CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Nehemiah 5:1 About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/nehemiah/5-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/16_Neh_05_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Nehemiah 5:1 - Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/nehemiah/5-1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/nehemiah/5-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/nehemiah/">Nehemiah</a> > <a href="/nehemiah/5.htm">Chapter 5</a> > Verse 1</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/nehemiah/4-23.htm" title="Nehemiah 4:23">◄</a> Nehemiah 5:1 <a href="/nehemiah/5-2.htm" title="Nehemiah 5:2">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div 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 />Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/nehemiah/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/nehemiah/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And there was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their Jewish brethren.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/nehemiah/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/nehemiah/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/nehemiah/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/nehemiah/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Now there was a great outcry of the [poorer] people and their wives against their Jewish brothers [to whom they were deeply in debt].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/nehemiah/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/nehemiah/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/nehemiah/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/nehemiah/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Some of the men and their wives complained about the Jews in power <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/nehemiah/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/nehemiah/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Then some of the people, the men and their wives, complained publicly about their Jewish relatives.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/nehemiah/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Some time later many of the people, both men and women, began to complain against the other Jews. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/nehemiah/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Now the people along with their spouses complained loudly against their fellow Jews, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/nehemiah/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/nehemiah/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Then there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/nehemiah/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/nehemiah/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/nehemiah/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews. <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 is a great cry of the people and their wives, concerning their brothers the Jews,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/nehemiah/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And there is a great cry of the people and their wives, concerning their brethren the Jews,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/nehemiah/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And a cry of the people and their wives will be great against their brethren the Jews.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/nehemiah/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Now there was a great cry of the people, and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/nehemiah/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And there occurred a great outcry of the people and their wives against their brothers, the Jews.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/nehemiah/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Then there rose a great outcry of the people and their wives against certain of their Jewish kindred.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/nehemiah/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish kin.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/nehemiah/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />THEN there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/nehemiah/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And then the people and their wives wailed a great wailing against their brethren, the Judeans.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/nehemiah/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/nehemiah/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the cry of the people and their wives <i>was</i> great against their brethren the Jews.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/nehemiah/5-1.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=1012" 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">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: wat·tə·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">About that time there was</a> <a href="/hebrew/1419.htm" title="1419: gə·ḏō·w·lāh (Adj-fs) -- Great. Or gadol; from gadal; great; hence, older; also insolent.">a great</a> <a href="/hebrew/6818.htm" title="6818: ṣa·‘ă·qaṯ (N-fsc) -- A cry, outcry. From tsa'aq; a shriek.">outcry</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: hā·‘ām (Art:: N-ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">from the people</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ū·nə·šê·hem (Conj-w:: N-fpc:: 3mp) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">and their wives</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">against</a> <a href="/hebrew/251.htm" title="251: ’ă·ḥê·hem (N-mpc:: 3mp) -- A brother. A primitive word; a brother (like 'ab).">their fellow</a> <a href="/hebrew/3064.htm" title="3064: hay·yə·hū·ḏîm (Art:: N-proper-mp) -- Jewish. Patronymically from Yhuwdah; a Jehudite, or descendant of Jehudah.">Jews.</a> </span><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.”…<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="/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="/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="/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="/deuteronomy/24-14.htm">Deuteronomy 24:14-15</a></span><br />Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. / You are to pay his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and depends on them. Otherwise he may cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/22-16.htm">Proverbs 22:16</a></span><br />Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/58-6.htm">Isaiah 58:6-7</a></span><br />Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? / Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/18-7.htm">Ezekiel 18:7-8</a></span><br />He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing. / 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="/amos/5-11.htm">Amos 5:11-12</a></span><br />Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact from him a tax of grain, you will never live in the stone houses you have built; you will never drink the wine from the lush vineyards you have planted. / For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/2-1.htm">Micah 2:1-2</a></span><br />Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands. / They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-42.htm">Matthew 5:42</a></span><br />Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/25-35.htm">Matthew 25:35-40</a></span><br />For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ / Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/3-11.htm">Luke 3:11</a></span><br />John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”<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="/luke/12-33.htm">Luke 12:33</a></span><br />Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.</p><p class="hdg">a great cry</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/3-7.htm">Exodus 3:7</a></b></br> And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which <i>are</i> in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/22-25.htm">Exodus 22:25-27</a></b></br> If thou lend money to <i>any of</i> my people <i>that is</i> poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/31-38.htm">Job 31:38,39</a></b></br> If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain; … </p><p class="hdg">their brethren</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/25-35.htm">Leviticus 25:35-37</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 15:7-11</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="tskverse"><b><a href="/acts/7-26.htm">Acts 7:26</a></b></br> And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/nehemiah/3-18.htm">Countrymen</a> <a href="/ezra/3-13.htm">Cry</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-19.htm">Great</a> <a href="/nehemiah/1-2.htm">Jewish</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-12.htm">Jews</a> <a href="/1_kings/13-32.htm">Outcry</a> <a href="/ezra/4-19.htm">Raised</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-14.htm">Wives</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/nehemiah/5-7.htm">Countrymen</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-6.htm">Cry</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-2.htm">Great</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-8.htm">Jewish</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-8.htm">Jews</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-6.htm">Outcry</a> <a href="/esther/10-2.htm">Raised</a> <a href="/nehemiah/10-28.htm">Wives</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 />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <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>About that time</b><br>This phrase sets the context within the narrative of Nehemiah, specifically during the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. The timing is crucial as it occurs amidst external threats and internal challenges. Historically, this period is post-exilic, around the mid-5th century BC, when the Jewish community was re-establishing itself in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.