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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 5:2 Some were saying, "We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/nehemiah/5-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/16_Neh_05_02.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Nehemiah 5:2 - Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Some were saying, We and our sons and daughters are numerous. 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We need more food to survive.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/nehemiah/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, <i>are</i> many: therefore we take up corn <i>for them</i>, that we may eat, and live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/nehemiah/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />For there were those who said, “We, our sons, and our daughters <i>are</i> many; therefore let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/nehemiah/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />For there were those who said, “We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let’s get grain so that we may eat and live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />For there were those who said, &#8220We, our sons and our daughters are many; therefore let us get grain that we may eat and live.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/nehemiah/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />For there were those who said, “We, our sons and our daughters, are many; therefore let us get grain that we may eat and live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/nehemiah/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now there were those who were saying, “We, <i>with</i> our sons and our daughters, are many; therefore let us get grain that we may eat and live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/nehemiah/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />For there were some who were saying, “We, <i>along with</i> our sons and our daughters, are many; therefore allow us to get grain, so that we may eat and survive.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/nehemiah/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Some were saying, “We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/nehemiah/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Some were saying, &#8220We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/nehemiah/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat and live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/nehemiah/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />and said, "We have large families, and it takes a lot of grain merely to keep us alive." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/nehemiah/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get corn, that we may eat and live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/nehemiah/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Some of them said, "We have large families! We need some grain [if we are going] to eat and stay alive."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/nehemiah/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Some said, "We have large families, we need grain to keep us alive." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/nehemiah/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />because certain of them kept claiming, "Since we have so many sons and daughters, we must get some grain so we can eat and survive."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/nehemiah/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Some were saying, ?We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/nehemiah/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />There were those who said, "With our sons and daughters, we are many. We must obtain grain in order to eat and stay alive."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/nehemiah/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />For there were that said, "We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/nehemiah/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/nehemiah/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />For there were some who said, “We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/nehemiah/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />indeed, there are [those] who are saying, “Our sons, and our daughters, we—are many, and we receive grain, and eat, and live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/nehemiah/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> yea, there are who are saying, 'Our sons, and our daughters, we -- are many, and we receive corn, and eat, and live.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/nehemiah/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And there is which saying, Our sons and our daughters, we being many: and we will take grain and we will eat and live.<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: Our sons and our daughters are very many: Yet us take up corn for the price of them, and let us eat and live. <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: “Our sons and our daughters are very many. Let us receive grain as a price for them, and then we may eat and live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/nehemiah/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Some said: “We are forced to pawn our sons and daughters in order to get grain to eat that we may live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/nehemiah/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many; we must get grain, so that we may eat and stay alive.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/nehemiah/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For there were those who said, Our sons and our daughters and our brothers are many; therefore let us purchase grain that we may eat and 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: “Our sons and our daughters and our brothers are many. We shall take grain and we shall eat 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 />For there were that said: 'We, our sons and our daughters, are many; let us get for them corn, that we may eat and live.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/nehemiah/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And some said, We <i>are</i> numerous with our sons and our daughters; so we will take corn, and eat, and live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/nehemiah/5-2.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=1019" 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>About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. <span class="reftext">2</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.">Some</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/1121.htm" title="1121: bā·nê·nū (N-mpc:: 1cp) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">and our sons</a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: ū·ḇə·nō·ṯê·nū (Conj-w:: N-fpc:: 1cp) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter.">and daughters</a> <a href="/hebrew/7227.htm" title="7227: rab·bîm (Adj-mp) -- Much, many, great. By contracted from rabab; abundant.">are numerous.