Nehemiah 5: Justice Among Brothers
Amid outside threats, Nehemiah confronts the wealthy for exploiting their own poor and models generous, selfless leadership in the fear of God.
Nehemiah 5 (WEB)
1 Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.
2 For there were that said, “We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”
3 Some also there were that said, “We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine.”
4 There were also some who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral.
5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. Neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”
6 I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7 Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them.
8 I said to them, “We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us?” Then they held their peace, and found never a word.
9 Also I said, “The thing that you do is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?
10 I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury.
11 Please restore to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that you are charging them.”
12 Then they said, “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as you say.” Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.
13 Also I shook out my lap, and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn’t perform this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied.” All the assembly said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh. The people did according to this promise.
14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15 But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people: but I didn’t do so, because of the fear of God.
16 Yes, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered there to the work.
17 Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, besides those who came to us from among the nations that were around us.
18 Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I didn’t demand the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy on this people.
19 Remember to me, my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.
Nehemiah 5 (KJV)
1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2 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.
3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5 Yet 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 unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7 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.
8 And 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.
9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise.
14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15 But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
17 Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
18 Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
Nehemiah 5 (ASV)
1 Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2 For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat and live.
3 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.
4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute upon our fields and our vineyards.
5 Yet 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.
6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7 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.
8 And 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.
9 Also 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?
10 And I likewise, my brethren and my servants, do lend them money and grain. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.
13 Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that performeth not this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the assembly said, Amen, and praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise.
14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15 But the former governors that were before me were chargeable unto the people, and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
17 Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, a hundred and fifty men, besides those that came unto us from among the nations that were round about us.
18 Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I demanded not the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
19 Remember unto me, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.
Summary
While enemies press from outside, a crisis of injustice erupts within. The poor cry out: famine and the king's heavy tribute have forced them to mortgage fields, vineyards, and houses, and even to sell their sons and daughters into slavery, while their wealthier brothers profit from interest. Nehemiah is very angry when he hears it. After taking counsel with himself, he confronts the nobles and rulers, charging them with exacting usury from their own people and shaming them before the watching nations. He calls them to stop charging interest and to restore the fields, vineyards, and money they had taken, and the nobles agree, sealing their promise with an oath as Nehemiah shakes out his garment as a sign of judgment on any who break faith. The assembly answers “Amen” and praises Yahweh, and the people act on their word. Nehemiah then describes his own example as governor: for twelve years he refused the food allowance that was his right, did not lord it over the people as former governors had, but provided for many at his own table, all because of the fear of God and the heavy burden already on the people. He closes by asking God to remember for good all he has done for them.
Main Characters
- Nehemiah — The governor who is angered by injustice, confronts the exploiters, secures relief for the poor, and refuses his own rightful allowance out of the fear of God.
- The poor of Judah — Families crushed by famine, taxes, and debt, forced to mortgage land and sell their children, who cry out for relief from their fellow Jews.
- The nobles and rulers — The wealthier leaders charging interest on their own people, who are rebuked and then agree to restore what they had taken.
Key Verse
Nehemiah 5:9 (WEB)
Also I said, “The thing that you do is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?
Lessons Learned
- God's work can be undermined as much by injustice within as by enemies without.
- Leaders must address not only outward threats but the integrity of God's people toward one another.
- The fear of God should shape how we treat the vulnerable, especially fellow believers.
- Godly leaders lead by sacrificial example, not by exploiting their privileges.
- Injustice grieves and angers the godly. Hearing the poor cry out, Nehemiah says, “I was very angry when I heard their cry” (Nehemiah 5:6, WEB). Indifference to oppression is not a virtue.
- Walk in the fear of God toward others. Nehemiah asks, “Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God?” (Nehemiah 5:9, WEB). Reverence for God reshapes how we treat people.
- Repentance restores what it took. The nobles agree, “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them” (Nehemiah 5:12, WEB). Genuine change makes things right, not just sorry.
- Lead by giving, not grasping. Nehemiah refused the governor's bread “because of the fear of God” (Nehemiah 5:15, WEB), choosing to bless rather than burden the people.
- What injustice are the poor of Judah suffering, and who is responsible?
- Why is Nehemiah so angry, and how does he go about addressing the problem?
- How does the fear of God function as the basis for Nehemiah's appeal to the nobles?
- In what ways does Nehemiah's own conduct as governor reinforce his rebuke?
- Where might the “fear of God” call you to treat someone—especially someone vulnerable—more generously or justly?
- Famine and the king's tribute have driven the poor into debt, forcing them to mortgage land and even sell their children, while wealthier Jews profit by charging interest (5:1-5). The responsibility falls on the nobles and rulers who exploit their own brothers in a time of common hardship.
- Nehemiah is angered by the oppression of the vulnerable, but he does not act rashly; he “consulted with myself” first, then confronts the nobles and holds a public assembly (5:6-7). He combines righteous indignation with deliberate, fair process to bring real change.
- Nehemiah grounds his appeal not in mere policy but in reverence for God and the watching reproach of the nations, asking, “Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God?” (5:9). When we truly fear God, we cannot mistreat the people he loves; worship and justice belong together.
- Nehemiah has refused the food allowance that was his right and provided for many at his own expense for twelve years (5:14-18). His sacrificial example gives weight to his words; he asks nothing of the nobles that he has not already embodied himself.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to consider relationships—employees, debtors, family, the poor—where reverence for God should soften grasping or harshness into generosity and fairness. As leader, keep the focus on grace-shaped justice rather than guilt.