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Nehemiah 5

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 5 of 13

1 ¶ And there was a great cry of the people, and of their wives, against their brothers the Jews.

2 For some were saying, With our sons and our daughters, we are many. And we take up grain for them, and we eat and live.

3 Some also were saying, We have mortgaged our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses; and we take up grain because of the famine.

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Chapter Summary

1 The Jews complain of their debt, mortgages, and bondage. 6 Nehemiah rebukes those lending at interest. 14 He forbears his own allowance, and keeps hospitality.

Key Hebrew Words

מַשָּׁא interest, usury H4855 · TWOT 1424a
אָח brother H251 · TWOT 62a
קָנָה redeem, buy back H7069 · TWOT 2039
פֶּחָה governor H6346 · TWOT 1757
יִרְאָה fear (of God) H3374 · TWOT 907b
חֶרְפָּה reproach H2781 · TWOT 749a

People & Context

Nehemiah (son of Hachaliah)

Governor who hears the people's outcry, rebukes the nobles for usury, makes them swear to restore, and refuses the governor's allowance

Artaxerxes

Persian king by whose reign Nehemiah dates his twelve years as governor of Judah

Timeline

Outcry Over Debt and Bondage

The people cry out because famine and taxes have forced them to mortgage their lands and sell their children into slavery to fellow Jews.

Nehemiah 5:1-5
Nehemiah Rebukes the Nobles

Angry at the extortion, Nehemiah confronts the nobles and magistrates, holding an assembly to condemn their charging of interest and demanding restitution.

Nehemiah 5:6-11
The Oath of Restitution

The leaders agree to restore the properties and stop charging interest. Nehemiah makes them swear an oath and pronounces a curse on any who break it.

Nehemiah 5:12-13

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