The Meaning of Nehemiah 5:7 Explained

Nehemiah 5:7

KJV: Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.

YLT: and my heart reigneth over me, and I strive with the freemen, and with the prefects, and say to them, 'Usury one upon another ye are exacting;' and I set against them a great assembly,

Darby: And I consulted with myself; and I remonstrated with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother! And I set a great assembly against them.

ASV: Then 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then I consulted  with myself,  and I rebuked  the nobles,  and the rulers,  and said  unto them, Ye exact  {08678;05383:08802} {08675;05375:08802} usury,  every one  of his brother.  And I set  a great  assembly  against them. 

What does Nehemiah 5:7 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 5:7 mean?

And after thought serious with and I rebuked - the nobles and rulers and said to them usury each of from his brother You is exacting so I called against them assembly a great
וַיִּמָּלֵ֨ךְ לִבִּ֜י עָלַ֗י וָאָרִ֙יבָה֙ אֶת־ הַחֹרִ֣ים וְאֶת־ הַסְּגָנִ֔ים וָאֹמְרָ֣ה לָהֶ֔ם מַשָּׁ֥א אִישׁ־ בְּאָחִ֖יו אַתֶּ֣ם [[נֹשִׁ֑ים‪‬‪‬‪‬נשאים]]נֹשִׁ֑ים‪‬‪‬‪‬ וָאֶתֵּ֥ן עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם קְהִלָּ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה

וַיִּמָּלֵ֨ךְ  And  after  thought 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלַךְ 
Sense: to be or become king or queen, reign.
לִבִּ֜י  serious 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
וָאָרִ֙יבָה֙  and  I  rebuked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: רִיב  
Sense: to strive, contend.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַחֹרִ֣ים  the  nobles 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: חֹר  
Sense: a noble, freeborn one.
הַסְּגָנִ֔ים  rulers 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: סֶגֶן  
Sense: ruler, prefect, governor, a subordinate ruler.
וָאֹמְרָ֣ה  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לָהֶ֔ם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
מַשָּׁ֥א  usury 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָשָׁא 
Sense: to lend on interest or usury, be a creditor.
אִישׁ־  each 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
בְּאָחִ֖יו  of  from  his  brother 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
[[נֹשִׁ֑ים‪‬‪‬‪‬נשאים]]נֹשִׁ֑ים‪‬‪‬‪‬  is  exacting 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: נָשָׁא  
Sense: to lend, be a creditor.
וָאֶתֵּ֥ן  so  I  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם  against  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
קְהִלָּ֥ה  assembly 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: קְהִלָּה  
Sense: assembly, congregation.
גְדוֹלָֽה  a  great 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.