Nehemiah 5:8

Nehemiah 5:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
• New International Version (NIV)and said: “As far as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!” They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and said to them, "We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!" They were silent and could not find a word to say.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And I said to them, “According to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations. Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or should they be sold to us?” Then they were silenced and found nothing to say.

Context of Nehemiah 5:8

6I became extremely angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints. 7After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, “Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.” So I called a large assembly against them and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.” They remained silent and could not say a word. 9Then I said, “What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies? 10Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let’s stop charging this interest.

Nehemiah 5:8 word by word

וָאֹמְרָ֣ה לָהֶ֗ם אֲנַ֣חְנוּ קָ֠נִינוּ אֶת־אַחֵ֨ינוּ הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים הַנִּמְכָּרִ֤ים לַגּוֹיִם֙ כְּדֵ֣י בָ֔נוּ וְגַם־אַתֶּ֛ם תִּמְכְּר֥וּ אֶת־אֲחֵיכֶ֖ם וְנִמְכְּרוּ־לָ֑נוּ וַֽיַּחֲרִ֔ישׁוּ וְלֹ֥א מָצְא֖וּ דָּבָֽר׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And I saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto them, We after our abilityדַּיday · sufficiencyH1767
• have redeemedקָנָהqânâh · to buyH7069
• our brethrenאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
• the Jewsיְהוּדִיyehûdîy · JewH3064
• which were soldמָכַרmâkar · to sellH4376
• unto the heathenגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
• unto us? Then held they their peaceחָרֵשׁchârash · be quietH2790
• and foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• nothingדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697

Cross-references for Nehemiah 5:8

• Matthew 25:15To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately
• 2 Corinthians 8:12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
• Galatians 6:10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.
• Leviticus 25:47“If an alien or temporary resident living among you prospers, but your brother living near him becomes destitute and sells himself to the alien living among you, or to a member of the resident alien’s clan,
• Exodus 21:16“Whoever kidnaps a person must be put to death, whether he sells him or the person is found in his possession.
• Deuteronomy 24:7“If a man is discovered kidnapping one of his Israelite brothers, whether he treats him as a slave or sells him, the kidnapper must die. You must purge the evil from you.
• Romans 14:15For if your brother or sister is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy, by what you eat, someone for whom Christ died.
• 1 Corinthians 8:11So the weak person, the brother or sister for whom Christ died, is ruined by your knowledge.
• Job 29:10The noblemen’s voices were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.
• Job 32:15Job’s friends are dismayed and can no longer answer; words have left them.
• Matthew 22:12So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.
• Romans 3:19Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 5:8

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Nehemiah contrasts his own example with that of the rich Jews. He had spent money in redeeming some countrymen in servitude among the pagan; they were causing others to be sold into slavery among the Jews.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. 1-13Severe financial problems almost stopped the wall's completion (Nehemiah 5:1–5), but Nehemiah found a solution (5:6–13).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 5:8

• Beneficence
• Borrowing
• Country
• Covetousness
• Creditor
• Example
• Interest
• Kindness
• Lending
• Poor
• Repentance
• Reproof
• Rich, the
• Rulers
• Servant
• Usury

In the dictionaries

• Jubilee
• Shake
• Cupbearer
• Malachi
• Nothing
• Redeemer; Redemption
• Salvation
• 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