Nehemiah 5:3 Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine."

◄ Nehemiah 5:3 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine."

English Standard Version
There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.”

New American Standard Bible
There were others who said, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our houses that we might get grain because of the famine."

King James Bible
Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine."

International Standard Version
Others were saying, "We're having to mortgage our fields, our vineyards, and our homes so we can buy grain during this famine."

American Standard Version
Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get grain, because of the dearth.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And there were some that said: Let us mortgage our lands, and our vineyards, and our houses, and let us take corn be- cause of the famine.

Darby Bible Translation
And there were that said, We have had to pledge our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, that we might procure corn in the dearth.

Young's Literal Translation
And there are who are saying, 'Our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, we are pledging, and we receive corn for the famine.'

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

5:1-5 Men prey upon their fellow-creatures: by despising the poor they reproach their Maker. Such conduct is a disgrace to any, but who can sufficiently abhor it when adopted by professing Christians? With compassion for the oppressed, we should lament the hardships which many in the world are groaning under; putting our souls into their souls' stead, and remembering in our prayers and succours those who are burdened. But let those who show no mercy, expect judgment without mercy.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

CHAPTER 5

Ne 5:1-5. The People Complain of Their Debt, Mortgage, and Bondage.

1-5. there was a great cry of the people … against their brethren—Such a crisis in the condition of the Jews in Jerusalem—fatigued with hard labor and harassed by the machinations of restless enemies, the majority of them poor, and the bright visions which hope had painted of pure happiness on their return to the land of their fathers being unrealized—must have been very trying to their faith and patience. But, in addition to these vexatious oppressions, many began to sink under a new and more grievous evil. The poor made loud complaints against the rich for taking advantage of their necessities, and grinding them by usurious exactions. Many of them had, in consequence of these oppressions, been driven to such extremities that they had to mortgage their lands and houses to enable them to pay the taxes to the Persian government, and ultimately even to sell their children for slaves to procure the means of subsistence. The condition of the poorer inhabitants was indeed deplorable; for, besides the deficient harvests caused by the great rains (Ezr 10:9; also Hag 1:6-11), a dearth was now threatened by the enemy keeping such a multitude pent up in the city, and preventing the country people bringing in provisions.