Nehemiah 5:3

3 And there were that said, We have had to pledge our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, that we might procure corn in the dearth.

Nehemiah 5:3 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 5:3

Some also there were that said, we have mortgaged our lands,
vineyards, and houses
Made them over to others, put them into their hands as pledges for money received of them:

that we may buy corn;
for the support of their families:

because of the dearth;
or famine; which might be occasioned by their enemies lying in wait and intercepting all provisions that might be brought to them; for this seems not to be the famine spoken of in ( Haggai 1:10 Haggai 1:11 ) for that was some years before this, and for a reason which now was not.

Nehemiah 5:3 In-Context

1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

2 And there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many, and we must procure corn that we may eat and live.

3 And there were that said, We have had to pledge our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, that we might procure corn in the dearth.

4 And there were that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and vineyards;

5 yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and behold, we must bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage [already]; neither is it in the power of our hand [to redeem them], for other men have our fields and our vineyards.