Nehemiah 5:7
New International Version
I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them

New Living Translation
After thinking it over, I spoke out against these nobles and officials. I told them, “You are hurting your own relatives by charging interest when they borrow money!” Then I called a public meeting to deal with the problem.

English Standard Version
I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them

Berean Standard Bible
and 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

King James Bible
Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.

New King James Version
After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, “Each of you is exacting usury from his brother.” So I called a great assembly against them.

New American Standard Bible
So I thought it over and contended with the nobles and the leading people, and said to them, “You are lending at interest, each to his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.

NASB 1995
I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, “You are exacting usury, each from his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.

NASB 1977
And I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, “You are exacting usury, each from his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.

Legacy Standard Bible
I consulted within my own heart and contended with the nobles and the officials and said to them, “You are exacting usury, each from his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.

Amplified Bible
I thought it over and then challenged the nobles and the rulers. I said to them, “You are exacting usury (excessive interest) from your own brother (relative).” So I held a great assembly to confront them.

Christian Standard Bible
After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, “Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.” So I called a large assembly against them

Holman Christian Standard Bible
After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, “Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.” So I called a large assembly against them

American Standard Version
Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I held a great assembly against them.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And my heart was broken within me, and I extended my spirit, and I spoke with the Elders and with the Princes.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And my heart took counsel within me, and I contended against the nobles, and the princes, and I said to them, Should every man demand of his brother what ye demand? And I appointed against them a great assembly,

Contemporary English Version
So I thought it over and said to the leaders and officials, "How can you charge your own people interest?" Then I called a public meeting and accused the leaders

Douay-Rheims Bible
And my heart thought with myself: and I rebuked the nobles and magistrates, and said to them: Do you every one ex- act usury of your brethren ? And I gathered together a great assembly against them,

English Revised Version
Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I held a great assembly against them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
After thinking it over, I confronted the nobles and the leaders. I told them, "You are charging interest on loans made to your own relatives." I arranged for a large meeting to deal with them.

Good News Translation
and decided to act. I denounced the leaders and officials of the people and told them, "You are oppressing your own relatives!" I called a public assembly to deal with the problem

International Standard Version
So after thinking it over carefully, I accused the officials and nobles openly, "Every one of you is charging your fellow countrymen interest!" So I opened a public investigation against them.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them: 'Ye lend upon pledge, every one to his brother.' And I held a great assembly against them.

Literal Standard Version
and my heart reigns over me, and I strive with the nobles, and with the prefects, and say to them, “You are exacting usury on one another”; and I set against them a great assembly,

Majority Standard Bible
and 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

New American Bible
After some deliberation, I called the nobles and magistrates to account, saying to them, “You are exacting interest from your own kindred!” I then rebuked them severely,

NET Bible
I considered these things carefully and then registered a complaint with the wealthy and the officials. I said to them, "Each one of you is seizing the collateral from your own countrymen!" Because of them I called for a great public assembly.

New Revised Standard Version
After thinking it over, I brought charges against the nobles and the officials; I said to them, “You are all taking interest from your own people.” And I called a great assembly to deal with them,

New Heart English Bible
Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, "You exact usury, everyone of his brother." I held a great assembly against them.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said to them, Ye exact interest, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.

World English Bible
Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them.

Young's Literal Translation
and my heart reigneth over me, and I strive with the freemen, and with the prefects, and say to them, 'Usury one upon another ye are exacting;' and I set against them a great assembly,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed
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.…

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 25:36
Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you.

Deuteronomy 23:19
Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan.

Deuteronomy 23:20
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.

Psalm 109:11
May the creditor seize all he owns, and strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.


Treasury of Scripture

Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said to them, You exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.

I consulted with myself.

Psalm 4:4
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Psalm 27:8
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

I rebuked

Leviticus 19:15
Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

2 Chronicles 19:6,7
And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment…

Psalm 82:1-4
A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods…

Ye exact usury

Exodus 22:25
If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.

Leviticus 25:36
Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.

Deuteronomy 15:2,3
And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD'S release…

I set a great assembly

2 Chronicles 28:9-13
But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven…

Matthew 18:17
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Jump to Previous
Accused Assembly Charges Chiefs Consulted Contended Counsel Countryman Countrymen Deal Exact Exacting Great Held Interest Lend Meeting Mind Nobles Officials Pledge Pondered Protest Rebuked Remonstrated Rulers Together Turning Usury
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Accused Assembly Charges Chiefs Consulted Contended Counsel Countryman Countrymen Deal Exact Exacting Great Held Interest Lend Meeting Mind Nobles Officials Pledge Pondered Protest Rebuked Remonstrated Rulers Together Turning Usury
Nehemiah 5
1. The Jews complain of their debt, mortgage, and bondage
6. Nehemiah rebukes the usurers, and causes them to make a covenant of restitution
14. He forbears his own allowance, and keeps hospitality














(7) I consulted.--But he mastered himself, and studied his plan of operation. The matter was complicated, as the transgressors had violated rather the spirit than the letter of the law. Hence the rebuke, that they exacted usury each of his brother, failed in its object; and the governor called a general assembly, not "against them," but "concerning them."

Verse 7. - I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury. So the Vulgate, and most commentators; but Bertheau has shown that the expression used, which is peculiar to Nehemiah, cannot have this meaning, since it is not the taking of usury that has been complained of, or that Nehemiah is especially anxious to stop, but the lending of money upon the security of lands, houses, or children, with its consequences, the forfeiture of the lands and houses, with the enslavement of the children. He therefore translates, "I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye lend upon pledge." I set a great assembly against them. It is evident that Nehemiah's rebuke had no effect. The nobles gave him no reason to think that they would change their conduct. He was therefore compelled to bring the matter before the people; not that they had any legal power, but he felt that the nobles might be ashamed or afraid to continue their oppression when it was openly denounced by the chief civil ruler in the hearing of a great assembly of their countrymen.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and after serious
לִבִּ֜י (lib·bî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

thought
וַיִּמָּלֵ֨ךְ (way·yim·mā·lêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel

I rebuked
וָאָרִ֙יבָה֙ (wā·’ā·rî·ḇāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7378: To toss, grapple, to wrangle, controversy, to defend

the nobles
הַחֹרִ֣ים (ha·ḥō·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2715: White, pure, noble

and officials,
הַסְּגָנִ֔ים (has·sə·ḡā·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5461: A prefect of a, province

saying,
וָאֹמְרָ֣ה (wā·’ō·mə·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“You
אַתֶּ֣ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are exacting
נֹשִׁ֑ים‪‬‪‬‪‬נשאיםנֹשִׁ֑ים‪‬‪‬‪‬ (nō·šim)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5383: To lend, borrow on security, interest

usury
מַשָּׁ֥א (maš·šā)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5378: To lend on interest, to dun for, debt

from your own brothers!”
בְּאָחִ֖יו (bə·’ā·ḥîw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

So I called
וָאֶתֵּ֥ן (wā·’et·tên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

a large
גְדוֹלָֽה׃ (ḡə·ḏō·w·lāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

assembly
קְהִלָּ֥ה (qə·hil·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6952: Assembly, congregation

against them
עָלַ֗י (‘ā·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT History: Nehemiah 5:7 Then I consulted with myself and contended (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 5:6
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