Nehemiah 8:5
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them all, and as he opened it, all the people stood up.

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
Then 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.

NASB 1995
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.

NASB 1977
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.

Legacy Standard Bible
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.

Amplified Bible
Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above them; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.

Christian Standard Bible
Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
Ezra was up on the high platform, where he could be seen by everyone, and when he opened the book, all the people stood up.

English Revised Version
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:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Ezra, standing higher than all the other people, opened the book in front of all the people. As he opened it, all the people stood up.

Good News Translation
As Ezra stood there on the platform high above the people, they all kept their eyes fixed on him. As soon as he opened the book, they all stood up.

International Standard Version
Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people. Because he was visible above all the people there, as he opened it, all the people stood up.

Majority Standard Bible
Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them all, and as he opened it, all the people stood up.

NET Bible
Ezra opened the book in plain view of all the people, for he was elevated above all the people. When he opened the book, all the people stood up.

New Heart English Bible
Ezra opened the scroll in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

Webster's Bible Translation
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:

World English Bible
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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Ezra opens the scroll before the eyes of all the people—for he has been above all the people—and at his opening [it] all the people have stood up,

Young's Literal Translation
And Ezra openeth the book before the eyes of all the people -- for above all the people he hath been -- and at his opening it all the people have stood up,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Ezra will open the book before the eyes of all the people; for he was above all the people; and when he opened it all the people stood:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Esdras opened the book before all the people: for he was above all the people: and when he had opened it, all the people stood.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Ezra opened the book before all the people. For he stood out above all the people. And when he had opened it, all the people stood up.

New American Bible
Ezra opened the scroll so that all the people might see it, for he was standing higher than any of the people. When he opened it, all the people stood.

New Revised Standard Version
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.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Ezra opened the book of the law in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people), and when he opened it all the people stood up;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Azra opened the scroll the book of the Law before the eyes of all the people, because he was higher than all the people, and when it opened, all the people stood up.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Esdras opened the book before all the people, for he was above the people; and it came to pass when he had opened it, that all the people stood.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ezra Reads the Law
4Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for this occasion. At his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and at his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them all, and as he opened it, all the people stood up. 6Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.…

Cross References
Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Deuteronomy 31:11-12
when all Israel comes before the LORD your God at the place He will choose, you are to read this law in the hearing of all Israel. / Assemble the people—men, women, children, and the foreigners within your gates—so that they may listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and to follow carefully all the words of this law.

2 Kings 23:2
And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the prophets—all the people small and great—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 34:30
And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the Levites—all the people great and small—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.

Acts 13:15
After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”

Luke 4:16-17
Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read, / the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written:

Matthew 5:1-2
When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him, / and He began to teach them, saying:

Acts 15:21
For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

1 Timothy 4:13
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.

Exodus 24:7
Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”

Joshua 8:34-35
Afterward, Joshua read aloud all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. / There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua failed to read before the whole assembly of Israel, including the women, the little ones, and the foreigners who lived among them.

Jeremiah 36:6
so you are to go to the house of the LORD on a day of fasting, and in the hearing of the people you are to read the words of the LORD from the scroll you have written at my dictation. Read them in the hearing of all the people of Judah who are coming from their cities.

Acts 8:30-31
So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. / “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Colossians 4:16
After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

Revelation 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.


Treasury of Scripture

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:

opened

Luke 4:16,17
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read…

sight.

Judges 3:20
And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.

1 Kings 8:14
And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;)

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Book Eyes Ezra Feet Higher Open Opened Openeth Opening Sight Standing Stood
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Book Eyes Ezra Feet Higher Open Opened Openeth Opening Sight Standing Stood
Nehemiah 8
1. The reverent manner of reading and hearing the law
9. They comfort the people
13. The eagerness of the people to hear and be instructed
16. They keep the feast of tabernacles














Ezra opened the book
The phrase "Ezra opened the book" signifies a pivotal moment in the spiritual life of the Israelites. The "book" here refers to the Torah, the Law of Moses, which was central to Jewish life and worship. The Hebrew word for "opened" is "pāṯaḥ," which implies not just a physical action but also a revelation or unveiling. This act of opening symbolizes the accessibility of God's Word to the people, a moment of divine revelation and instruction. Historically, this event marks a renewal of covenantal faithfulness after the Babylonian exile, emphasizing the importance of returning to God's commandments.

in full view of all the people
The phrase "in full view of all the people" underscores the communal aspect of this event. The Hebrew culture placed a strong emphasis on community and collective worship. By ensuring that the book was opened in full view, Ezra was making a statement about transparency and inclusivity in the worship of God. This public reading was a unifying act, bringing the people together under the authority of God's Word. It highlights the importance of Scripture being accessible and understandable to all, a principle that resonates with the Protestant Reformation's emphasis on the priesthood of all believers.

since he was standing above them all
Ezra's position "standing above them all" is both literal and symbolic. Literally, it refers to the platform or podium from which he read, ensuring that his voice could be heard by everyone. Symbolically, it represents the authority of the Word of God over the people. The elevated position signifies respect and reverence for the Scriptures, indicating that God's Word is the ultimate authority in the life of the community. This act of elevation also reflects the historical practice of reading the Law from a high place, as seen in synagogues and later Christian pulpits.

and as he opened it
The repetition of the act "as he opened it" emphasizes the significance of the moment. The opening of the book is not a mundane action but a sacred event. The Hebrew root "pāṯaḥ" again suggests an unveiling, a moment of enlightenment and understanding. This act of opening is a metaphor for the opening of hearts and minds to receive God's Word. It is a call to attentiveness and readiness to hear and obey the divine instructions contained within the Scriptures.

all the people stood up
The response "all the people stood up" is a powerful expression of reverence and respect. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, standing was a common posture of respect, especially in the presence of authority. By standing, the people were acknowledging the authority of God's Word and their willingness to submit to it. This collective action signifies unity and shared commitment to the covenant. It is a reminder of the transformative power of Scripture, which calls for a response of reverence and obedience from God's people. This act of standing also prefigures the Christian practice of standing during the reading of the Gospel, symbolizing the living presence of Christ in His Word.

Verse 5. - All the people stood up. The Jews commonly sat to hear and stood up to pray; but in hearing they occasionally stood up, to do greater honour to the person or the occasion (see Judges 3:20). It is not to be supposed that they stood during the whole of the six hours that Ezra's reading lasted.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Ezra
עֶזְרָ֤א (‘ez·rā)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5830: Ezra -- 'help', three Israelites

opened
וַיִּפְתַּ֨ח (way·yip̄·taḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

the book
הַסֵּ֙פֶר֙ (has·sê·p̄er)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5612: A missive, document, writing, book

in full view
לְעֵינֵ֣י (lə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of all
כָל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the people,
הָעָ֔ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

since
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he was
הָיָ֑ה (hā·yāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

standing above
מֵעַ֥ל (mê·‘al)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

them all,
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

and as he opened it,
וּכְפִתְח֖וֹ (ū·ḵə·p̄iṯ·ḥōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

all
כָל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the people
הָעָֽם׃ (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

stood up.
עָֽמְד֥וּ (‘ā·mə·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations


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OT History: Nehemiah 8:5 Ezra opened the book in the sight (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 8:4
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