Keraia
Nehemiah 8

Nehemiah 8:7

Ezra Reads the Law · Nehemiah 8:1–12
Read Nehemiah 8

Translations

Modern
The 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.
Traditional
Also 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.
Literal
And Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites instructed the people in the law, and the people were on their stations.
Latin
Porro Josue, et Bani, et Serebia, Jamin, Accub, Septhai, Odia, Maasia, Celita, Azarias, Jozabed, Hanan, Phalaia, Levitæ, silentium faciebant in populo ad audiendam legem: populus autem stabat in gradu suo.

Original

Hebrew
English
The 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.

Notes

Nehemiah 8:7–9

The Levites were responsible for teaching people God’s word (Deuteronomy 33:10; Malachi 2:5–6). They likely explained the Hebrew Scriptures to smaller groups in Aramaic. Most people spoke Aramaic, the language of Babylon, instead of Hebrew as their first language. Jewish leaders later translated large parts of the Hebrew Bible into Aramaic, so people could hear and study the Bible in a language they understood.

Nehemiah 7:73–10:39

This section, possibly from Ezra’s personal memoirs, explains how Ezra’s teaching of God’s law renewed the people's commitment to serve God and follow his instructions. Spiritual revival occurred alongside the civic work of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Theme notes and profiles

Ezra God's Word at the Center

Parallels

Deuteronomy 31:9–13

People

Akkub: Levite who helped explain the Law to the people Azariah: Levite who helped the people understand the Law Bani: A Levite who taught the Law and led prayers Hanan: A Levite who helped explain the Law to the people Hodiah: A Levite involved in teaching and worship Jamin: Levite who helped explain the Law to the people Jeshua: A prominent Levite leader during the post-exilic period Jozabad: A Levite who helped explain the Law to the people Kelita: A Levite who taught the Law and sealed the covenant Levi: Son of Jacob; progenitor of the Levites Maaseiah: Levite who helped explain the Law to the people Pelaiah: Levite who helped explain the Law and signed the covenant Shabbethai: Levite who helped explain the Law to the people Sherebiah: Levite who assisted Ezra and Nehemiah

Glossary

Akkub Azariah Bani Book of Nehemiah First Book of Esdras Genealogy Hanan Hodiah, Hodijah Jamin Jeshua (Person) Jozabad Kelaiah Maaseiah Pelaiah Postexilic Period Priests and Levites Shabbethai Sherebiah Synagogue Talmud Water Gate Writer

Topics

Akkub: A Returned Exile Bani: A Levite of the Returned Exiles Commandments: General Scriptures Concerning Feasts: (Instituted by Moses): First and Last Days Were Sabbatic Hanan: A Levite Hodiah: A Levite Instruction in Religion Jamin: A Priest Who Expounded the Law to the Exiles Who Returned to Jerusalem Jeshua: A Levite Who Explained the Law to the People when Ezra Read It Aloud Jozabad: Three Levites Kelaiah: A Levite Who Divorced his Gentile Wife After the Captivity Law: Princes, Priests, and Levites Publicly Taught Levites: Teachers of the Law Maaseiah: The Name of a Number of Priests of the Exile Pelaiah: A Levite Who Assisted Ezra in Instructing the People in the Law Repentance: After Hearing the Law Expounded by Ezra Shabbethai: An Expounder of the Law Sherebiah: A Levite Assistant to Ezra Synagogue: The Scriptures Were Read and Expounded In Synagogues: Revival of, After the Captivity The Law of Moses: Priests and Levites to Teach The Levites: Services of Teaching the People The Scriptures: should be Taught to All Word of God: To be Read Publicly Worship: The Word of God Read in Public Assemblies