Nehemiah 5:16

Nehemiah 5:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
• New International Version (NIV)Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Indeed, I also continued the work on this wall, and we did not buy any land. All my servants were gathered there for the work.

Context of Nehemiah 5:16

14Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. 15The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people. But I did not do this, because of my fear of God. Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land. 17There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations. 18Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.

Nehemiah 5:16 word by word

וְ֠גַם בִּמְלֶ֜אכֶת הַחוֹמָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ הֶחֱזַ֔קְתִּי וְשָׂדֶ֖ה לֹ֣א קָנִ֑ינוּ וְכָל־נְעָרַ֔י קְבוּצִ֥ים שָׁ֖ם עַל־הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• Insteadגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• I devoted myselfחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: persevereH2388
• to the constructionמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399
• of theזֹאתzô'th · thisH2063
• wallחוֹמָהchômâh · wallH2346
• and allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• my servantsנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
• were gatheredקָבַץqâbats · to gatherH6908
• thereשָׁםshâm · thereH8033
• forעַל‛al · uponH5921
• we did notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• acquireקָנָהqânâh · to buyH7069
• any landשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704

Cross-references for Nehemiah 5:16

• Luke 8:15But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.
• Romans 2:7To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
• Galatians 6:9Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
• Numbers 16:15Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not regard their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them or mistreated a single one of them.”
• Acts 20:33I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:5As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
• 2 Corinthians 12:16Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.
• Philippians 2:20I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 5:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Neither bought we any land - Neither he nor his officers took any advantage of the necessities of the people, to buy their lands, etc. He even made his own servants to work at the wall.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16I continued … land - i. e. - “I took my share in the work of the wall, as general superintendent. I did not take advantage of the general poverty to buy poor men‘s plots of ground.”Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-19Verses 14-19 Those who truly fear God, will not dare to do any thing cruel or unjust. Let all who are in public places remember that they are so placed to do good, not to enrich themselves. Nehemiah mentions it to God in prayer, not as if he had merited any favour from God, but to show that he depended upon God only, to make up to him what he had lost and laid out for his honour. Nehemiah evidently spake and acted as one that knew himself to be a sinner…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-19This section explains Nehemiah's steady approach to servant leadership and his personal generosity.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 5:16

• Country
• Example
• Integrity
• Kindness
• Unselfishness

In the dictionaries

• Jubilee
• Shake
• Versions, Georgian, Gothic, Slavonic

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