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Epiphany · Third Sunday after the Epiphany · Year C

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

Ezra Reads the Law to the People

January 23, 2028

The Rejoicing of the Law, Solomon Alexander Hart
The Rejoicing of the Law, Solomon Alexander Hart, 1850The Jewish Museum, New York
A Jewish painter, the first elected to the Royal Academy, paints Simchat Torah in a Livorno synagogue, with the scrolls carried round and children on shoulders.Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, and they answered, Amen, Amen. This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep. The joy of the Lord is your strength.Solomon Alexander HartThe first Jewish artist elected to the Royal Academy, who painted both English history and scenes of Jewish worship.The Jewish Museum, New YorkA museum on Fifth Avenue in a Warburg mansion, devoted to Jewish art and culture across four thousand years.The Jewish Museum, New York
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 4:16-30Lk 4:16-30
Epistle1 Cor. 12:12-31a1 Cor 12:12-31a
Old TestamentNeh. 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10Neh 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
PsalterPs. 19:7-14Ps 19:7-14

Overview & Insights

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)

Returned exiles gather as one in Jerusalem and ask Ezra to bring out the Book of the Law, which he reads aloud from daybreak to noon while Levites help the people understand it. When the people weep at hearing the Law, Nehemiah and Ezra tell them to celebrate instead, because the day is holy and the Lord's joy is their strength.

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Take it further: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

Commentary

Commentary on Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10Commentary on Neh 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 Working Preacher

A Luther Seminary commentary on Ezra's reading of the Law and the people's mix of grief and joy.

Nehemiah 8:1-10 CommentaryNeh 8:1-10 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed preaching commentary on the Law's public reading as an act of communal renewal.

Nehemiah 8 CommentaryNeh 8 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse by verse evangelical commentary on Ezra's reading of the Law and the people's response.

Nehemiah 8 CommentaryNeh 8 Commentary Precept Austin

A deep study page gathering word studies, cross references, and many expositors on Nehemiah 8.

Nehemiah 8:1 CommentariesNeh 8:1 Commentaries BibleHub

A classic aggregator stacking Barnes, Gill, Ellicott, and other historic commentators verse by verse.

Background & Word Study

Overview: Ezra-NehemiahOverview: Ezr-Neh BibleProject

An animated overview of Ezra-Nehemiah's design, framing the return from exile and rebuilding of the community.

Nehemiah 8 InterlinearNeh 8 Interlinear BibleHub

The Hebrew text of Nehemiah 8 word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers.

Nehemiah 8:1-10Neh 8:1-10 Sefaria

The Hebrew Masoretic text with the JPS translation and linked Jewish commentaries on Nehemiah 8.

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