Nehemiah 5:6

6 I got really angry when I heard their protest and complaints.

Nehemiah 5:6 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 5:6

And I was very angry when I heard their cry, and these words.
] Their complaint expressed in this manner; it not only raised pity and compassion in his breast towards these poor distressed people, but indignation at the rich that oppressed them.

Nehemiah 5:6 In-Context

4 And others said, "We're having to borrow money to pay the royal tax on our fields and vineyards.

5 Look: We're the same flesh and blood as our brothers here; our children are just as good as theirs. Yet here we are having to sell our children off as slaves - some of our daughters have already been sold - and we can't do anything about it because our fields and vineyards are owned by somebody else."

6 I got really angry when I heard their protest and complaints.

7 After thinking it over, I called the nobles and officials on the carpet. I said, "Each one of you is gouging his brother."

8 I told them, "We did everything we could to buy back our Jewish brothers who had to sell themselves as slaves to foreigners. And now you're selling these same brothers back into debt slavery! Does that mean that we have to buy them back again?" They said nothing. What could they say?