Nehemiah 9:3 kjv
And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.
Nehemiah 9:3 nkjv
And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for one?fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.
Nehemiah 9:3 niv
They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the LORD their God.
Nehemiah 9:3 esv
And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God.
Nehemiah 9:3 nlt
They remained standing in place for three hours while the Book of the Law of the LORD their God was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the LORD their God.
Nehemiah 9 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 31:10-12 | "...you shall read this law before all Israel..." | Command to publicly read the Law. |
| 2 Kgs 22:8, 11 | "...I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord." When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. | Discovery of the Law leading to repentance. |
| Ezra 7:6, 10 | "...Ezra...was a scribe skillful in the Law of Moses..." | Ezra's dedication to studying and teaching Law. |
| Neh 8:3, 7-8 | "...Ezra read from it before the plaza...and they read from the book...and gave the sense..." | Immediate context of reading the Law. |
| Josh 8:34-35 | "And afterward he read all the words of the law..." | Early precedent of reading the whole Law. |
| Ps 19:7-11 | "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul..." | Law's power to convict and transform. |
| Jer 36:6 | "You go and read from the scroll..." | Public reading of God's word. |
| Rom 3:23 | "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." | Universal need for confession. |
| 1 Jn 1:9 | "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us..." | God's faithfulness to forgive confession. |
| Jam 5:16 | "Therefore, confess your sins to one another..." | Encouragement for corporate confession. |
| Ps 32:5 | "I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' and You forgave the iniquity of my sin." | David's confession and forgiveness. |
| Prov 28:13 | "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." | Benefit of confession. |
| 2 Chron 7:14 | "If my people...humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways..." | Prerequisite for God's healing. |
| Joel 2:12-13 | "Yet even now, declares the Lord, return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning..." | Call to deep, sincere repentance. |
| Acts 19:18 | "Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices." | Early church's practice of confession. |
| Heb 4:12-13 | "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword..." | Power of God's Word to reveal sin. |
| Matt 4:4 | "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." | Importance of living by God's Word. |
| 1 Tim 4:13 | "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture..." | Apostolic instruction for reading Scripture. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | "...every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess..." | Universal worship and confession to Christ. |
| Rev 5:14 | "And the four living creatures said, 'Amen!' and the elders fell down and worshiped." | Heavenly worship as an example. |
| Ps 95:6 | "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!" | Exhortation to worship and reverence. |
| Is 66:2b | "...him who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." | Attitude pleasing to God. |
Nehemiah 9 verses
Nehemiah 9 3 Meaning
Nehemiah 9:3 describes a disciplined and intentional spiritual assembly of the Israelites. For a significant portion of the day, they devoutly engaged with the written Word of God, transitioning from listening to a deep collective confession of their sins, and culminating in an outpouring of worship and adoration to the Lord their God. This verse encapsulates a profound spiritual discipline combining divine instruction, corporate repentance, and genuine reverence.
Nehemiah 9 3 Context
Nehemiah 9:3 takes place amidst a significant spiritual revival in post-exilic Jerusalem, following the completion of the city wall. Chapter 8 describes the public reading of the Law by Ezra on the first day of the seventh month, which led to great understanding, joy, and the keeping of the Festival of Booths. This understanding of God's commandments naturally led to conviction and a desire for repentance. Chapter 9:1-2 sets the immediate scene for a day of fasting, sackcloth, and a complete separation from all foreigners, indicating a solemn dedication to purify themselves before God. Verse 3 is the core activity of this day, showcasing the direct link between encountering God's Word, acknowledging corporate and personal sin, and offering sincere worship to God. It marks a transition from celebration (Chapter 8) to deep spiritual introspection and contrition.
Nehemiah 9 3 Word analysis
And they stood up (וַיָּקוּמוּ, vayyaqumu):
- word: From קוּם (qum), meaning "to stand up," "arise."
- significance: Indicates reverence, respect, readiness, and active engagement. It's a posture of honor before a sovereign. It also suggests a physical endurance required for sustained attention.
in their place (עַל־עָמְדָם, ‘al-‘amdām):
- word: Lit. "upon their standing/station." Refers to where they were assembled.
- significance: Points to order, discipline, and purposefulness within the assembly. Each person was positioned, not haphazardly. This suggests an ordered, designated location for corporate assembly and spiritual action.
and read (וַיִּקְרְאוּ, vayyiqrə’u):
- word: From קָרָא (qara’), meaning "to call out," "read aloud."
