American Standard Version
Nehemiah 5:2
2For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat and live.
Nehemiah 5:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
- New International Version (NIV)Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)For there were those who said, "With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive."
- New King James Version (NKJV)For there were those who said, “We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”
Context of Nehemiah 5:2
1Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat and live. 3Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get grain, because of the dearth. 4There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute upon our fields and our vineyards.
Read all of Nehemiah 5Nehemiah 5:2 word by word
וְיֵשׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֹמְרִ֔ים בָּנֵ֥ינוּ וּבְנֹתֵ֖ינוּ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ רַבִּ֑ים וְנִקְחָ֥ה דָגָ֖ן וְנֹאכְלָ֥ה וְנִחְיֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Nehemiah 5:2
- Psalms 127:3Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah; Andthe fruit of the womb ishisreward.
- Psalms 128:2For thou shalt eat the labor of thy hands: Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
- Malachi 2:2If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith Jehovah of hosts, then will I send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
- Genesis 41:57And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was sore in all the earth.
- Genesis 42:2And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
- Genesis 43:8And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.
Commentaries on Nehemiah 5:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2We, our sons, and our daughters, are many - Our families are larger than we can provide for; we are obliged to go in debt; and our richer brethren take advantage of our necessitous situation, and oppress us. The details which are given in the next verse are sufficiently plain.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Are many - A slight emendation brings this verse into exact parallelism with the next, and gives the sense - “We have pledged our sons and our daughters, that we might get corn, and eat and live.” Compare Nehemiah 5:5.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Some farmers stopped growing crops to help build the wall. This left their large families needing food. Someone had to feed their families, or the farmers would stop working on the wall and return to their fields.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-51-5. there was a great cry of the people ... against their brethren--Such a crisis in the condition of the Jews in Jerusalem--fatigued with hard labor and harassed by the machinations of restless enemies, the majority of them poor, and the bright visions which hope had painted of pure happiness on their return to the land of their fathers being unrealized--must have been very trying to their faith and patience. But, in addition to these vexatious…Read the comment
Topics related to Nehemiah 5:2
In the dictionaries
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
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries