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Nehemiah 5:2

Poverty and the vulnerableMoney and wealth

1 About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.

Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.”

3 Others 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.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.”
KJV
For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
WEB
For there were some who said, “We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”
ASV
For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat and live.
DARBY
And there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many, and we must procure corn that we may eat and live.
BLB
And there were those who said, “Our sons and our daughters, we [are] many; therefore let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”
ÅB
Noen sa: Vi med våre sønner og døtre er mange; la oss få korn, så vi kan spise og berge livet!
OTB
Noen sa: “Vi, sammen med våre sønner og døtre, er mange; derfor trenger vi å skaffe korn så vi kan spise og leve.”
B1930
Nogen sa: Vi med våre sønner og døtre er mange; la oss få korn, så vi kan ete og berge livet!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Psalms 128:2–4

    For when you eat the fruit of your labor, blessings and prosperity will be yours.

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  • Malachi 2:2

    If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already begun to curse them, because you are not taking it to heart.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 41:57

    And every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

    Read in context

  • Psalms 127:3–5

    Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 43:8

    And Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and we will go at once, so that we may live and not die—neither we, nor you, nor our children.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 42:2

    “Look,” he added, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”

    Read in context