Nehemiah 5:7

Nehemiah 5:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
• New International Version (NIV)I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them
• English Standard Version (ESV)I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, "You are exacting interest, each from his brother." And I held a great assembly against them
• New King James Version (NKJV)After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, “Each of you is exacting usury from his brother.” So I called a great assembly against them.

Context of Nehemiah 5:7

5Now our flesh (skin) is the same as that of our brothers (relatives), and our children are like their children, yet here we are forcing (selling) our sons and our daughters to be slaves; and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and we are powerless [to redeem them] because our fields and vineyards belong to others.” 6Then I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words [of accusation]. I thought it over and then challenged the nobles and the rulers. I said to them, “You are exacting usury (excessive interest) from your own brother (relative).” So I held a great assembly to confront them. 8I said to them, “According to our ability we have redeemed (purchased back) our Jewish brothers who were sold to the [Gentile] nations; now would you even sell your brothers, that they might be sold to us?” Then they were silent and could not find a [single] word to say. 9So I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunting by the [pagan] nations, our enemies?

Nehemiah 5:7 word by word

וַיִּמָּלֵ֨ךְ לִבִּ֜י עָלַ֗י וָאָרִ֙יבָה֙ אֶת־הַחֹרִ֣ים וְאֶת־הַסְּגָנִ֔ים וָאֹמְרָ֣ה לָהֶ֔ם מַשָּׁ֥א אִישׁ־בְּאָחִ֖יו אַתֶּ֣ם נֹשְׂאִים וָאֶתֵּ֥ן עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם קְהִלָּ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then I consultedמָלַךְmâlak · to adviseH4427
• with myselfלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• and I rebukedרִיבrîyb rûb · to contendH7378
• the noblesחֹרchôr chôr · nobleH2715
• and the rulersסָגָןsâgân · rulerH5461
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto them, Ye exactנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: aidH5375
• unto them, Ye exactנָשָׁהnâshâh · to lendH5383
• unto them, Ye exactנָשָׁאnâshâ' · to exactH5378
• usuryמַשָּׁאmashshâ' · interestH4855
• every oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• of his brotherאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
• And I setנָתַןnâthan · to give: makeH5414
• a greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• assemblyקְהִלָּהqehillâh · assemblyH6952

Cross-references for Nehemiah 5:7

• Psalms 4:4Tremble [with anger or fear], and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed and be still [reflect on your sin and repent of your rebellion]. Selah.
• Psalms 27:8When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].”
• Leviticus 19:15‘You shall not do injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor show a preference for the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
• 2 Chronicles 19:6and he said to the judges, “Be careful what you do, for you do not judge for man, but for the Lord who is with you in the matter of judgment.
• Psalms 82:1God stands in the divine assembly; He judges among the gods (divine beings).
• Proverbs 27:5Better is an open reprimand [of loving correction] Than love that is hidden.
• 2 Corinthians 5:16So from now on we regard no one from a human point of view [according to worldly standards and values]. Though we have known Christ from a human point of view, now we no longer know Him in this way.
• Galatians 2:11Now when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him face to face [about his conduct there], because he stood condemned [by his own actions].
• 1 Timothy 5:20As for those [elders] who continue in sin, reprimand them in the presence of all [the congregation], so that the rest will be warned.
• Exodus 22:25“If you lend money to any one of My people with you who is poor, you shall not act as a creditor (professional moneylender) to him; you shall not charge him interest.
• Leviticus 25:36Do not charge him usurious interest, but fear your God [with profound reverence], so your countryman may [continue to] live among you.
• Deuteronomy 15:2This is the regulation for the release: every creditor shall forgive what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not require repayment from his neighbor and his brother, because the Lord’s release has been proclaimed.
• Deuteronomy 23:19“You shall not charge interest to your fellow Israelite—interest on money, food or anything that may be loaned for interest.
• Deuteronomy 24:10“When you lend your neighbor anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge (security deposit).
• Psalms 15:1O Lord, who may lodge [as a guest] in Your tent? Who may dwell [continually] on Your holy hill?
• Ezekiel 22:12In you they have accepted bribes to shed blood; you have taken [forbidden] interest and [a percentage of] profits, and you have injured your neighbors for gain by oppression and extortion, and you have forgotten Me,” says the Lord God.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 5:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Ye exact usury - This was expressly contrary to the law of God; and was doubly cruel at this time, when they were just returning out of the land of their captivity, and were suffering from the effects of a dearth. Some think that it was about the time of a Sabbatical year, when their land must have lain at rest without cultivation, and during which they were expressly commanded not to exact any debt. Deuteronomy 15:2. I set a great assembly against them…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Ye exact usury - The phrase is unique to Nehemiah, and is best explained by the context, which shows the practice of the rich Jews at the time to have been not so much to lend on usury as to lend on mortgage and pledge.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-13Verses 6-13 Nehemiah knew that, if he built Jerusalem's walls ever so high, so thick, or so strong, the city could not be safe while there were abuses. The right way to reform men's lives, is to convince their consciences. If you walk in the fear of God, you will not be either covetous of worldly gain, or cruel toward your brethren. Nothing exposes religion more to reproach, than the worldliness and hard-heartedness of the professors of it. Those that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-7Nehemiah was very angry, but he controlled himself. He thought it over and then spoke to resolve the conflict instead of worsening it (see James 1:19–20).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-196-12. I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words--When such disorders came to the knowledge of the governor, his honest indignation was roused against the perpetrators of the evil. Having summoned a public assembly, he denounced their conduct in terms of just severity. He contrasted it with his own in redeeming with his money some of the Jewish exiles who, through debt or otherwise, had lost their personal liberty in Babylon. He urged the…Read the comment

Topics related to Nehemiah 5:7

• Borrowing
• Brother
• Country
• Covetousness
• Creditor
• Interest
• Lending
• Poor
• Repentance
• Reproof
• Rich, the
• Rulers
• Usury

In the dictionaries

• Governor
• Jubilee
• Shake
• Usury
• Consult
• Exact
• Interest
• Lend, Loan
• Malachi
• Rebuke

Commentaries on Nehemiah 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings