Nehemiah 8:6

And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God,.... 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 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. No JFB commentary on this verse.

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.Ver. 6. And Ezra blessed the Lord] i.e. He called upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, Psalms 18:3. He prayed before he read and preached. So ought we to do by his example, as Lyra well noteth; and as is commonly done by all our ministers. Luther’ s usual prayer before sermon was this, Confirm, O God, in us what thou hast wrought; and perfect the work that thou hast begun to thy glory. Lord, open our eyes, that we may see the wonders of thy law, &c. Zuinglius began his public lectures thus, O Almighty, everlasting, and merciful God, whose Word is a light to our feet, and a lantern to our paths, open and enlighten our minds, that we may piously and holily understand thine oracles, and be so transformed thereinto, that we may not in anything displease thy majesty, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. The Platonists could say, that the light of our minds whereby we learn all things is no other but God himself, the same that made all things. This made Ezra here bless the Lord, that is, say, with David, Psalms 119:12, Blessed be thou, O Lord: teach us thy statutes. The great God] The true Trismegist, the Fortissimus Maximus, Opt. Max. All whose attributes are in the highest degree, yea, in a degree beyond any superlative. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen] This word is Hebrew; but used in all languages, in the close of prayers. The doubling of it here importeth their assent, and their assurance. It is the voice of one that believeth and expecteth that he shall have his prayers granted. The Septuagint render it, so be it; or, so it is. The apostle reckoneth it for a great loss when people either say not Amen to public prayers, or not heartily and affectionately, as here, 1 Corinthians 14:16, "Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say, Amen?" The Turks also, when their priest hath said his litany, such as it is, make answer in manner of a shout, Homin, that is, Amen. With lifting up their hands] And with their hearts, unto God in the heavens, Lamentations 3:41. This Nazianzen judgeth to be optimum opus manuum, the best work of the hands, sc. in caelos eas extendere, ad precesque expandere, to stretch them towards heaven, and to hold them out in prayer. This way David ennobled his tongue (therefore called his glory), and so men may their hands. And they bowed their heads] In token of the lowliness of their hearts. These outward gestures, as they issue from the fervency of a good heart, so they reflect upon the affections, and do further inflame them.

(6) And Ezra blessed the Lord.—The book was formally and solemnly opened in the sight of the people. At this request the multitude arose, and, after a doxology offered by Ezra, they all uttered a double Amen, “with lifting up of their hands,” in token of their most fervent assent; and then “with faces bowed to the ground,” in token of adoration. The great God is Nehemiah’s expression, not Ezra’s; the sentence used is not reported.

Verse 6. Ezra blessed the Lord] In imitation of this, we say, when the gospel for the day is commenced, Glory be to God for his holy Gospel! and conclude this thanksgiving with, Amen.

6. the great God] cf. Nehemiah 9:32; Ezra 5:8. In Nehemiah’s own writing it occurs Nehemiah 1:5. Amen, Amen] The people’s response: see note on Nehemiah 5:13; cf. 1 Chronicles 16:36. with lifting up their hands] See note on Ezra 9:5. Cf. Psalms 134:2, ‘Lift up your hands to the sanctuary (Marg. Or, in holiness) and bless ye the Lord.’ 2Ma 14:34. worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground] The phrase ‘with the face to the earth,’ occurs very generally of reverence without the idea of worship; cf. Genesis 19:1; Genesis 42:6; Genesis 48:12; 1 Samuel 20:41; 1 Samuel 24:8; 1 Chronicles 21:21. But it is also used of worship before God, as in Numbers 22:31; 2 Chronicles 7:3; 2 Chronicles 20:18; and compare the expression ‘let us worship and bow down,’ Psalms 95:6; Job 1:20. After this united act of worship they resumed their attitude of attention (Nehemiah 8:3).

6. Ezra blessed the Lord — After the manner of David in 1 Chronicles 29:10-20. People answered, Amen — Such responses characterized the ancient worship, and ought ever to be retained.