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<!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 5:9 So I continued, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/nehemiah/5-9.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/9/16_Neh_05_09.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Nehemiah 5:9 - Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="So I continued, What you are doing is not right. 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Shouldn&#8217t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then I pressed further, “What you are doing is not right! Should you not walk in the fear of our God in order to avoid being mocked by enemy nations?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/nehemiah/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Also I said, It <i>is</i> 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?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/nehemiah/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then I said, “What you are doing <i>is</i> not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/nehemiah/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the taunting of the nations, our enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Again I said, &#8220The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/nehemiah/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Again I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/nehemiah/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/nehemiah/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />So I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunting by the [pagan] nations, our enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/nehemiah/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then I said, “What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/nehemiah/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then I said, &#8220What you are doing isn&#8217t right. Shouldn&#8217t you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/nehemiah/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />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?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/nehemiah/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />I continued, "What you have done is wrong! We must honor our God by the way we live, so the Gentiles can't find fault with us. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/nehemiah/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />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 heathen our enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/nehemiah/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />I added, "What you're doing is wrong. Shouldn't you live in the fear of our God to keep our enemies from ridiculing us?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/nehemiah/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Then I said, "What you are doing is wrong! You ought to obey God and do what's right. Then you would not give our enemies, the Gentiles, any reason to ridicule us. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/nehemiah/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So I said, "What you're doing isn't right! Shouldn't you live in the fear of our God to avoid shame from our foreign enemies? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/nehemiah/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />So I continued, ?What you are doing is not right. Shouldn?t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/nehemiah/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Then I said, "The thing that you are doing is wrong! Should you not conduct yourselves in the fear of our God in order to avoid the reproach of the Gentiles who are our enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/nehemiah/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Also I said, "The thing that you do is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God, to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/nehemiah/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Also I said, That is not good which ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/nehemiah/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Also I said, “The thing that you do is not good. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/nehemiah/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And I say, “The thing that you are doing [is] not good; do you not walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/nehemiah/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And I say, 'Not good is the thing that ye are doing; in the fear of our God do ye not walk, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/nehemiah/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And it will be said, Not good the word which ye do: will ye not go in the fear of our God from the reproach of the nations our enemies?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/nehemiah/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And I said to them: The thing you do is not good: why walk you not in the fear of our God, that we be not exposed to the reproaches of the Gentiles our enemies? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/nehemiah/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And I said to them: “The thing that you are doing is not good. Why are you not walking in the fear of our God, so that there may be no reproach against us from our enemies, the Gentiles?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/nehemiah/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />I continued: “What you are doing is not good. Should you not conduct yourselves out of fear of our God rather than fear of the reproach of our Gentile enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/nehemiah/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God, to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/nehemiah/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Also I said to them, The thing that you are doing is not good; for now you are not walking in the reverence of our God, because you are behaving like the nations which are round about us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/nehemiah/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And I said to them: “The matter that you are doing is not good, therefore you are not walking in the reverence of our God, because you are doing according to the works of the nations that are around us.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/nehemiah/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />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 heathen our enemies?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/nehemiah/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And I said, The thing which ye do <i>is</i> not good; ye will not so walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the Gentiles our enemies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/nehemiah/5-9.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=1101" 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">8</span>and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say. <span class="reftext">9</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mɛr (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">So I continued,</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.">“What</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’at·tem (Pro-2mp) -- You (masc. sing.). ">you</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ‘ō·śîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">are doing</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">is not</a> <a href="/hebrew/2896.htm" title="2896: ṭō·wḇ (Adj-ms) -- Pleasant, agreeable, good.">right.