The Meaning of Nehemiah 5:4 Explained

Nehemiah 5:4

KJV: There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

YLT: And there are who are saying, 'We have borrowed money for the tribute of the king, on our fields, and our vineyards;

Darby: And there were that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and vineyards;

ASV: There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and our vineyards.

Discover Nehemiah 5:4

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Nehemiah 5:4?

MEANING: What does Nehemiah 5:4 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Nehemiah 5:4 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Nehemiah 5:4?

What is the context of Nehemiah 5:4?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, [and that upon] our lands and vineyards.

What does Nehemiah 5:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 5:1-19 - Securing Justice For The Poor

The prospects of the poor people among the returned exiles were deplorable. There had been deficient rains and poor harvests, Haggai 1:6-11. They had mortgaged their lands to their richer brethren, and had even sold their children to pay the royal taxes and procure means of subsistence. The rich had taken advantage of their necessities, oppressing them with grievous exactions and heavy usury. When Nehemiah heard of it, he seems to have withstood the wrong with strenuous protest, depending on his God for support. And, in a great assembly, he carried the day against selfishness and greed. There is nothing here to condemn mortgage, or interest in themselves. Each is a legitimate method of trade, except when undue advantage is taken of a brother's necessities. The Nehemiah 5:14-19 were evidently added at a subsequent period to the rest of the chapter, and relate the habits of Nehemiah's administration. How full is this book of ejaculatory prayer! Even from his writing-table, this true-hearted man would lift up his eyes to God. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 5:4 mean?

And there were those who said we have borrowed money for tax of the king [on] our lands and vineyards

וְיֵשׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֹמְרִ֔ים לָוִ֥ינוּ כֶ֖סֶף לְמִדַּ֣ת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ שְׂדֹתֵ֖ינוּ וּכְרָמֵֽינוּ

וְיֵשׁ֙	And there were
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb Root: יֵשׁ Sense: being, existence, substance, there is or are.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר	those who
Parse: Pronoun, relative Root: אֲשֶׁר Sense: (relative part.).
אֹמְרִ֔ים	said
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לָוִ֥ינוּ	we have borrowed
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural Root: לָוָה Sense: to join, be joined.
כֶ֖סֶף	money
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: כֶּסֶף Sense: silver, money.
לְמִדַּ֣ת	for tax
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct Root: מִדָּה Sense: measure, measurement, stature, size, garment.
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ	of the king
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: מֶלֶךְ Sense: king.
שְׂדֹתֵ֖ינוּ	[on] our lands
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural Root: שָׂדֶה Sense: field, land.
וּכְרָמֵֽינוּ	and vineyards
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural Root: כֶּרֶם Sense: vineyard.

What are the major concepts related to Nehemiah 5:4?

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Similar Scriptures for Nehemiah 5:4

		Ezra 4:13 [5]
		Ezra 4:20 [3]
		1 Kings 9:21 [2]
		Ezra 7:24 [2]
		Joshua 16:10 [2]
		Nehemiah 9:37 [2]
		Deuteronomy 28:47-48 [2]