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Nehemiah 8:6

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Nehemiah 8:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground.
Nehemiah 8:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Nehemiah 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3And 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.
4And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, [and] Meshullam.
5And 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:
6and Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground.
7Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people [stood] in their place.
8And they read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.
9And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto Jehovah your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, etc.] Before he began to read in the book of the law, he addressed himself to God in a short prayer, wholly in the benedictory way; ascribing blessing, honour, and glory to him, celebrating his being and perfections, setting forth his greatness and his excellency, who was the author and giver of the law he was about to read; and this he the rather did, that what he read might be the more carefully attended to, and come with the greater authority, weight, and influence on those that heard it; and so, Maimonides f52 says, it is the custom with the Jews, in their synagogues, for the reader, after he has opened the book, and looked out the place he…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“8:6 Ezra praised the Lord: See also 1:5; 9:32; Deut 10:17; Jer 32:18; Dan 9:4. • Amen! A statement of agreement (see Neh 5:13). Lifting hands (Ps 28:2) and bowing in humble worship were signs of reverence for God and submission to his word.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“blessed: Ch1 29:20; Ch2 6:4; Psa 41:13, Psa 72:18, Psa 72:19; Eph 1:3; Pe1 1:3 Amen: Neh 5:13; Jer 28:6; Mat 6:13; Co1 14:16 with lifting: Gen 14:22; Psa 28:2, Psa 63:4, Psa 134:2, Psa 141:2; Lam 3:41; Ti1 2:8 bowed: Gen 24:26; Exo 4:31, Exo 12:27; Ch2 20:18, Ch2 29:30 with their faces: Lev 9:24; Mat 26:39; Rev 7:11 Nehemiah 8:7”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification