Nehemiah 5:8
What does Nehemiah 5:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 5:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 5:8 means
Nehemiah’s argument exposes the contradiction: the community has worked to buy back Jews sold to the nations, yet the nobles are effectively re-selling their brothers through debt bondage. His question shames the practice—will you sell your brethren, and should they be sold to us again? The wrongdoers have no defense; their silence admits guilt. The verse highlights the redemptive ethic within God’s people: the movement should be from bondage to freedom, not the reverse. To undermine that is to oppose God’s merciful purposes and to betray the solidarity that ought to mark the covenant family.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, that were sold unto the nations; and would ye even sell your brethren, and should they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found never a word.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, that were sold unto the nations; and would ye even sell your brethren, and should they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found never a word.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I said to them, We have given whatever we were able to give, to make our brothers the Jews free, who were servants and prisoners of the nations: and would you now give up your brothers for a price, and are they to become our property? Then they said nothing, answering not a word.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and say to them, `We have acquired our brethren the Jews, those sold to the nations, according to the ability that <FI>is<Fi> in us, and ye also sell your brethren, and they have been sold to us!' and they are silent, and have not found a word.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I said to them: We, as you know, have redeemed according to our ability our brethren the Jews, that were sold to the Gentiles: and will you then sell your brethren, for us to redeem them? And they held their peace, and found not what to answer.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I said to them, We, according to our ability, have redeemed our brethren the Jews, who were sold to the nations; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? And they were silent and found no answer.
Context
Still in the assembly begun in verse 7, Nehemiah now reasons with the nobles, reminding them of past efforts to redeem their people. Their silence in verse 8 prepares for his next appeal in verse 9—walking in the fear of God for the sake of their witness among hostile nations. Then verses 10–11 will translate the rebuke into action steps: cease usury and restore what was taken. The narrative moves from moral clarity to practical correction.
v.7Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I held a great assembly against them.
v.8This passage
v.9Also I said, The thing that ye do is not good: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 8:12
For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not.
- Matthew 22:12
and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.
- Galatians 6:10
So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.
- Job 32:15
They are amazed, they answer no more: They have not a word to say.
- Job 29:10
The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
- Romans 3:19
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:
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