The Meaning of Nehemiah 5:2 Explained

Nehemiah 5:2

KJV: For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.

YLT: yea, there are who are saying, 'Our sons, and our daughters, we -- are many, and we receive corn, and eat, and live.'

Darby: And there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many, and we must procure corn that we may eat and live.

ASV: For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat and live.

Discover Nehemiah 5:2

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Nehemiah 5:2?

MEANING: What does Nehemiah 5:2 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Nehemiah 5:2 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Nehemiah 5:2?

What is the context of Nehemiah 5:2?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, [are] many: therefore we take up corn [for them], that we may eat, and live.

What does Nehemiah 5:2 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 5:2 mean?

For there were those who said our sons and our daughters we [are] many therefore let us get grain that we may eat and live

וְיֵשׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֹמְרִ֔ים בָּנֵ֥ינוּ וּבְנֹתֵ֖ינוּ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ רַבִּ֑ים וְנִקְחָ֥ה דָגָ֖ן וְנֹאכְלָ֥ה וְנִחְיֶֽה

וְיֵשׁ֙	For there were
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb Root: יֵשׁ Sense: being, existence, substance, there is or are.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר	those
Parse: Pronoun, relative Root: אֲשֶׁר Sense: (relative part.).
אֹמְרִ֔ים	who said
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בָּנֵ֥ינוּ	our sons
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural Root: בֵּן Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
וּבְנֹתֵ֖ינוּ	and our daughters
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common plural Root: בַּת Sense: daughter.
אֲנַ֣חְנוּ	we [are]
Parse: Pronoun, first person common plural Root: אֲנַחְנוּ Sense: we (first pers.
רַבִּ֑ים	many
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural Root: רַב Sense: much, many, great.
וְנִקְחָ֥ה	therefore let us get
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.
וְנֹאכְלָ֥ה	that we may eat
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common plural Root: אָכַל Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
וְנִחְיֶֽה	and live
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common plural Root: חָיָה Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.

What are the major concepts related to Nehemiah 5:2?

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Similar Scriptures for Nehemiah 5:2

		Malachi 2:2 [3]
		Genesis 43:8 [2]
		Genesis 41:57 [2]
		Genesis 42:2 [2]
		Psalms 128:2-4 [2]
		Psalms 127:3-5 [2]