"Yet now our flesh {is} as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our …" — Nehemiah 5:5

Nehemiah 5:5 · KJV

“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.”

— Nehemiah 5:5

Verse 4

There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, {and that upon} our lands and vineyards.

Verse 6

And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

Nehemiah 5 — Context

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

There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, {and that upon} our lands and vineyards.

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.

And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

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. {I consulted...: Heb. my heart consulted in me}

Cross References

2 Kings 4:1

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

Leviticus 25:39-43

And if thy brother {that dwelleth} by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: {compel...: Heb. serve thyself with him with the service, etc}

Genesis 37:27

Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he {is} our brother {and} our flesh. And his brethren were content. {were...: Heb. hearkened}

Isaiah 58:7

{Is it} not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? {cast...: or, afflicted}

Matthew 18:25

But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

Exodus 21:1-11

Now these {are} the judgments which thou shalt set before them.

James 2:5-6

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? {of the: or, of that}

Genesis 29:14

And Laban said to him, Surely thou {art} my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. {the space...: Heb. a month of days}