Nehemiah

Nehemiah 5:6–13

6When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry, 7and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!”

So I called a large assembly against them 8and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!”

But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.

9So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies? 10I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury. 11Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been assessing them.”

12“We will restore it,” they replied, “and will require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.”

So I summoned the priests and required of the nobles and officials an oath that they would do what they had promised. 13I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!”

The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

Read all of Nehemiah 5

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Nehemiah 5:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Whenכַּאֲשֶׁ֤רka·’ă·šerPreposition-k; Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
I heardשָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙šā·ma‘·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH8085 hear
their outcryזַֽעֲקָתָ֔םza·‘ă·qā·ṯāmNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH2201 shriek, outcry
and theseהָאֵֽלֶּה׃hā·’êl·lehArticle; Pronoun - common pluralH428 these
complaintsהַדְּבָרִ֥יםhad·də·ḇā·rîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH1697 speech, word
I became extremelyמְאֹ֑דmə·’ōḏAdverbH3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
angryוַיִּ֥חַרway·yi·ḥarConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH2734 burn, be kindled

Nehemiah 5:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
and after seriousלִבִּ֜יlib·bîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
thoughtוַיִּמָּלֵ֨ךְway·yim·mā·lêḵConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH4427 be or become king, or queen, reign
I rebukedוָאָרִ֙יבָה֙wā·’ā·rî·ḇāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singularH7378 strive, contend
the noblesהַחֹרִ֣יםha·ḥō·rîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH2715 noble
and officialsהַסְּגָנִ֔יםhas·sə·ḡā·nîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH5461 prefect, ruler
sayingוָאֹמְרָ֣הwā·’ō·mə·rāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singularH559 utter, say
Youאַתֶּ֣ם’at·temPronoun - second person masculine pluralH859 thou
are exactingנֹשִׁ֑איםnō·šimVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH5378 lend on interest, or usury, be a creditor
usuryמַשָּׁ֥אmaš·šāNoun - masculine singularH4855 lending on interest, or usury
from your own brothersבְּאָחִ֖יוbə·’ā·ḥîwPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH251 brother
So I calledוָאֶתֵּ֥ןwā·’et·tênConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularH5414 give, put, set
a largeגְדוֹלָֽה׃ḡə·ḏō·w·lāhAdjective - feminine singularH1419 great
assemblyקְהִלָּ֥הqə·hil·lāhNoun - feminine singularH6952 assembly, congregation
against themעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם‘ă·lê·hemPreposition; third person masculine pluralH5921 height

Nehemiah 5:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
and saidוָאֹמְרָ֣הwā·’ō·mə·rāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singularH559 utter, say
Weאֲנַ֣חְנוּ’ă·naḥ·nūPronoun - first person common pluralH587 we
have done our bestכְּדֵ֣יkə·ḏêPreposition-k; Noun - masculine singular constructH1767 sufficiency, enough
to buy backקָ֠נִינוּqā·nî·nūVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluralH7069 get, acquire
our Jewishהַיְּהוּדִ֜יםhay·yə·hū·ḏîmArticle; Noun - proper - masculine pluralH3064 Jewish
brothersאַחֵ֨ינוּ’a·ḥê·nūNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common pluralH251 brother
who were soldהַנִּמְכָּרִ֤יםhan·nim·kā·rîmArticle; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralH4376 sell
to foreignersלַגּוֹיִם֙lag·gō·w·yimPreposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine pluralH1471 nation, people
but now youאַתֶּ֛ם’at·temPronoun - second person masculine pluralH859 thou
are sellingתִּמְכְּר֥וּtim·kə·rūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralH4376 sell
your own brothersאֲחֵיכֶ֖ם’ă·ḥê·ḵemNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine pluralH251 brother
that they may be sold backוְנִמְכְּרוּ־wə·nim·kə·rū-Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralH4376 sell
to usלָ֑נוּlā·nūPreposition; first person common plural
But they remained silentוַֽיַּחֲרִ֔ישׁוּway·ya·ḥă·rî·šūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH2790 cut in, engrave, plough, devise
for they could findמָצְא֖וּmā·ṣə·’ūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH4672 attain to, find
nothingוְלֹ֥אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
to sayדָּבָֽר׃סdā·ḇārNoun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word

