Nehemiah 5:4
What does Nehemiah 5:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 5:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 5:4 means
A further burden is described: they have borrowed money to pay the king’s tribute assessed on their fields and vineyards. Imperial taxes do not pause for famine, and the obligation falls on productive assets even when those assets yield little. The verse shows how external demands (the Persian tax) and internal lending practices together strain the community. Debt is no longer only about food; it is about meeting state-imposed dues, compounding the hardship. The people are trapped between political requirements and economic scarcity, and loans meant to help end up tightening the noose as interest accrues and collateral is at risk.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute upon our fields and our vineyards.
KJV
King James Version · 1611There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute upon our fields and our vineyards.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And there were others who said, We have given up our fields and our vine-gardens to get money for the king's taxes.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And there are who are saying, `We have borrowed money for the tribute of the king, <FI>on<Fi> our fields, and our vineyards;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And others said: Let us borrow money for the king's tribute, and let us give up our fields and vineyards:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And there were that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and vineyards;
Context
This complaint adds to the picture built in verses 2–3. First there is hunger, then mortgages for grain, and now loans to pay royal taxes. The narrative is stacking pressures to show that the crisis is comprehensive. Verse 5 will present the heartbreaking consequence—children entering servitude and families powerless to reverse it. With the full scope of injustice exposed, verses 6–13 will recount Nehemiah’s decisive intervention to halt exploitation and restore dignity.
v.3Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get grain, because of the dearth.
v.4This passage
v.5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already: neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Kings 9:21
their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel were not able utterly to destroy, of them did Solomon raise a levy of bondservants unto this day.
- Joshua 16:10
And they drove not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell in the midst of Ephraim unto this day, and are become servants to do taskwork.
- Ezra 4:13
Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful unto the kings.
- Deuteronomy 28:47
Because thou servedst not Jehovah thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, by reason of the abundance of all things;
- Ezra 7:24
Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, upon them.
- Nehemiah 9:37
And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have power over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.
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