The Meaning of Nehemiah 8:5 Explained

Nehemiah 8:5

KJV: 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:

YLT: 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,

Darby: 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.

ASV: 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:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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: 

What does Nehemiah 8:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 8:1-18 - New Light From God's Law
Surely this was the first public Bible-reading! When will the people be again as hungry for the Word of God as these Jews who stood in the open space from early dawn till the scorching noon? What reverence for the Word! When Ezra opened the Book, all the people stood up. What holy worship! When he blessed the great God, all the people answered, Amen, amen! What a model to us all! They gave the sense, so that they understood. What searching of heart! The people wept when they heard the words of the law.
There is nothing which weakens us so much as does unrestrained remorse. Contriteness of heart is wholesome and helpful, but excessive grief incapacitates us for our duties. It is well therefore to cultivate holy joy; the joy of sin forgiven, of acceptance with God, of hope that anchors us to the unseen, and that cannot be ashamed. You may not be able to joy in yourself or your surroundings, but you may always rejoice in the Lord. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 8:5 mean?

And opened Ezra the book in the sight of all the people for above all the people he was [standing] and when he opened it stood up all the people
וַיִּפְתַּ֨ח עֶזְרָ֤א הַסֵּ֙פֶר֙ לְעֵינֵ֣י כָל־ הָעָ֔ם כִּֽי־ מֵעַ֥ל כָּל־ הָעָ֖ם הָיָ֑ה וּכְפִתְח֖וֹ עָֽמְד֥וּ כָל־ הָעָֽם

וַיִּפְתַּ֨ח  And  opened 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּתַח 
Sense: to open.
עֶזְרָ֤א  Ezra 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶזְרָא  
Sense: the priest and scribe who led the reforms of the returned exiles in Jerusalem; co-worker with Nehemiah.
הַסֵּ֙פֶר֙  the  book 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סֵפֶר 
Sense: book.
לְעֵינֵ֣י  in  the  sight 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, cdc
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
כָל־  of  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הָעָ֔ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
מֵעַ֥ל  above 
Parse: Preposition-m
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הָעָ֖ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הָיָ֑ה  he  was  [standing] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
וּכְפִתְח֖וֹ  and  when  he  opened  it 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּתַח 
Sense: to open.
עָֽמְד֥וּ  stood  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
הָעָֽם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.

What are the major concepts related to Nehemiah 8:5?

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