Nehemiah 5:12
What does Nehemiah 5:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 5:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 5:12 means
The nobles and rulers agree to restore what they took and to stop further demands, pledging to do as Nehemiah says. Nehemiah immediately strengthens their promise by summoning the priests and administering an oath. In Israel, swearing before God’s ministers makes the commitment sacred and accountable. The verse shows wise leadership that welcomes repentance yet anchors it with safeguards. Words are matched with solemn vows to ensure follow-through, acknowledging both human weakness and the holiness of the matter at hand.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then they said, We will give them back, and take nothing for them; we will do as you say. Then I sent for the priests and made them take an oath that they would keep this agreement.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And they say, `We give back, and of them we seek nothing; so we do as thou art saying.' And I call the priests, and cause them to swear to do according to this thing;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they said: We will restore, and we will require nothing of them: and we will do as thou sayest. And I called the priests and took an oath of them, to do according to what I had said.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they said, We will restore [them], and will require nothing of them; so will we do, as thou hast said. And I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
Context
After Nehemiah’s concrete demands in verse 11, verse 12 records the positive response: consent to restore and refrain. To bind the pledge, Nehemiah involves the priests, moving the issue from mere civic agreement to a sacred promise. This sets up verse 13’s enacted warning for any who would break it. The sequence demonstrates how reform is consolidated—public agreement, sacred oath, and symbolic sanction—culminating in community affirmation and praise.
v.11Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
v.12This passage
v.13Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that performeth not this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the assembly said, Amen, and praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezra 10:5
Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they sware.
- Jeremiah 34:8
The word that came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people that were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;
- 2 Chronicles 6:22
If a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and he come and swear before thine altar in this house;
- Nehemiah 13:25
And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.
- Nehemiah 10:29
they clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of Jehovah our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes;
- 2 Chronicles 15:13
and that whosoever would not seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
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