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.
• 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.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)They were saying, “We have such large families. We need more food to survive.”

Context of Nehemiah 5:2

1Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.” 3Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.” 4Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow 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 127:3Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.
• Psalms 128:2You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
• Malachi 2:2If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.
• Genesis 41:57And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.
• Genesis 42:2He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”
• Genesis 43:8Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die.

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