Nehemiah 5:2

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

1There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. Some were saying, “We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.” 3Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.” 4Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.

Nehemiah 5:2 word by word

וְיֵשׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֹמְרִ֔ים בָּנֵ֥ינוּ וּבְנֹתֵ֖ינוּ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ רַבִּ֑ים וְנִקְחָ֥ה דָגָ֖ן וְנֹאכְלָ֥ה וְנִחְיֶֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For there wereיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• that saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• We, our sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• and our daughtersבַּתbath · daughterH1323
• manyרַבrab · manyH7227
• therefore we take upלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• cornדָּגָןdâgân · grainH1715
• that we may eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• and liveחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421

Cross-references for Nehemiah 5:2

• Psalms 127:3Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, offspring, a reward.
• Psalms 128:2You will surely eat what your hands have worked for. You will be happy, and it will go well for you.
• Malachi 2:2If you don’t listen, and if you don’t take it to heart to honor my name,” says the Lord of Armies, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. In fact, I have already begun to curse them because you are not taking it to heart.
• Genesis 41:57Every land came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, for the famine was severe in every land.
• Genesis 42:2Listen,” he went on, “I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us so that we will live and not die.”
• Genesis 43:8Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me. We will be on our way so that we may live and not die — neither we, nor you, nor our dependents.

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

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

In the dictionaries

• Jubilee
• Shake
• Get; Getting
• Malachi
• Poverty
• Salvation
• Take
• Tax; Taxing
• 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