Nehemiah 8:6

And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with [their] faces to the ground.

And Ezra {H5830} blessed {H1288} the LORD {H3068}, the great {H1419} God {H430}. And all the people {H5971} answered {H6030}, Amen {H543}, Amen {H543}, with lifting up {H4607} their hands {H3027}: and they bowed {H6915} their heads, and worshipped {H7812} the LORD {H3068} with their faces {H639} to the ground {H776}.

'Ezra blessed ADONAI, the great God; and all the people answered, "Amen! Amen!" as they lifted up their hands, bowed their heads and fell prostrate before ADONAI with their faces to the ground.

Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

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.

Commentary

Nehemiah 8:6 (KJV) captures a powerful moment of corporate worship and spiritual renewal as the returned exiles in Jerusalem respond to Ezra's leadership.

Context

This verse is set during a pivotal time in Israel's history, after the return from Babylonian captivity and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls under Nehemiah. The people had gathered in the square before the Water Gate, eager to hear the Law of Moses read by Ezra the scribe. Before the reading commenced, Ezra blessed the LORD, and the people's spontaneous and profound response is recorded here. It signifies a collective turning back to God and His covenant, demonstrating their readiness to receive His Word.

Key Themes

  • Communal Worship and Reverence: The entire assembly participates, demonstrating unity and a deep sense of awe. Their physical actions—lifting hands, bowing heads, and prostrating themselves—underscore their profound respect and submission before God.
  • Acknowledgement of God's Greatness: Ezra's blessing acknowledges the LORD as "the great God," a title that speaks to His sovereignty, power, and majesty. This recognition forms the foundation of their worship and sets the tone for the reception of His Law.
  • Affirmation and Agreement: The repeated cry of "Amen, Amen" is a strong declaration of agreement and commitment. It signifies their heartfelt acceptance of Ezra's blessing and, by extension, their readiness to embrace the Law that was about to be read. This public affirmation fostered unity and solidified their collective purpose.
  • Spiritual Renewal: This scene is a testament to the spiritual awakening occurring among the people, a crucial step in their restoration as God's covenant nation after years of exile and neglect of the Law.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "Amen" (אָמֵן, 'āmēn) means "so be it," "truly," or "it is firm/certain." Its repetition ("Amen, Amen") emphatically conveys the sincerity and strong conviction of the people's affirmation. The act of "worshipped" (שָׁחָה, shachah) literally means to bow down or prostrate oneself, signifying deep humility and adoration. This posture of worship, with "faces to the ground," was a common and profound expression of submission and reverence in the ancient Near East, as seen in passages like Exodus 4:31.

Practical Application

Nehemiah 8:6 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Humility in Worship: True worship involves a humble heart and a posture of reverence, recognizing God's supreme authority and greatness. Our physical expressions, though culturally varied, should reflect our inner awe.
  • Communal Affirmation: The "Amen" serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of corporate agreement and enthusiastic participation in worship. When we affirm God's truth together, it strengthens our faith and unity, just as Paul discusses in 1 Corinthians 14:16 regarding communal response in prayer.
  • Responsive Faith: The people's immediate and fervent response to Ezra's blessing teaches us to be responsive to God's Word and His presence, allowing our faith to be expressed both inwardly and outwardly through adoration and obedience.
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Cross-References

  • 1 Timothy 2:8 (9 votes)

    I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

  • Lamentations 3:41 (7 votes)

    Let us lift up our heart with [our] hands unto God in the heavens.

  • Exodus 4:31 (7 votes)

    And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:18 (6 votes)

    And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with [his] face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.

  • Revelation 7:11 (5 votes)

    And all the angels stood round about the throne, and [about] the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

  • Nehemiah 5:13 (4 votes)

    Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

  • Genesis 24:26 (4 votes)

    And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.