Bible Strands
Nehemiah 8:13
On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to study the words of the Law.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — On the second day following the public reading, the family heads, priests, and Levites gathered around Ezra the scribe to examine the Law.
The words — The text highlights נֶאֶסְפוּ (ne.'es.Fu), meaning they gathered, and רָאשֵׁי הָאָבוֹת (ra.Shei ha.'a.Vot), meaning heads of the families, to describe the deliberate assembly of Israel’s leadership.
The thread — The pattern of deliberate assembly to examine divine instruction appears in Proverbs 2:1, 8:33, and 12:1, where accepting God’s words, listening to wisdom, and embracing correction are linked to gaining understanding.
Why it lands — It requires readers to move beyond passive hearing to active, communal examination of Scripture, recognizing that understanding precedes obedience and joy.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 2:1 My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,
- Proverbs 8:33 Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
- Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
- 2 Chronicles 30:23 The whole assembly agreed to observe seven more days, so they observed seven days with joy.
- Nehemiah 8:7 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.
- Mark 6:33 But many people saw them leaving and recognized them. They ran together on foot from all the towns and arrived before them.
- Luke 19:47 Jesus was teaching at the temple every day, but the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people were intent on killing Him.
- Luke 24:32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
- Acts 4:1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,
- Acts 13:42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath.