Nehemiah 5:6-13

6 Then I was very ¹angry when I had heard their outcry and these words.

7 I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, "²You are exacting usury, each from his brother!" Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.

8 I said to them, "We according to our ability ³have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?" Then they were silent and could not find a word to say.

9 Again I said, "The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of ⁴the reproach of the nations, our enemies?

10 "And likewise I, my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please, let us leave off this usury.

11 "Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine and the oil that you are exacting from them."

12 Then they said, "We ⁵will give it back and ⁶will require nothing from them; we will do exactly as you say." So I called the priests and ⁷took an oath from them that they would do according to this promise.

13 I ⁸also shook out the front of my garment and said, "Thus may God shake out every man from his house and from his possessions who does not fulfill this promise; even thus may he be shaken out and emptied." And ⁹all the assembly said, "Amen!" And they praised the LORD. Then the people did according to this promise.

Nehemiah 5:6-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 5

In this chapter is a complaint of the poor against the rich for oppression of them, Ne 5:1-5 for which Nehemiah being angry, reproved them, and made them promise, and swear to it, to make restitution, Ne 5:6-13 and set them an example himself, taking nothing of them during his twelve years' government, supporting himself and his at his own expenses, Ne 5:14-19.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 11:8
• 2. Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:36; Deuteronomy 23:19, 20
• 3. Leviticus 25:48
• 4. Nehemiah 4:4
• 5. 2 Chronicles 28:15
• 6. Nehemiah 10:31
• 7. Ezra 10:5
• 8. Acts 18:6
• 9. Nehemiah 8:6

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "bought"
• [b]. Lit "word"
• [c]. Lit "bosom"
• [d]. Lit "word"
• [e]. Lit "word"