Nehemiah 8:5 kjv
And 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:
Nehemiah 8:5 nkjv
And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
Nehemiah 8:5 niv
Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.
Nehemiah 8:5 esv
And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood.
Nehemiah 8:5 nlt
Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet.
Nehemiah 8 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Reverence for God's Word & Authority | ||
| Deut 31:11-12 | ...read this law before all Israel in their hearing... | Command to publically read the Law. |
| 2 Chr 34:30 | The king went up to the house of the Lord...and read...the book of the covenant... | King Josiah's public reading and covenant renewal. |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | God's Word as guiding and essential. |
| Ps 119:161 | My heart stands in awe of your words. | Deep respect and awe for God's word. |
| Isa 66:2 | ...him who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. | Reverence as a sign of true devotion. |
| 1 Pet 1:23 | ...born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. | Word of God as living and essential for spiritual life. |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is breathed out by God... | Divine inspiration and authority of Scripture. |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active... | Word's power and ability to discern. |
| Postures of Respect, Worship & Listening | ||
| Exo 24:7 | Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient." | Israel's initial covenant pledge, standing. |
| Deut 5:27 | ...Go near and hear all that the Lord our God will say, and speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it. | Readiness to hear and obey God's voice. |
| Josh 8:34-35 | After that Joshua read all the words of the law...No word...was left unread... | Joshua reading the Law before all Israel. |
| 2 Chr 7:3 | And when all the children of Israel saw the fire come down...they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement...and worshiped... | A posture of profound worship and awe. |
| 2 Chr 29:28 | The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded... | Corporate worship involving standing and other actions. |
| Matt 26:62 | And the high priest stood up and said to him... | Standing as an act of asserting authority or challenging. |
| Rom 10:17 | So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. | Importance of hearing the Word for faith. |
| Luke 11:28 | But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" | Emphasis on both hearing and obeying the Word. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Call to active obedience to God's Word. |
| Ezra's Role & Wisdom in God's Law | ||
| Ezra 7:6 | Ezra came up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses... | Ezra's credential as a knowledgeable scribe. |
| Ezra 7:10 | For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to practice it, and to teach his statutes and ordinances in Israel. | Ezra's commitment to the Law (study, do, teach). |
| Neh 8:1 | ...Ezra the scribe brought the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded for Israel. | Ezra's initiative in bringing the Law forward. |
| Neh 8:4 | Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose... | The explicit mention of the platform confirming his elevated position. |
Nehemiah 8 verses
Nehemiah 8 5 Meaning
Nehemiah 8:5 describes Ezra the scribe's solemn action of unrolling and preparing to read "the Book" (likely the Law of Moses) before the gathered congregation. This action took place on a raised platform, making him visible to all. The immediate and universal response of the people, standing up as Ezra opened the scroll, signifies their profound reverence, attentiveness, and submission to the word of God. It sets the tone for a momentous spiritual revival and the re-establishment of the divine covenant in post-exilic Israel.
Nehemiah 8 5 Context
Nehemiah chapter 8 marks a pivotal shift from the physical restoration of Jerusalem's walls to the spiritual renewal of its people. After the wall was completed in chapter 6, Nehemiah chapter 7 focuses on resettlement and a census. Chapter 8 then details a grand assembly held on the first day of the seventh month (Tishri), the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), a day for solemn remembrance and new beginnings. This public gathering near the Water Gate was for the express purpose of hearing the Law of Moses read by Ezra the scribe, a priest and scholar. The immediate preceding verses (Neh 8:1-4) describe the people's earnest request for Ezra to bring forth the Law and the preparations for this significant public reading, including the building of a wooden platform. Verse 5 specifically sets the stage for the unfolding of God's Word to a repentant and receptive nation, indicating the depth of respect for Scripture that had been cultivated. This event was a major step in the spiritual re-education and recommitment of the post-exilic community to God's covenant.
