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Nehemiah 5:3 Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine."
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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/5.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/nehemiah/5.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Others said, “We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and homes to get food during the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/nehemiah/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br /><i>Some</i> also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/nehemiah/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />There were also <i>some</i> who said, “We have mortgaged our lands and vineyards and houses, that we might buy grain because of the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/nehemiah/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And there were <i>others</i> who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses so that we might get grain because of the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />There were others who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our houses that we might get grain because of the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/nehemiah/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And there were others who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses that we might get grain because of the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/nehemiah/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />There were others who were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses, that we might get grain because of the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/nehemiah/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />There were <i>others</i> who were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to buy grain because of the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/nehemiah/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/nehemiah/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/nehemiah/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/nehemiah/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Others said, "During the famine we even had to mortgage our fields, vineyards, and homes to them in order to buy grain." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/nehemiah/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get corn, because of the dearth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/nehemiah/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Others said, "We've had to mortgage our fields, our vineyards, and our homes in order to get some grain because of this famine."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/nehemiah/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Others said, "We have had to mortgage our fields and vineyards and houses to get enough grain to keep us from starving." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/nehemiah/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Others were saying, "We're having to mortgage our fields, our vineyards, and our homes so we can buy grain during this famine."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/nehemiah/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Others were saying, ?We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/nehemiah/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />There were others who said, "We are putting up our fields, our vineyards, and our houses as collateral in order to obtain grain during the famine."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/nehemiah/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />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."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/nehemiah/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/nehemiah/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />There were also some who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/nehemiah/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And there are [those] who are saying, “Our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, we are pledging, and we receive grain for the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/nehemiah/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And there are who are saying, 'Our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, we are pledging, and we receive corn for the famine.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/nehemiah/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And there are those saying, Our fields and our vineyards and our houses we pledge, and we will take grain in the famine.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/nehemiah/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And there were some that said: Let us mortgage our lands, and our vineyards, and our houses, and let us take corn be- cause of the famine. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/nehemiah/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And there were those who were saying: “Let us offer up our fields and vineyards, and our houses, and then we may receive grain during the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/nehemiah/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Others said: “We are forced to pawn our fields, our vineyards, and our houses, that we may have grain during the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/nehemiah/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />There were also those who said, “We are having to pledge our fields, our vineyards, and our houses in order to get grain during the famine.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/nehemiah/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />There were also those who said, We are going to sell our fields, our houses, and our vineyards that we may purchase grain during the famine, that we may live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/nehemiah/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And there were those who said: “We are selling our fields and our houses and our vineyards, and we will take grain in the famine and we will live!”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/nehemiah/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Some also there were that said: 'We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses; let us get corn, because of the dearth.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/nehemiah/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And some said, <i>As to</i> our fields and vineyards and houses, let us pledge <i>them</i>, and we will take corn, and eat.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZsQrw7rBvgc?start=1028" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/5.htm">Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">2</span>Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” <span class="reftext">3</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3426.htm" title="3426: wə·yêš (Conj-w:: Adv) -- Being, substance, existence, is. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">Others</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: ’ō·mə·rîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">were saying,</a> <a href="/hebrew/587.htm" title="587: ’ă·naḥ·nū (Pro-1cp) -- We. Apparently from 'anokiy; we.">“We</a> <a href="/hebrew/6148.htm" title="6148: ‘ō·rə·ḇîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- A primitive root; to braid, i.e. Intermix; technically, to traffic; also or give to be security.">are mortgaging</a> <a href="/hebrew/7704.htm" title="7704: śə·ḏō·ṯê·nū (N-mpc:: 1cp) -- Field, land. Or saday; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field.">our fields,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3754.htm" title="3754: ū·ḵə·rā·mê·nū (Conj-w:: N-mpc:: 1cp) -- A vineyard. From an unused root of uncertain meaning; a garden or vineyard.">our vineyards,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1004.htm" title="1004: ū·ḇāt·tê·nū (Conj-w:: N-mpc:: 1cp) -- A house. Probably from banah abbreviated; a house.">and our homes</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: wə·niq·ḥāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjImperf.Cohort-1cp) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">to get</a> <a href="/hebrew/1715.htm" title="1715: ḏā·ḡān (N-ms) -- Corn, grain (of cereals). From dagah; properly, increase, i.e. Grain.">grain</a> <a href="/hebrew/7458.htm" title="7458: bā·rā·‘āḇ (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- Famine, hunger. From ra'eb; hunger.">during the famine.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">4</span>Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/25-35.htm">Leviticus 25:35-37</a></span><br />Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you. / Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you. / You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/22-25.htm">Exodus 22:25</a></span><br />If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/23-19.htm">Deuteronomy 23:19-20</a></span><br />Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan. / You may charge a foreigner interest, but not your brother, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything to which you put your hand in the land that you are entering to possess.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/22-7.htm">Proverbs 22:7</a></span><br />The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/5-8.htm">Isaiah 5:8</a></span><br />Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field until no place is left and you live alone in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/18-8.htm">Ezekiel 18:8</a></span><br />He does not engage in usury or take excess interest, but he withholds his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/2-6.htm">Amos 2:6-7</a></span><br />This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Israel, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals. / They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the earth; they push the needy out of their way. A man and his father have relations with the same girl and so profane My holy name.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/34-8.htm">Jeremiah 34:8-11</a></span><br />After King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty, the word came to Jeremiah from the LORD / that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage. / So all the officials and all the people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their menservants and maidservants and no longer hold them in bondage. They obeyed and released them, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/4-1.htm">2 Kings 4:1</a></span><br />Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/36-21.htm">2 Chronicles 36:21</a></span><br />So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/18-25.htm">Matthew 18:25</a></span><br />Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/4-18.htm">Luke 4:18</a></span><br />“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-34.htm">Luke 6:34-35</a></span><br />And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. / But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/2-44.htm">Acts 2:44-45</a></span><br />All the believers were together and had everything in common. / Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/4-34.htm">Acts 4:34-35</a></span><br />There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, / and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.</p><p class="hdg">mortgaged</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/47-15.htm">Genesis 47:15-25</a></b></br> And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/25-35.htm">Leviticus 25:35-39</a></b></br> And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: <i>yea, though he be</i> a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/15-7.htm">Deuteronomy 15:7</a></b></br> If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:</p><p class="hdg">because</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/malachi/3-8.htm">Malachi 3:8-11</a></b></br> Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ezra/7-17.htm">Buy</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-2.htm">Corn</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/6-28.htm">Dearth</a> <a href="/2_kings/4-7.htm">Debt</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/32-11.htm">Famine</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/31-19.htm">Fields</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-2.htm">Grain</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-14.htm">Homes</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-14.htm">Houses</a> <a href="/ezra/9-11.htm">Lands</a> <a href="/ezra/6-9.htm">Need</a> <a href="/nehemiah/2-16.htm">Others</a> <a href="/ezra/10-19.htm">Pledge</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-2.htm">Receive</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/27-27.htm">Vine-Gardens</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/27-27.htm">Vineyards</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/nehemiah/5-16.htm">Buy</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-10.htm">Corn</a> <a href="/job/5-22.htm">Dearth</a> <a href="/nehemiah/10-31.htm">Debt</a> <a href="/job/5-20.htm">Famine</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-4.htm">Fields</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-10.htm">Grain</a> <a href="/job/21-9.htm">Homes</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-11.htm">Houses</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-4.htm">Lands</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-15.htm">Need</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-4.htm">Others</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-7.htm">Pledge</a> <a href="/nehemiah/10-38.htm">Receive</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-4.htm">Vine-Gardens</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-4.htm">Vineyards</a><div class="vheading2">Nehemiah 5</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/5-1.htm">The Jews complain of their debt, mortgage, and bondage</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/5-6.htm">Nehemiah rebukes the usurers, and causes them to make a covenant of restitution</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/5-14.htm">He forbears his own allowance, and keeps hospitality</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/nehemiah/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/nehemiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/nehemiah/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Others were saying</b><br>This phrase indicates a collective voice among the people, suggesting a widespread issue affecting many families. The context is the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls under Nehemiah's leadership, where internal social and economic problems arise. The use of "others" implies that this is not an isolated complaint but part of a larger pattern of distress among the Jewish community.<p><b>We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes</b><br>The act of mortgaging indicates a severe economic crisis. Fields, vineyards, and homes were essential for sustenance and livelihood in ancient Israel. Mortgaging these assets meant risking long-term security for immediate survival. This reflects the socio-economic structure of the time, where land ownership was crucial for maintaining one's family and social status. The Torah, particularly in <a href="/leviticus/25.htm">Leviticus 25</a>, outlines laws regarding land and debt, emphasizing the importance of land as a divine inheritance that should not be permanently lost.<p><b>to get grain during the famine</b><br>The famine mentioned here exacerbates the economic hardship, forcing people to take drastic measures. Famines were not uncommon in the ancient Near East and often resulted from drought, war, or poor harvests. Grain was a staple food, and its scarcity would have dire consequences. This situation echoes the story of Joseph in Genesis, where famine led to the centralization of resources in Egypt. Theologically, famines in the Bible often serve as a backdrop for testing faith and reliance on God, as seen in the stories of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/n/nehemiah.htm">Nehemiah</a></b><br>The central figure in the book, Nehemiah is a Jewish leader who is instrumental in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and addressing social injustices among the people.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_jewish_people.htm">The Jewish People</a></b><br>Specifically, those who are suffering economic hardship and are forced to mortgage their properties to survive the famine.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where these events are taking place, which is in the process of being rebuilt after the Babylonian exile.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/f/famine.htm">Famine</a></b><br>A severe shortage of food that exacerbates the economic struggles of the people, leading them to mortgage their properties.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/f/fields,_vineyards,_and_homes.htm">Fields, Vineyards, and Homes</a></b><br>These represent the livelihood and heritage of the Jewish people, which they are forced to risk losing due to the economic crisis.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/e/economic_justice_and_compassion.htm">Economic Justice and Compassion</a></b><br>The passage highlights the importance of addressing economic injustices within a community. As Christians, we are called to be aware of and respond to the needs of those who are struggling financially.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/stewardship_and_trust_in_god.htm">Stewardship and Trust in God</a></b><br>The mortgaging of fields and homes underscores the need for wise stewardship of resources. It also challenges believers to trust in God's provision, even in times of scarcity.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_support_and_responsibility.htm">Community Support and Responsibility</a></b><br>The situation in <a href="/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Nehemiah 5:3</a> calls for a collective response to individual suffering. Christians are encouraged to support one another, ensuring that no one is left to face hardship alone.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_leadership_in_addressing_injustice.htm">The Role of Leadership in Addressing Injustice</a></b><br>Nehemiah's leadership in addressing these issues serves as a model for Christian leaders to confront and rectify injustices within their communities.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_nehemiah_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Nehemiah 5</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_christian_women_work_outside_home.htm">Should Christian women pursue careers outside the home?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_there_no_evidence_of_nehemiah's_famine.htm">In Nehemiah 5:3, how could a widespread famine have occurred without more historical or archaeological evidence supporting such socio-economic turmoil in Jerusalem at that time?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_nehemiah_5_7's_contradiction.htm">Nehemiah 5:7 suggests interest-taking was widespread despite Mosaic Law prohibitions (e.g., Exodus 22:25); how can this contradiction be reconciled?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_no_records_of_jewish_servitude.htm">In Nehemiah 5:4-5, why do no contemporary records outside the Bible mention Jewish families losing their children to servitude under Persian rule?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/nehemiah/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) <span class= "bld">Because of the dearth.</span>--Not any particular famine, strictly speaking, but their present hunger. The past mortgages had straitened their resources.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/nehemiah/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Because of the dearth</span>. Some, who could not say that their families were large, claimed relief on account, as it would seem, not so much of a present as of a past famine, which had forced them to mortgage their fields, vineyards, and houses. That Judaea was liable to famines about this time appears from <a href="/haggai/1-6.htm">Haggai 1:6, 9-11</a>; <a href="/haggai/2-16.htm">Haggai 2:16-19</a>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Others</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">were saying,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֹמְרִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·mə·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“We</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲנַ֣חְנוּ</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·naḥ·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_587.htm">Strong's 587: </a> </span><span class="str2">We</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are mortgaging</span><br /><span class="heb">עֹרְבִ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(‘ō·rə·ḇîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6148.htm">Strong's 6148: </a> </span><span class="str2">To braid, intermix, technically, to traffic, give to be security</span><br /><br /><span class="word">our fields,</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׂדֹתֵ֛ינוּ</span> <span class="translit">(śə·ḏō·ṯê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7704.htm">Strong's 7704: </a> </span><span class="str2">Field, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">our vineyards,</span><br /><span class="heb">וּכְרָמֵ֥ינוּ</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḵə·rā·mê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3754.htm">Strong's 3754: </a> </span><span class="str2">A garden, vineyard</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and our homes</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבָתֵּ֖ינוּ</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇāt·tê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1004.htm">Strong's 1004: </a> </span><span class="str2">A house</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to get</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנִקְחָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·niq·ḥāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">grain</span><br /><span class="heb">דָגָ֖ן</span> <span class="translit">(ḏā·ḡān)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1715.htm">Strong's 1715: </a> </span><span class="str2">Corn, grain (of cereals)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">during the famine.”</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּרָעָֽב׃</span> <span class="translit">(bā·rā·‘āḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7458.htm">Strong's 7458: </a> </span><span class="str2">Famine, hunger</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Nehemiah 5:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Nehemiah 5:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Nehemiah 5:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Nehemiah 5:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Nehemiah 5:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Nehemiah 5:3 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Nehemiah 5:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Nehemiah 5:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Nehemiah 5:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Nehemiah 5:3 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/nehemiah/5-3.htm">OT History: Nehemiah 5:3 Some also there were that said We (Neh Ne) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/nehemiah/5-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Nehemiah 5:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 5:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/nehemiah/5-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Nehemiah 5:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 5:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>