Nehemiah 5:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So I continuedוַיֹּאמֶרway·yō·mɛrConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularH559 utter, say
Whatאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer-Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
youאַתֶּ֣ם’at·temPronoun - second person masculine pluralH859 thou
are doingעֹשִׂ֑ים‘ō·śîmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH6213 do, make
is notלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
rightט֥וֹבṭō·wḇAdjective - masculine singularH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
Shouldn’tהֲל֞וֹאhă·lō·wAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
you walkתֵּלֵ֔כוּtê·lê·ḵūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralH1980 go, come, walk
in the fearבְּיִרְאַ֤תbə·yir·’aṯPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular constructH3374 fear
of our Godאֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙’ĕ·lō·hê·nūNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common pluralH430 God
to avoid the reproachמֵחֶרְפַּ֖תmê·ḥer·paṯPreposition-m; Noun - feminine singular constructH2781 reproach
of our foreignהַגּוֹיִ֥םhag·gō·w·yimArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH1471 nation, people
enemiesאוֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃’ō·wy·ḇê·nūVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct; first person common pluralH341 be hostile to

Nehemiah 5:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Iאֲנִי֙’ă·nîPronoun - first person common singularH589 I
as well asוְגַם־wə·ḡam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
my brothersאַחַ֣י’a·ḥayNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common singularH251 brother
and my servantsוּנְעָרַ֔יū·nə·‘ā·rayConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singularH5288 a shaking, scattering
have been lendingנֹשִׁ֥יםnō·šîmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH5383 lend, borrow
moneyכֶּ֣סֶףke·sep̄Noun - masculine singularH3701 silver, money
and grainוְדָגָ֑ןwə·ḏā·ḡānConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH1715 corn, grain
Pleaseנָּ֖אnāInterjectionH4994 I (we) pray, now
let us stopנַֽעַזְבָה־na·‘az·ḇāh-Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common pluralH5800 leave, forsake, loose
thisהַזֶּֽה׃haz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
usuryהַמַּשָּׁ֥אham·maš·šāArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4855 lending on interest, or usury

Nehemiah 5:11

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Pleaseנָ֨אnāInterjectionH4994 I (we) pray, now
restoreהָשִׁיבוּ֩hā·šî·ḇūVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralH7725 turn back, return
to themלָהֶ֜םlā·hemPreposition; third person masculine plural
immediatelyכְּהַיּ֗וֹםkə·hay·yō·wmPreposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
their fieldsשְׂדֹתֵיהֶ֛םśə·ḏō·ṯê·hemNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine pluralH7704 id.
vineyardsכַּרְמֵיהֶ֥םkar·mê·hemNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine pluralH3754 vineyard
olive grovesזֵיתֵיהֶ֖םzê·ṯê·hemNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine pluralH2132 olive-tree, olive
and housesוּבָתֵּיהֶ֑םū·ḇāt·tê·hemConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine pluralH1004 house
along with the percentageוּמְאַ֨תū·mə·’aṯConjunctive waw; Number - feminine singular constructH3967 hundred
of the moneyהַכֶּ֤סֶףhak·ke·sep̄Article; Noun - masculine singularH3701 silver, money
grainוְהַדָּגָן֙wə·had·dā·ḡānConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singularH1715 corn, grain
new wineהַתִּיר֣וֹשׁhat·tî·rō·wōšArticle; Noun - masculine singularH8492 must, fresh or new wine
and oilוְהַיִּצְהָ֔רwə·hay·yiṣ·hārConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singularH3323 fresh oil
thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
youאַתֶּ֖ם’at·temPronoun - second person masculine pluralH859 thou
have been assessingנֹשִׁ֥יםnō·šîmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH5383 lend, borrow
themבָּהֶֽם׃bā·hemPreposition; third person masculine plural

