"And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and wi…" — Nehemiah 5:8

Nehemiah 5:8 · KJV

“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}.”

— Nehemiah 5:8

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

Verse 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?

Nehemiah 5 — Context

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

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}.

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?

I likewise, {and} my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

Cross References

Leviticus 25:47-49

And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother {that dwelleth} by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger {or} sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family: {wax rich...: Heb. his hand obtain, etc}

Exodus 21:16

And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

2 Corinthians 8:12

For if there be first a willing mind, {it is} accepted according to that a man hath, {and} not according to that he hath not.

Job 32:15

They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking. {left...: Heb. removed speeches from themselves}

Matthew 25:29

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

Romans 3:19

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. {guilty...: or, subject to the judgment of God}

Romans 14:15

But if thy brother be grieved with {thy} meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. {charitably: Gr. according to charity}

Deuteronomy 24:7

If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.