Nehemiah 5:3

3 There were some also who said, "We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn because of 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 For there were those who said, "We, our sons and our daughters are many; therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat and live."

3 There were some also who said, "We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn because of the dearth."

4 There were also those who said, "We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already; neither is it in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards."