The Meaning of Nehemiah 5:3 Explained

Nehemiah 5:3

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

YLT: And there are who are saying, 'Our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, we are pledging, and we receive corn for the famine.'

Darby: 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.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Nehemiah 5:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 5:1-19 - Securing Justice For The Poor
The prospects of the poor people among the returned exiles were deplorable. There had been deficient rains and poor harvests, Haggai 1:6-11. They had mortgaged their lands to their richer brethren, and had even sold their children to pay the royal taxes and procure means of subsistence. The rich had taken advantage of their necessities, oppressing them with grievous exactions and heavy usury. When Nehemiah heard of it, he seems to have withstood the wrong with strenuous protest, depending on his God for support. And, in a great assembly, he carried the day against selfishness and greed. There is nothing here to condemn mortgage, or interest in themselves. Each is a legitimate method of trade, except when undue advantage is taken of a brother's necessities. The Nehemiah 5:14-19 were evidently added at a subsequent period to the rest of the chapter, and relate the habits of Nehemiah's administration. How full is this book of ejaculatory prayer! Even from his writing-table, this true-hearted man would lift up his eyes to God. [source]

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 5

1  The Jews complain of their debt, mortgage, and bondage
6  Nehemiah rebukes the usurers, and causes them to make a covenant of restitution
14  He forbears his own allowance, and keeps hospitality

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 5:3 mean?

And there were [some] who said our lands and vineyards and houses we have mortgaged that we might buy grain because of the famine
וְיֵשׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֹמְרִ֔ים שְׂדֹתֵ֛ינוּ וּכְרָמֵ֥ינוּ וּבָתֵּ֖ינוּ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ עֹרְבִ֑ים וְנִקְחָ֥ה דָגָ֖ן בָּרָעָֽב

וְיֵשׁ֙  And  there  were 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: יֵשׁ  
Sense: being, existence, substance, there is or are.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  [some]  who 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אֹמְרִ֔ים  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שְׂדֹתֵ֛ינוּ  our  lands 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: שָׂדֶה 
Sense: field, land.
וּכְרָמֵ֥ינוּ  and  vineyards 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: כֶּרֶם 
Sense: vineyard.
וּבָתֵּ֖ינוּ  and  houses 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
עֹרְבִ֑ים  have  mortgaged 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: עָרַב 
Sense: to pledge, exchange, mortgage, engage, occupy, undertake for, give pledges, be or become surety, take on pledge, give in pledge.
וְנִקְחָ֥ה  that  we  might  buy 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common plural
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
דָגָ֖ן  grain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּגָן  
Sense: wheat, cereal, grain, corn.
בָּרָעָֽב  because  of  the  famine 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רָעָב  
Sense: famine, hunger.

What are the major concepts related to Nehemiah 5:3?

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