, from the first day to the last. They kept the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance.

Greek–English (G)

G 18:18

He read from a book of God's law day by day, from the first day to the last. They kept the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a closing observance according to the ordinance.