Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. New Living Translation And others said, “We have had to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay our taxes. English Standard Version And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. Berean Standard Bible Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. King James Bible There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. New King James Version There were also those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our lands and vineyards. New American Standard Bible There also were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. NASB 1995 Also there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. NASB 1977 Also there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. Legacy Standard Bible Also there were those who were saying, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. Amplified Bible There were also others who were saying, “We have borrowed money on our fields and vineyards for the [Persian] king’s [heavy] tax. Christian Standard Bible Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. Holman Christian Standard Bible Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. American Standard Version There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and our vineyards. Contemporary English Version Then others said, "We had to borrow money from those in power to pay the government tax on our fields and vineyards. English Revised Version There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and our vineyards. GOD'S WORD® Translation Others said, "We've had to borrow money to pay the king's taxes on our fields and vineyards. Good News Translation Still others said, "We had to borrow money to pay the royal tax on our fields and vineyards. International Standard Version Still others were saying "We've borrowed money against our fields and vineyards to pay the king's taxes. Majority Standard Bible Still others were saying, ?We have borrowed money to pay the king?s tax on our fields and vineyards. NET Bible Then there were those who said, "We have borrowed money to pay our taxes to the king on our fields and our vineyards. New Heart English Bible There were also some who said, "We have borrowed money for the king's tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral. Webster's Bible Translation There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. World English Bible There were also some who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd there are [those] who are saying, “We have borrowed money for the tribute of the king, [on] our fields, and our vineyards; Young's Literal Translation And there are who are saying, 'We have borrowed money for the tribute of the king, on our fields, and our vineyards; Smith's Literal Translation And there are those saying, We borrowed silver for the king's tribute, our fields and our vineyards. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd others said: Let us borrow money for the king's tribute, and let us give up our fields and vineyards: Catholic Public Domain Version And others were saying: “Let us borrow money for the tribute of the king, and let us surrender our fields and vineyards.” New American Bible Still others said: “To pay the king’s tax we have borrowed money on our fields and vineyards. New Revised Standard Version And there were those who said, “We are having to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay the king’s tax. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThere were those who said, Let us borrow money from the king's tribute, and work our fields and our vineyards, that we may live. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And there were those who said: “We shall borrow money from the taxes of the King, and we shall cultivate our fields and our vineyards, and we shall live!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917There were also that said: 'We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and our vineyards. Brenton Septuagint Translation And some said, We have borrowed money for the king's tributes: - our fields, and our vineyards, and houses are pledged. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed…3Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” 4 Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”… Cross References Exodus 22:25 If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest. Leviticus 25:35-37 Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you. / Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you. / You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit. Deuteronomy 23:19-20 Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan. / You may charge a foreigner interest, but not your brother, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything to which you put your hand in the land that you are entering to possess. Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. Isaiah 58:6-7 Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? / Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Ezekiel 18:8 He does not engage in usury or take excess interest, but he withholds his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between men. Ezekiel 22:12 In you they take bribes to shed blood. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD. Matthew 5:42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Luke 6:34-35 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. / But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. Acts 2:44-45 All the believers were together and had everything in common. / Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need. Acts 4:34-35 There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, / and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need. Romans 13:8 Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now about the collection for the saints, you are to do as I directed the churches of Galatia: / On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed. 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality. / At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. This way there will be equality. / As it is written: “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.” Treasury of Scripture There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that on our lands and vineyards. the king's tribute Nehemiah 9:37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. Deuteronomy 28:47,48 Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; … Joshua 16:10 And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute. Jump to Previous Borrow Borrowed Fields King's Lands Money Others Pay Tax Tribute Vine-Gardens VineyardsJump to Next Borrow Borrowed Fields King's Lands Money Others Pay Tax Tribute Vine-Gardens VineyardsNehemiah 5 1. The Jews complain of their debt, mortgage, and bondage6. Nehemiah rebukes the usurers, and causes them to make a covenant of restitution 14. He forbears his own allowance, and keeps hospitality Still others were saying This phrase indicates that there were multiple groups among the Israelites facing different issues. The context of Nehemiah 5 reveals a time of economic distress and social injustice among the returned exiles. The phrase suggests a communal outcry, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem. This communal aspect is reminiscent of other biblical instances where the people of Israel collectively express their grievances, such as in Exodus 2:23, where the Israelites groan under Egyptian bondage. We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards Persons / Places / Events 1. NehemiahThe central figure in the book, Nehemiah is a Jewish leader who is serving as the governor of Judah. He is known for his leadership in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and addressing social injustices among the people. 2. The Jewish People The community in Jerusalem, including those who are struggling financially and are burdened by debt and taxes. 3. The King’s Tax Refers to the financial obligations imposed by the Persian Empire on its subjects, which were a significant burden on the people of Judah. 4. Fields and Vineyards Represents the primary means of livelihood for the Jewish people, which were under threat due to the financial pressures they faced. 5. Jerusalem The city where these events are taking place, significant as the center of Jewish worship and identity. Teaching Points The Burden of DebtFinancial burdens can lead to significant stress and hardship. It is important to seek wise counsel and make prudent financial decisions to avoid unnecessary debt. Social Justice and Compassion As Christians, we are called to be aware of the injustices around us and to act with compassion and fairness, especially towards those who are economically disadvantaged. Leadership and Responsibility Nehemiah’s response to the plight of his people teaches us about the importance of responsible leadership that prioritizes the well-being of the community. Trust in God’s Provision In times of financial difficulty, it is crucial to trust in God’s provision and to seek His guidance in managing resources. Community Support The church community should be a place where members support one another, especially in times of financial need, reflecting the early church’s practice of sharing resources.(4) We have borrowed money for the king's tribute.--Literally, we have made our fields and vineyards answerable for the payment of the Persian tribute. They had pledged the coming produce.Verse 4. - The king's tribute. Judaea, like other Persian provinces, had to pay a tribute, partly in money and partly in kind, yearly to the Persian monarch (see the comment on Ezra 4:13); but there is no reason to believe that this burthen was generally felt as oppressive, nor that it was heavier in Judaea than elsewhere. But by the very poor even a small amount of direct taxation is felt as a grievance; and the necessity of meeting the demands of the tax-gatherer was in the ancient world often the turning-point, which compelled the contracting of a debt (Liv., 2:23); and so it seems to have been with these complainants, Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Still othersאֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that were saying, אֹמְרִ֔ים (’ō·mə·rîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say “We have borrowed לָוִ֥ינוּ (lā·wî·nū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural Strong's 3867: To twine, to unite, to remain, to borrow, to lend money [to pay] כֶ֖סֶף (ḵe·sep̄) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3701: Silver, money the king's הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king tax לְמִדַּ֣ת (lə·mid·daṯ) Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 4060: Extension, height, breadth, a measure, a portion, a vestment, tribute [on] our fields שְׂדֹתֵ֖ינוּ (śə·ḏō·ṯê·nū) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural Strong's 7704: Field, land and vineyards. וּכְרָמֵֽינוּ׃ (ū·ḵə·rā·mê·nū) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural Strong's 3754: A garden, vineyard Links Nehemiah 5:4 NIVNehemiah 5:4 NLT Nehemiah 5:4 ESV Nehemiah 5:4 NASB Nehemiah 5:4 KJV Nehemiah 5:4 BibleApps.com Nehemiah 5:4 Biblia Paralela Nehemiah 5:4 Chinese Bible Nehemiah 5:4 French Bible Nehemiah 5:4 Catholic Bible OT History: Nehemiah 5:4 There were also that said We have (Neh Ne) |
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