Nehemiah 8:18 kjv
Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.
Nehemiah 8:18 nkjv
Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a sacred assembly, according to the prescribed manner.
Nehemiah 8:18 niv
Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.
Nehemiah 8:18 esv
And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.
Nehemiah 8:18 nlt
Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God on each of the seven days of the festival. Then on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, as was required by law.
Nehemiah 8 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 23:33-43 | "Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the LORD... On the eighth day you shall have a sacred assembly." | Institution of Feast of Booths and eighth day assembly. |
| Deut 16:13-15 | "You shall keep the Feast of Booths seven days... and you shall rejoice in your feast." | Observance of Sukkot with joy. |
| Num 29:12-38 | "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation... On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly." | Sacrificial details for Sukkot and eighth day. |
| Deut 31:10-13 | "At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD... you shall read this law before all Israel." | Regular septennial public reading of Law during Sukkot. |
| Josh 1:8 | "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night." | Daily devotion to God's Word. |
| Ps 1:2 | "but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." | Joy and meditation on God's Law. |
| Ps 119:97 | "Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day." | Love and continuous meditation on the Law. |
| Ezra 3:4 | "They kept the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the fixed number of burnt offerings daily." | Earlier post-exilic Sukkot observance. |
| Neh 8:1 | "all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses." | Initial call for the reading of the Law. |
| Neh 8:3 | "And he read from it... from early morning until midday." | Initial long reading session. |
| Neh 8:13 | "On the second day the heads of fathers' houses... gathered to Ezra the scribe... to understand the words of the Law." | Desire for deeper understanding of the Law. |
| Neh 8:14-17 | "they found it written in the Law... that the people of Israel should dwell in booths... for the feast... from the days of Jeshua... had not been done." | Rediscovery of command for dwelling in booths; rarity of such observance. |
| Neh 9:38 | "Because of all this we make a firm covenant and write it." | Culmination in covenant renewal. |
| Acts 15:21 | "For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues." | Regular public reading of Moses in synagogues. |
| 1 Tim 4:13 | "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching." | Importance of public Scripture reading in church. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." | Authority and purpose of all Scripture. |
| Rom 15:4 | "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction." | Old Testament written for Christian instruction. |
| John 7:2, 14, 37-38 | "Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand... Jesus went up into the temple... On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out." | Jesus' teaching during the Feast of Tabernacles. |
| Zech 14:16-19 | "Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths." | Future observance of Sukkot by all nations. |
| Ex 25:8 | "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst." | God's desire to dwell with His people (foreshadowed by Sukkot). |
| Rev 21:3 | "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God." | Final fulfillment: God's eternal dwelling with His redeemed. |
Nehemiah 8 verses
Nehemiah 8 18 Meaning
Nehemiah 8:18 describes the diligent and consistent adherence of the Israelites to the divine command during the Feast of Booths following their return from exile. Ezra continuously read from the Book of the Law of God each day of the seven-day festival. The passage emphasizes their meticulous observance of the feast for the full seven days, culminating in a special, sacred assembly on the eighth day, precisely as prescribed in God's Law. This commitment demonstrated a profound spiritual renewal and a collective desire to align their lives strictly with the divine word.
Nehemiah 8 18 Context
Nehemiah 8 details a pivotal moment of spiritual revival in post-exilic Judah, approximately a century after the first returnees from Babylonian captivity. Having completed the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, the community gathered spontaneously, driven by a thirst for God's Word. Ezra the scribe, a priest learned in the Law of Moses, was asked to read from the Law. Chapter 8 opens with a large assembly, where Ezra read the Law, and the Levites helped the people understand it. The profound impact of the Word led to initial grief over their past disobedience, which Ezra then encouraged them to transform into joy and celebration of the Feast of Booths. Verse 18 is the culmination of this section, emphasizing the dedicated and sustained engagement with the Law throughout this sacred feast and the meticulous observance of all its details. This comprehensive observance of the Feast of Booths was highlighted as unprecedented since the days of Joshua, signifying a profound spiritual reformation.
