Nehemiah 5:18
What does Nehemiah 5:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 5:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 5:18 means
The daily provisions—an ox, six choice sheep, fowl, and, every ten days, an assortment of wine—were substantial. Yet Nehemiah insists he did not requisition the governor’s allowance because the people were already under heavy bondage. He absorbed costs rather than pass them on. The verse underscores his compassion and prudence: he sustains necessary hospitality and leadership functions while minimizing public burden. It also implies careful stewardship; abundance at his table was not funded by oppression but by personal sacrifice and wise management for the common good.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I demanded not the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I demanded not the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Now the food made ready for one day was one ox and six fat sheep, as well as fowls; and once in ten days a store of all sorts of wine: but all the same, I did not take the food to which the ruler had a right, because the people were crushed under a hard yoke.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and that which hath been prepared for one day <FI>is<Fi> one ox, six fat sheep, also fowls have been prepared for me, and once in ten days of all wines abundantly, and with this, the bread of the governor I have not sought, for heavy is the service on this people.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And there was prepared for me day be day one ox, and six choice rams, besides fowls, and once in ten days I gave store of divers wines, and many other things: yet I did not require my yearly allowance as governor: for the people were very much impoverished.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And that which was prepared daily was one ox [and] six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days all sorts of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I demanded not the bread of the governor; for the service was heavy upon this people.
Context
Verse 18 follows the report of Nehemiah’s hospitality in verse 17 by specifying its scale and reaffirming his refusal to impose further costs on the populace. The rationale—“because the bondage was heavy upon this people”—connects back to the initial crisis of the chapter and shows consistent concern from start to finish. The final verse (19) will close the section with Nehemiah’s prayer, shifting focus from human approval to God’s remembrance.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 37:26
All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; And his seed is blessed.
- Nehemiah 5:14
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
- 1 Kings 4:22
And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,
- Psalms 37:21
The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again; But the righteous dealeth graciously, and giveth.
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