Nehemiah 8:3

1 At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

2 On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand.

So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

4 Ezra 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.

5 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.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
KJV
And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
WEB
He read from it before the wide place that was in front of the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand. The ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.
ASV
And he read therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were [attentive] unto the book of the law.
DARBY
And he read in it before the open place that was before the water-gate from the morning until midday, in presence of the men and the women, and those that could understand. And the ears of all the people were [attentive] to the book of the law.
BLB
And he read from it before the face of the open square that [was] in front of the Water Gate from the morning until the middle of the day before the men and the women and those with understanding. And the ears of all the people [were] toward the Book of the Law.
ÅB
Og han leste opp av den midt for plassen foran Vannporten fra tidlig morgen til midt på dagen - for mennene og kvinnene og dem som kunne forstå; og alt folket lyttet til lovbokens ord.
OTB
Han leste høyt fra den fra tidlig morgen til midt på dagen foran plassen ved Vannporten, i nærvær av menn, kvinner og de som kunne forstå, og hele folket lyttet oppmerksomt til lovboken.
B1930
Og han leste op av den midt for plassen foran Vannporten fra tidlig morgen til midt på dagen - for mennene og kvinnene og dem som kunde forstå; og alt folket lyttet til lovbokens ord.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Revelation 3:22

    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

    Read in context
  • Luke 4:16–20

    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,

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 2:1–3

    We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 2:29

    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

    Read in context
  • Acts 28:23

    So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.

    Read in context
  • Mark 12:37

    David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?” And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.

    Read in context
  • 1 Thessalonians 2:13

    And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the word which is now at work in you who believe.

    Read in context
  • Luke 8:18

    Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

    Read in context