<p><b>there was a great outcry</b><br>The "great outcry" indicates a significant level of distress and dissatisfaction among the people. This is reminiscent of other biblical instances where the oppressed cry out for justice, such as the Israelites in Egypt (<a href="/exodus/3-7.htm">Exodus 3:7</a>). It highlights the social and economic tensions within the community, which were severe enough to disrupt the rebuilding efforts.<p><b>from the people and their wives</b><br>The mention of "the people and their wives" underscores the widespread nature of the grievance, affecting entire families. In the cultural context, women's involvement in the outcry suggests the severity of the situation, as women typically had less public voice. This inclusion emphasizes the communal impact of the injustices being faced.<p><b>against their fellow Jews</b><br>The conflict is internal, "against their fellow Jews," indicating that the issues were not caused by external enemies but by social injustices within the community. This internal strife contrasts with the external opposition Nehemiah faced from surrounding nations. It reflects the broader biblical theme of justice and righteousness within the covenant community, as seen in the prophetic calls for social justice (e.g., <a href="/isaiah/58-6.htm">Isaiah 58:6-7</a>).<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 and cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes. He is responsible for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and addressing social injustices among the Jews.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_people_and_their_wives.htm">The People and Their Wives</a></b><br>The Jewish community in Jerusalem, including both men and women, who are experiencing economic hardship and are raising a complaint against their fellow Jews.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/f/fellow_jews.htm">Fellow Jews</a></b><br>The wealthier members of the Jewish community who are exploiting their poorer brethren, leading to the outcry.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where these events are taking place, significant as the center of Jewish life and worship.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_outcry.htm">The Outcry</a></b><br>A significant protest or complaint from the people, indicating a serious social and economic issue within the community.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/a/addressing_injustice.htm">Addressing Injustice</a></b><br><a href="/nehemiah/5.htm">Nehemiah 5:1</a> highlights the importance of addressing social and economic injustices within the community. As believers, we are called to be attentive to the needs and cries of those around us and to act justly.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/unity_in_community.htm">Unity in Community</a></b><br>The outcry from the people underscores the need for unity and fairness within the body of believers. Division and exploitation weaken the community and hinder its mission.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_responsibility.htm">Leadership Responsibility</a></b><br>Nehemiah's role as a leader involves not only physical rebuilding but also moral and social leadership. Leaders in the church today must be vigilant in addressing issues of injustice and inequality.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/compassion_and_generosity.htm">Compassion and Generosity</a></b><br>The situation in <a href="/nehemiah/5.htm">Nehemiah 5:1</a> calls for a response of compassion and generosity, reflecting God's heart for the poor and oppressed. Believers are encouraged to practice these virtues in their daily lives.<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/why_is_nehemiah_5_poorly_corroborated.htm">The entire chapter of Nehemiah 5 portrays significant social reforms; why is there minimal corroboration from Persian-era documents or other archaeological findings?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_interfaith.htm">What does the Bible say about interfaith weddings?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_isaiah_49_8_align_with_history.htm">Isaiah 49:8 depicts a grand restoration—how does this align with historical records of Israel’s exiles and returns that appear less triumphant? </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><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/nehemiah/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(1) <span class= "bld">Their brethren the Jews.</span>--Nehemiah's other troubles had come from the enemies without: he begins this account by laying emphasis on the hard treatment of Jews by Jews.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/nehemiah/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">A great cry</span>. Compare ver. 6, where the "cry" is distinguished from the "words." The Oriental habit of shrill lamentation must be borne in mind it is always shrillest when the women have a part in it, as on this occasion. <span class="cmt_word">Their wives</span>. Mothers, whose children had been sold into slavery, or who anticipated losing them in this sad way speedily (ver. 5<span class="cmt_word">). Their brethren the Jews</span>. <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the richer Jews, who had adopted the practice of lending upon pledge. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/nehemiah/5-1.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">About this time there was</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתְּהִ֨י</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tə·hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a great</span><br /><span class="heb">גְּדוֹלָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(gə·ḏō·w·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1419.htm">Strong's 1419: </a> </span><span class="str2">Great, older, insolent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">outcry</span><br /><span class="heb">צַעֲקַ֥ת</span> <span class="translit">(ṣa·‘ă·qaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6818.htm">Strong's 6818: </a> </span><span class="str2">A cry, outcry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from the people</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעָ֛ם</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and their wives</span><br /><span class="heb">וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(ū·nə·šê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">against</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their fellow</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲחֵיהֶ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḥê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_251.htm">Strong's 251: </a> </span><span class="str2">A brother, )</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Jews.</span><br /><span class="heb">הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(hay·yə·hū·ḏîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3064.htm">Strong's 3064: </a> </span><span class="str2">Jews -- Jewish</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/nehemiah/5-1.htm">Nehemiah 5:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/5-1.htm">Nehemiah 5:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/nehemiah/5-1.htm">Nehemiah 5:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/5-1.htm">Nehemiah 5:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/5-1.htm">Nehemiah 5:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/nehemiah/5-1.htm">Nehemiah 5:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/nehemiah/5-1.htm">Nehemiah 5:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/nehemiah/5-1.htm">Nehemiah 5:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/nehemiah/5-1.htm">Nehemiah 5:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/nehemiah/5-1.htm">Nehemiah 5:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/nehemiah/5-1.htm">OT History: Nehemiah 5:1 Then there arose a great cry (Neh Ne) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/nehemiah/4-23.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Nehemiah 4:23"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 4:23" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/nehemiah/5-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Nehemiah 5:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 5:2" /></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>