- significance: Denotes a public, audible proclamation. It emphasizes the active delivery of God's Word, likely by the Levites as in Neh 8:7.
from the Book of the Law (בְּסֵפֶר תּוֹרַת, bəsep̄er tôrat):
- word: Sefer (סֵפֶר) means "scroll" or "book." Torah (תּוֹרַת) is "Law," instruction," "teaching."
- significance: Emphasizes the divine, written revelation—the foundational instructions given by God through Moses. The specific source of authority for their actions and their subsequent confession. Not human tradition, but God's word.
of the Lord their God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם, YHWH ’ĕlōhêhem):
- word: YHWH (יהוה) is the covenant name of God; Elohim (אֱלֹהֵיהֶם) is the generic term for God. "Their God" personalizes the relationship.
- significance: Establishes the divine authorship and authority of the Law. It reminds them that this instruction comes from their covenant God, making their disobedience more grievous, and His faithfulness in providing it more gracious.
for one-fourth of the day (רֶבַע יוֹם, reḇa‘ yōm):
- word: Approx. three hours.
- significance: Demonstrates profound commitment and dedication. It's a substantial portion of daylight hours, indicating deep spiritual immersion rather than a fleeting moment. It highlights the serious nature of engaging with God's word.
and for another fourth (וּכְרֶבַע, ukəreḇa‘):
- significance: This indicates a distinct, separate block of time, equal in duration, immediately following the reading of the Law. It shows a structured, phased approach to their spiritual discipline.
they confessed (מִתְוַדִּים, mitwaddim):
- word: From יָדָה (yadah), often related to praise but here specifically in the Hithpael stem means "to confess," "acknowledge," "give thanks" (in the sense of admitting wrong).
- significance: Active, open admission of personal and corporate sin and guilt before God. This goes beyond mere intellectual assent to the Law; it’s an internal and verbal owning of their failure to meet its demands. It links hearing the Word with conviction.
and worshipped (מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים, mištaḥăwim):
- word: From שָׁחָה (shachah), "to bow down," "prostrate oneself," "do obeisance."
- significance: An act of ultimate reverence, humility, and submission before God. It's a physical posture demonstrating internal adoration and awe, recognizing God's sovereignty and holiness. Worship is the natural culmination after hearing God's Word and confessing sin, showing a reconciled heart.
Nehemiah 9 3 Bonus section
The methodical four-part structure of the day—fasting, separation, reading, confessing/worshipping—reveals a deep theological understanding among the people of Judah regarding spiritual renewal. Their dedication for two quarters of the day, six hours in total, underscores that serious engagement with God is neither rushed nor superficial. This prolonged immersion ensured thoroughness and profound impact, emphasizing a total body, soul, and spirit engagement. This verse highlights that spiritual renewal is not passive but demands active participation and structured devotion from the community, guided by God's Word.
Nehemiah 9 3 Commentary
Nehemiah 9:3 portrays a remarkable and ordered scene of corporate spiritual engagement. The phrase "And they stood up in their place" immediately conveys reverence and attention, an acknowledgment of the divine presence and the importance of the moment. This was not a casual gathering but a highly disciplined assembly. The central act was "reading from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God." This underscores the supremacy of God's revealed Word as the foundation for their spiritual life. It implies that true understanding and spiritual awakening stem from diligent exposure to Scripture, rather than mere emotionalism.
The division of time is particularly significant: "for one-fourth of the day" for reading and another "fourth they confessed and worshipped." This structured approach reveals a mature spiritual discipline. Hearing God's Law for three hours would undoubtedly bring conviction, highlighting the vast chasm between God's perfect standard and their human failures. This conviction led directly into "they confessed." Confession, here, is not just a mental acknowledgement of sin but an active, corporate admission, born from the fresh encounter with divine truth. It implies a genuine desire to reconcile with God and address their transgressions collectively. Following this profound act of repentance, they "worshipped the Lord their God." This sequence is vital: illumination by the Word, conviction of sin, sincere confession, leading to an authentic worship born of renewed awe and humility. Their worship was not an empty ritual but flowed from a contrite heart recognizing God's holiness despite their failings. This serves as a powerful model for genuine corporate revival: hearing the truth, admitting sin, and offering sincere adoration to God.