Nehemiah 5:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
We will restoreנָשִׁ֗יבnā·šîḇVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common pluralH7725 turn back, return
they repliedוַיֹּאמְר֣וּway·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
and will requireנְבַקֵּ֔שׁnə·ḇaq·qêšVerb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common pluralH1245 seek
nothingלֹ֣אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
more from themוּמֵהֶם֙ū·mê·hemConjunctive waw; Preposition; third person masculine plural
We will doנַעֲשֶׂ֔הna·‘ă·śehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common pluralH6213 do, make
asכַּאֲשֶׁ֖רka·’ă·šerPreposition-k; Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
youאַתָּ֣ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
sayאוֹמֵ֑ר’ō·w·mêrVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH559 utter, say
So I summonedוָאֶקְרָא֙wā·’eq·rāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
the priestsהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔יםhak·kō·hă·nîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH3548 priest
and requiredוָֽאַשְׁבִּיעֵ֔םwā·’aš·bî·‘êmConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person masculine pluralH7650 swear
would doלַעֲשׂ֖וֹתla·‘ă·śō·wṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH6213 do, make
what they had promisedכַּדָּבָ֥רkad·dā·ḇārPreposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word

Nehemiah 5:13

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
I alsoגַּם־gam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
shook outנָעַ֗רְתִּיnā·‘ar·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH5287 shake, shake out or off
the folds of my robeחָצְנִ֣יḥā·ṣə·nîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH2684 bosom
and saidוָֽאֹמְרָ֡הwā·’ō·mə·rāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singularH559 utter, say
May Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֟יםhā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
likewiseכָּ֣כָהkā·ḵāhAdverbH3602 thus
shakeיְנַעֵ֪רyə·na·‘êrVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH5287 shake, shake out or off
out of his houseמִבֵּיתוֹ֙mib·bê·ṯōwPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH1004 house
and possessionsוּמִ֣יגִיע֔וֹū·mî·ḡî·‘ōwConjunctive waw, Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH3018 toil, product
everyכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
manהָאִישׁ֩hā·’îšArticle; Noun - masculine singularH376 man
whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
does notלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
keepיָקִ֜יםyā·qîmVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH6965 arise, stand up, stand
thisהַזֶּ֗הhaz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
promiseהַדָּבָ֣רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
Mayיִהְיֶ֥הyih·yehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
shaken outנָע֖וּרnā·‘ūrVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularH5287 shake, shake out or off
and have nothingוָרֵ֑קwā·rêqConjunctive waw; Adjective - masculine singularH7386 empty, vain
The wholeכָֽל־ḵālNoun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
assemblyהַקָּהָ֜לhaq·qā·hālArticle; Noun - masculine singularH6951 assembly, convocation, congregation
saidוַיֹּאמְר֨וּway·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
Amenאָמֵ֗ן’ā·mênAdverbH543 verily, truly
and they praisedוַֽיְהַלְלוּ֙way·hal·lūConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH1984 shine
the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
And the peopleהָעָ֖םhā·‘āmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
didוַיַּ֥עַשׂway·ya·‘aśConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6213 do, make
as they had promisedכַּדָּבָ֥רkad·dā·ḇārPreposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Nehemiah 5:6 Exodus 11:8 · Nehemiah 13:25 · Numbers 16:15 · Ephesians 4:26

Nehemiah 5:7 Deuteronomy 23:19–20 · Leviticus 25:36 · Exodus 22:25 · Ezekiel 22:12 · Leviticus 19:15 · 2 Chronicles 19:6–7 · Psalm 15:5 · Deuteronomy 24:10–13 · Deuteronomy 15:2–3

Nehemiah 5:8 Leviticus 25:47–49

Nehemiah 5:9 Leviticus 25:36 · 2 Samuel 12:14 · Romans 2:24 · Proverbs 18:5 · 1 Peter 2:12

Nehemiah 5:10 2 Corinthians 6:1

Nehemiah 5:11 Isaiah 58:6 · Leviticus 6:4–5

Nehemiah 5:12 Ezra 10:5 · Jeremiah 34:8–10

Nehemiah 5:13 Acts 18:6 · Matthew 10:14 · Zechariah 5:3–4 · 1 Chronicles 16:36

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.