</a> <a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: had·dā·ḇār (Art:: N-ms) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: hă·lō·w (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">Shouldn’t</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: tê·lê·ḵū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">you walk</a> <a href="/hebrew/3374.htm" title="3374: bə·yir·’aṯ (Prep-b:: N-fsc) -- A fear. Feminine of yare'; fear; morally, reverence.">in the fear</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hê·nū (N-mpc:: 1cp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">of our God</a> <a href="/hebrew/2781.htm" title="2781: mê·ḥer·paṯ (Prep-m:: N-fsc) -- A reproach. From charaph. contumely, disgrace, the pudenda.">to avoid the reproach</a> <a href="/hebrew/1471.htm" title="1471: hag·gō·w·yim (Art:: N-mp) -- Rarely goy; apparently from the same root as gevah; a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts.">of our foreign</a> <a href="/hebrew/341.htm" title="341: ’ō·wy·ḇê·nū (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc:: 1cp) -- Hating, an adversary. Or owyeb; active participle of 'ayab; hating; an adversary.">enemies?</a> </span><span class="reftext">10</span>I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury.…<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/25-36.htm">Leviticus 25:36-37</a></span><br />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="/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="/psalms/15-5.htm">Psalm 15:5</a></span><br />who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/28-8.htm">Proverbs 28:8</a></span><br />He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.<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="/ezekiel/18-13.htm">Ezekiel 18:13</a></span><br />He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/18-17.htm">Ezekiel 18:17</a></span><br />He withholds his hand from harming the poor and takes no interest or usury. He keeps My ordinances and follows My statutes. Such a man will not die for his father’s iniquity. He will surely live.<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="/micah/6-8.htm">Micah 6:8</a></span><br />He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-16.htm">Matthew 5:16</a></span><br />In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-12.htm">Matthew 7:12</a></span><br />In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-35.htm">Luke 6:35</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-17.htm">Romans 12:17</a></span><br />Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Also I said, It is not good that you do: ought you not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?</p><p class="hdg">It is not</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/2-24.htm">1 Samuel 2:24</a></b></br> Nay, my sons; for <i>it is</i> no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/16-29.htm">Proverbs 16:29</a></b></br> A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way <i>that is</i> not good.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/17-26.htm">Proverbs 17:26</a></b></br> Also to punish the just <i>is</i> not good, <i>nor</i> to strike princes for equity.</p><p class="hdg">walk</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/nehemiah/5-15.htm">Nehemiah 5:15</a></b></br> But the former governors that <i>had been</i> 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.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/20-11.htm">Genesis 20:11</a></b></br> And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God <i>is</i> not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/42-18.htm">Genesis 42:18</a></b></br> And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; <i>for</i> I fear God:</p><p class="hdg">reproach</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/13-7.htm">Genesis 13:7,8</a></b></br> And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/12-14.htm">2 Samuel 12:14</a></b></br> Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also <i>that is</i> born unto thee shall surely die.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/36-20.htm">Ezekiel 36:20</a></b></br> And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These <i>are</i> the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_peter/3-11.htm">Avoid</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-21.htm">Continued</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-15.htm">Enemies</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-14.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-7.htm">Good</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-8.htm">Heathen</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-8.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/ezra/6-4.htm">Necessary</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/13-5.htm">Ought</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/16-1.htm">Prevent</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-4.htm">Reproach</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-11.htm">Right</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-4.htm">Shame</a> <a href="/2_samuel/19-21.htm">Shouldn't</a> <a href="/luke/23-35.htm">Taunts</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/34-31.htm">Walk</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/38-11.htm">Avoid</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-16.htm">Continued</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-1.htm">Enemies</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-15.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-19.htm">Good</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-17.htm">Heathen</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-17.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/job/23-12.htm">Necessary</a> <a href="/job/34-36.htm">Ought</a> <a href="/job/3-12.htm">Prevent</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-13.htm">Reproach</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-4.htm">Right</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-13.htm">Shame</a> <a href="/job/11-2.htm">Shouldn't</a> <a href="/psalms/44-16.htm">Taunts</a> <a href="/nehemiah/10-29.htm">Walk</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'; 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His persistence reflects the biblical principle of perseverance in righteousness, as seen in other leaders like Moses and Paul.<p><b>What you are doing is not right</b><br>Nehemiah confronts the nobles and officials for exploiting their fellow Jews through usury. This echoes the Old Testament laws against charging interest to fellow Israelites (<a href="/exodus/22-25.htm">Exodus 22:25</a>, <a href="/leviticus/25-36.htm">Leviticus 25:36-37</a>), emphasizing the importance of community and compassion.<p><b>Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God</b><br>The fear of God is a recurring theme in Scripture, signifying reverence and obedience (<a href="/proverbs/1-7.htm">Proverbs 1:7</a>). Nehemiah appeals to their covenant relationship with God, urging them to live according to His statutes, which is a call to holiness and integrity.<p><b>to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?</b><br>The Jews were surrounded by hostile nations, and their internal strife could lead to external mockery and weaken their position. This reflects the biblical theme of witness to the nations, where Israel's conduct was meant to display God's righteousness (<a href="/deuteronomy/4-6.htm">Deuteronomy 4:6-8</a>). Nehemiah's concern for their reputation among the nations underscores the importance of unity and moral conduct as a testimony to God's character.<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 was a cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes and later became the governor of Judah. He led the efforts to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and addressed social injustices among the Israelites.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The people of Judah who returned from exile and were involved in rebuilding Jerusalem. They faced internal and external challenges, including economic exploitation among their own people.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where the events take place, specifically during the rebuilding of its walls after the Babylonian exile.