English Standard Version
Nehemiah 5:16
16I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)I also devoted myself to working on the wall and refused to acquire any land. And I required all my servants to spend time working on the wall.
Context of Nehemiah 5:16
14Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. 15The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. 17Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. 18Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people.
Read all of Nehemiah 5Nehemiah 5:16 word by word
וְ֠גַם בִּמְלֶ֜אכֶת הַחוֹמָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ הֶחֱזַ֔קְתִּי וְשָׂדֶ֖ה לֹ֣א קָנִ֑ינוּ וְכָל־נְעָרַ֔י קְבוּצִ֥ים שָׁ֖ם עַל־הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Yea, also I continuedחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: persevereH2388
- in the workמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399
- of this wallחוֹמָהchômâh · wallH2346
- neither boughtקָנָהqânâh · to buyH7069
- we any landשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
- and all my servantsנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
- gatheredקָבַץqâbats · to gatherH6908
Cross-references for Nehemiah 5:16
- Luke 8:15As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
- Romans 2:7to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
- 1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
- Galatians 6:9And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
- Numbers 16:15And Moses was very angry and said to the Lord, "Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed one of them."
- Acts 20:33I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:5For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.
- 2 Corinthians 12:16But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit.
- Philippians 2:20For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.
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
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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