Nehemiah 8 18 Word analysis
Also: In Hebrew, וְגַם (ve-gam). This conjunction links the sustained reading to the preceding activities and confirms the full engagement during the festival. It denotes "and also," indicating continuation and addition.
day by day: יוֹם בְּיוֹם (yom b'yom). Literally, "day in day." This intensive repetition emphasizes continuity, regularity, and an unbroken sequence. It signifies persistent, uninterrupted action, highlighting the commitment of Ezra and the community. This was not a one-off event but a daily discipline.
from the first day to the last day: This indicates the entire duration of the Feast of Booths, including the seven days of the feast itself plus the additional eighth day, also called the sacred assembly. It reinforces the "day by day" commitment across the entire festival, highlighting its comprehensive nature.
he read: יִקְרָא (yikra'). Imperfect tense, which often implies continuous or repeated action in narrative Hebrew. It refers to Ezra's consistent act of reading aloud from the Torah.
from the Book of the Law of God: סֵפֶר תּוֹרַת הָאֱלֹהִים (Sefer Torat ha'Elohim). "Book" (sefer) refers to a scroll. "Law" (Torah) denotes divine instruction, specifically the Pentateuch (the first five books of Moses). "God" (Elohim) underscores the divine origin and supreme authority of the content being read and obeyed.
And they kept: וַיַּעֲשׂוּ (va-ya'asu). Literally, "and they made/did." This verb emphasizes their active participation and performance. It highlights their obedient action in observing the commands of the Law.
the feast: הֶחָג (he-chag). Specifically refers to one of the three annual pilgrim festivals; here, the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles (Sukkot). The term implies a joyous gathering or pilgrimage.
seven days: כְּשִׁבְעַת יָמִים (k'shiv'at yamim). Precisely according to the scriptural mandate for the duration of the Feast of Booths (Lev 23:42).
and on the eighth day: וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי (u'va-yom ha-shemini). This specific day immediately followed the seven days of the feast. It was mandated as a distinct solemn assembly, marking the festival's official conclusion.
there was a sacred assembly: עֲצֶרֶת ('atseret). A "solemn assembly" or "holy convocation." This day was distinct from the main seven days of the feast, serving as an essential conclusion. It was typically marked by special spiritual focus and restrictions on labor, functioning as a culminating holy day for the festival.
according to the prescribed manner: כַּמִּשְׁפָּט (ka-mishpat). Literally, "according to the judgment/rule/custom." This phrase signifies strict adherence to the divine commandment and proper liturgical procedure as found in the Law. It highlights precision and fidelity to God's instructions, especially noteworthy after a long period of lax observance.
"Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God.": This phrase underscores an extraordinary dedication to God's Word. The sustained, daily reading for the entire eight-day period was a practice more intensive than the septennial reading required by the Law (Deut 31:10-13), demonstrating the deep spiritual hunger of the people and Ezra's crucial role as spiritual leader and teacher. It reveals a communal commitment to embedding God's instructions deeply into their lives.
"And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a sacred assembly, according to the prescribed manner.": This confirms that the celebration was not just spiritual enthusiasm but also an accurate, obedient execution of God's Law. The Feast of Booths, which commemorated God's wilderness provision and dwelling with Israel, became a symbol of renewal and rededication in the post-exilic period. The distinct "sacred assembly" ('atseret) emphasized a solemn closing and renewed covenant commitment after the joyous celebrations, completing the festival as outlined in the Torah (Lev 23:36, Num 29:35). The phrase "according to the prescribed manner" highlights their intentional precision and fidelity to God's specific commands, contrasting sharply with past neglect and affirming their commitment to living out their faith according to divine standards.
Nehemiah 8 18 Bonus section
- The profound engagement with the Word of God during this period laid the theological and practical foundation for the post-exilic community, impacting their identity, worship, and national life.
- The fact that such a complete and joyous observance of the Feast of Booths had not occurred "from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun" (Neh 8:17) underscores the exceptional nature of this spiritual revival. It signals a profound re-establishment of foundational biblical practices and principles, akin to the faithfulness seen when Israel first entered the promised land.
- Ezra's role as a "scribe learned in the Law of Moses" (Neh 8:1) and his consistent public reading illustrate the crucial role of leadership and diligent teaching in fostering communal spiritual growth and obedience. The Word was not merely presented, but also explained, ensuring understanding and impact.
Nehemiah 8 18 Commentary
Nehemiah 8:18 describes the height of a profound spiritual revival in post-exilic Israel. It illustrates that true renewal is founded upon diligent engagement with God's Word. The consistent, day-by-day reading of the Law by Ezra for the entire eight days of the Feast of Booths represents an extraordinary commitment, unmatched for centuries, signifying a profound hunger for divine instruction. This diligent input of the Word directly correlated with the people's meticulous observance of the feast, not merely celebrating its joyous aspects but performing every detail, including the distinct eighth-day assembly, precisely "according to the prescribed manner" in the Law. This obedience underscored their dedication to aligning their lives strictly with God's commands. This verse thus demonstrates that a genuine encounter with God's Word transforms sorrow over sin into joy, and that joy in God ultimately expresses itself through devoted and precise obedience to His revealed will. It exemplifies how comprehensive instruction from Scripture leads to comprehensive faithfulness in practice.