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/f/foreign_enemies.htm">Foreign Enemies</a></b><br>The surrounding nations and peoples who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem and sought to undermine the efforts of the Israelites.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/economic_injustice.htm">Economic Injustice</a></b><br>The specific issue Nehemiah addresses in this chapter, where wealthier Jews were exploiting their poorer brethren through usury and slavery.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_fear_of_god_as_a_guiding_principle.htm">The Fear of God as a Guiding Principle</a></b><br>Nehemiah emphasizes the importance of living in the fear of God, which means having a deep respect and reverence for Him. This should guide our actions and decisions, especially in how we treat others.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/addressing_injustice_among_believers.htm">Addressing Injustice Among Believers</a></b><br>Nehemiah's confrontation of the wealthy Jews highlights the need for believers to address and rectify injustices within their own communities. We are called to live justly and love mercy.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/w/witness_to_the_world.htm">Witness to the World</a></b><br>Our actions as believers are observed by those outside the faith. Nehemiah reminds the Israelites that their conduct should not bring reproach from foreign enemies. Our lives should reflect God's righteousness and love.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a></b><br>Nehemiah's call to change unjust practices is a call to repentance. Believers are encouraged to examine their lives, repent of wrongdoing, and restore relationships and practices according to God's standards.<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/what_is_the_meaning_of_james_5_16.htm">What does the Bible say about fearing others?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_do_ezra_and_nehemiah_teach.htm">What lessons do Ezra and Nehemiah's stories teach us?</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/why_would_god_allow_curses,_not_forgiveness.htm">Nehemiah 4:4–5: Why would a just and merciful God sanction curses against enemies, conflicting with later teachings of forgiveness? </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>(9) <span class= "bld">Because of the reproach.</span>--The text of another strong argument used in the assembly. We learn in Nehemiah 6 how watchful the heathen were: all matters were reported to them, and every act of oppression would become a reproach against the God of the Jews.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/nehemiah/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 9.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Also I said</span>. To silence the nobles was not enough. To shame them was not enough. What was wanted was to persuade them. Nehemiah therefore continued his address. <span class="cmt_word">It is not good that ye do</span>. It is not good in itself, apart from any contrast with what I have been doing<span class="cmt_word">. Ought ye not to walk</span> - or, literally, "will ye not walk"- <span class="cmt_word">in the fear of our God?</span> Will ye not really, "fear God and keep his commandments, not in the letter only, but in the spirit? Will ye not cease to oppress your brethren? Will ye not deal kindly and gently with them? Because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies. If the mere fear of God, the desire to escape his displeasure and win his approval, is not enough, will not the thought of the light in which you will appear to the heathen influence you? You make a profession of religion; you claim to be actuated by high motives; to be merciful, compassionate, and self-denying. If they see you as keen after gain as any of themselves, as regardless of others, as pitiless and oppressive, what a reproach will not this bring on your religion! What a proof will it not seem to be that you are no better than your neighbours, and your religion, therefore, no whit superior to theirs! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/nehemiah/5-9.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">So I continued,</span><br /><span class="heb">וָאוֹמַ֕ר‪‬‪‬</span> <span class="translit">(wā·’ō·w·mar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular<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">“What</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁר־</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">you</span><br /><span class="heb">אַתֶּ֣ם</span> <span class="translit">(’at·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are doing</span><br /><span class="heb">עֹשִׂ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(‘ō·śîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">right.</span><br /><span class="heb">ט֥וֹב</span> <span class="translit">(ṭō·wḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2896.htm">Strong's 2896: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pleasant, agreeable, good</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Shouldn’t</span><br /><span class="heb">הֲל֞וֹא</span> <span class="translit">(hă·lō·w)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you walk</span><br /><span class="heb">תֵּלֵ֔כוּ</span> <span class="translit">(tê·lê·ḵū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, come, walk</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the fear</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּיִרְאַ֤ת</span> <span class="translit">(bə·yir·’aṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3374.htm">Strong's 3374: </a> </span><span class="str2">Fear, reverence</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of our God</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to avoid the reproach</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵחֶרְפַּ֖ת</span> <span class="translit">(mê·ḥer·paṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2781.htm">Strong's 2781: </a> </span><span class="str2">Contumely, disgrace, the pudenda</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of our foreign</span><br /><span class="heb">הַגּוֹיִ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(hag·gō·w·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1471.htm">Strong's 1471: </a> </span><span class="str2">A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts</span><br /><br /><span class="word">enemies?</span><br /><span class="heb">אוֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·wy·ḇê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_341.htm">Strong's 341: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hating, an adversary</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/nehemiah/5-9.htm">Nehemiah 5:9 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/5-9.htm">Nehemiah 5:9 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/nehemiah/5-9.htm">Nehemiah 5:9 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/5-9.htm">Nehemiah 5:9 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/5-9.htm">Nehemiah 5:9 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/nehemiah/5-9.htm">Nehemiah 5:9 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/nehemiah/5-9.htm">Nehemiah 5:9 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/nehemiah/5-9.htm">Nehemiah 5:9 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/nehemiah/5-9.htm">Nehemiah 5:9 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/nehemiah/5-9.htm">Nehemiah 5:9 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/nehemiah/5-9.htm">OT History: Nehemiah 5:9 Also I said The thing that you (Neh Ne) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/nehemiah/5-8.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Nehemiah 5:8"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 5:8" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/nehemiah/5-10.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Nehemiah 5:10"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 5:10" /></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>