Nehemiah 8 5 Word analysis
- Ezra: The proper name of the priest and scribe, meaning "help" or "Yahweh helps." He was divinely called and equipped (Ezra 7:6, 10) to lead the people in their understanding and observance of God's Law. His presence and actions legitimized the sacred event, signifying the divine appointment for the revival.
- opened: (Hebrew: וַיִּפְתַּח, vayyiftaḥ) This verb means "to unroll," "to reveal," or "to loosen." In the context of a scroll, it means to unroll it and prepare it for reading. This was a deliberate, ceremonial act, symbolizing the unfolding of divine truth and the making visible of that which was contained within the scroll, which likely contained portions of the Torah.
- the book: (Hebrew: הַסֵּפֶר, has-sepher) Refers specifically to "the Book of the Law of Moses" (Neh 8:1), or the Torah. This was not a casual opening of just any book, but the sacred, inspired revelation from God, foundational to Israel's covenant identity and relationship with Yahweh.
- in the sight of all the people: (Hebrew: לְעֵינֵי כָל-הָעָם, lēʿênê kōl-hāʿām) Emphasizes the public and transparent nature of the event. It wasn't a secret ritual but a communal, observable declaration. Everyone was to bear witness to the sanctity of God's Word and the authority being given to it.
- for he was standing above all the people: (Hebrew: כִּי מֵעַל כָּל-הָעָם הוּא עֹמֵד, kî mêʿal kol-hāʿām hû ʿōmêḏ) This indicates Ezra's elevated physical position, likely on the "wooden platform" mentioned in Nehemiah 8:4. This elevation served practical purposes for visibility and audibility in a large crowd. More importantly, it underscored his spiritual authority and the paramount importance of the message he was about to deliver. It highlighted the hierarchical respect given to the bearer of God's message.
- and when he opened it, all the people stood up: (Hebrew: וּכְפָתְחוֹ עָמְדוּ כָל-הָעָם, ûkhfathkhô ʿāməḏû khol-hāʿām) This describes the immediate and spontaneous collective response of the assembly. The act of standing signifies deep reverence, respect, attentiveness, and submission to the divine word. It was a physical posture reflecting a spiritual attitude—acknowledgment of God's presence and authority manifested through His written word. This posture implied their readiness to listen, learn, and obey what was about to be read, distinguishing it as sacred, rather than mundane.
Nehemiah 8 5 Bonus section
The event described in Nehemiah 8, beginning with verse 5, holds significant theological parallels and serves as an important prototype for communal engagement with Scripture throughout biblical history. The collective standing of the people set a precedent that resonates with Jewish liturgical practices even today, where the congregation stands during the reading of the Torah in synagogue services. This practice emphasizes not only respect for the words themselves but for the divine author. Furthermore, the act of "opening the book" and its immediate effect on the congregation foreshadows the revelation of Jesus Christ as the living Word of God (Jn 1:1, 14), whose presence and teachings evoked similar reverence and responses among His followers (e.g., Mk 4:1-2). This scene highlights the importance of public biblical instruction led by gifted teachers like Ezra, demonstrating that spiritual renewal often stems from a fresh encounter with and deep commitment to the divine instructions revealed in Scripture. The detailed setting of the event underscores that proper environment, preparation, and leadership contribute significantly to the receptiveness of God's people to His truth.
Nehemiah 8 5 Commentary
Nehemiah 8:5 captures the powerful beginning of a spiritual awakening among the post-exilic community. Ezra's simple yet profound act of "opening the book" symbolized the unsealing of divine truth for a people eager to reconnect with their covenant God. His elevated position ensured clarity and visibility, but also represented the high standing of God's word and His chosen messenger. The spontaneous, unified action of "all the people" standing up upon the scroll's unrolling demonstrates not merely good manners, but a profound and corporate reverence for the holiness of God and the authority of His living Word. This moment was crucial as it shifted the nation's focus from physical rebuilding to spiritual restoration, laying the groundwork for a renewal of their covenant relationship with God based on hearing, understanding, and obeying His Law. It serves as an enduring reminder of the centrality and sacredness of God's written revelation.