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Nehemiah 5:4

Poverty and the vulnerableMoney and wealth

2 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.”

Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.

5 We 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.”

6 When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry,

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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
Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.
KJV
There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
WEB
There were also some who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral.
ASV
There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king`s tribute [upon] 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;
BLB
And there were those who said, “We have borrowed silver for the tribute of the king [on] our fields and our vineyards.
ÅB
Andre igjen sa: Vi har lånt penger på våre marker og vingårder for å betale skatten til kongen;
OTB
Det var også de som sa: “Vi har lånt penger for å betale kongens skatt på våre marker og vingårder.
B1930
Atter andre sa: Vi har lånt penger på våre marker og vingårder for å betale skatten til kongen;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ezra 4:13

    Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.

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  • Ezra 4:20

    And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.

    Read in context

  • 1 Kings 9:21

    their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction —Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.

    Read in context

  • Ezra 7:24

    And be advised that you have no authority to impose tribute, duty, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

    Read in context

  • Nehemiah 9:37

    Its abundant harvest goes to the kings You have set over us because of our sins. And they rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please. We are in great distress.

    Read in context

  • Joshua 16:10

    But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day, but they are forced laborers.

    Read in context

  • Deuteronomy 28:47–48

    Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart in all your abundance,

    Read in context