</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.">We must 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/398.htm" title="398: wə·nō·ḵə·lāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjImperf.Cohort-1cp) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">in order to eat</a> <a href="/hebrew/2421.htm" title="2421: wə·niḥ·yeh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjImperf.h-1cp) -- To live, to revive. A primitive root; to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive.">and stay alive.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">3</span>Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.”…<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/15-7.htm">Deuteronomy 15:7-11</a></span><br />If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. / Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs. / Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought in your heart: “The seventh year, the year of release, is near,” so that you look upon your poor brother begrudgingly and give him nothing. He will 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="/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/22-22.htm">Proverbs 22:22-23</a></span><br />Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate, / for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.<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/8-4.htm">Amos 8:4-6</a></span><br />Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land, / asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales. / Let us buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!”<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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/14-13.htm">Luke 14:13-14</a></span><br />But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, / and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.</p><p class="hdg">We, our sons</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/127-3.htm">Psalm 127:3-5</a></b></br> Lo, children <i>are</i> an heritage of the LORD: <i>and</i> the fruit of the womb <i>is his</i> reward… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/128-2.htm">Psalm 128:2-4</a></b></br> For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy <i>shalt</i> thou <i>be</i>, and <i>it shall be</i> well with thee… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/malachi/2-2.htm">Malachi 2:2</a></b></br> If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay <i>it</i> to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay <i>it</i> to heart.</p><p class="hdg">we take up corn</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/41-57.htm">Genesis 41:57</a></b></br> And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy <i>corn</i>; because that the famine was <i>so</i> sore in all lands.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/42-2.htm">Genesis 42:2</a></b></br> And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/43-8.htm">Genesis 43:8</a></b></br> And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, <i>and</i> also our little ones.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_chronicles/25-12.htm">Alive</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/32-28.htm">Corn</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-14.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/ezra/10-6.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/nehemiah/1-4.htm">Food</a> <a href="/ezra/7-22.htm">Grain</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-1.htm">Great</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-12.htm">Live</a> <a href="/ezra/7-20.htm">Needs</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/16-8.htm">Numerous</a> <a href="/nehemiah/1-8.htm">Order</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/7-7.htm">Receive</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/36-6.htm">Alive</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Corn</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-5.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/nehemiah/7-65.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-14.htm">Food</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Grain</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-7.htm">Great</a> <a href="/nehemiah/11-2.htm">Live</a> <a href="/proverbs/12-10.htm">Needs</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-23.htm">Numerous</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-13.htm">Order</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Receive</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>Some were saying</b><br>This phrase indicates a collective voice among the people, suggesting a widespread issue affecting many families. It reflects the communal nature of the Jewish society during Nehemiah's time, where the well-being of the community was a shared concern. This communal approach is seen throughout the Old Testament, where the actions and conditions of individuals often impact the entire community, as in <a href="/joshua/7.htm">Joshua 7</a> with Achan's sin affecting Israel.<p><b>“We and our sons and daughters are numerous.</b><br>The mention of sons and daughters highlights the family structure and the importance of children in Jewish culture. Large families were common and seen as a blessing from God, as indicated in <a href="/psalms/127-3.htm">Psalm 127:3-5</a>. The emphasis on numerous offspring also underscores the severity of the situation, as more mouths to feed increased the urgency of their plight.<p><b>We must get grain</b><br>Grain was a staple food in ancient Israel, essential for survival. The need to "get grain" suggests a shortage or difficulty in accessing this basic necessity, possibly due to economic exploitation or poor harvests. This situation echoes the famine in <a href="/genesis/41.htm">Genesis 41</a>, where Joseph's management of grain saved Egypt and surrounding nations, highlighting the critical role of grain in sustaining life.<p><b>in order to eat and stay alive.”</b><br>This phrase underscores the dire circumstances faced by the people, where basic survival was at stake. It reflects the broader theme of dependence on God for provision, as seen in the Lord's Prayer (<a href="/matthew/6-11.htm">Matthew 6:11</a>) where Jesus teaches to pray for daily bread. The struggle for sustenance also parallels the Israelites' reliance on manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16), emphasizing God's provision in times of need.<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. He is known for his leadership, prayerfulness, and dedication to God's work.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_people_of_judah.htm">The People of Judah</a></b><br>The verse refers to the Jewish people living in Jerusalem and its surrounding areas during the time of Nehemiah. They are facing economic hardship and are expressing their need for food.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where these events take place. It is significant as the spiritual and political center for the Jewish people.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/e/economic_hardship.htm">Economic Hardship</a></b><br>The event described in this verse is part of a larger account of economic distress among the Jewish people, exacerbated by famine and the rebuilding efforts.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/s/social_justice.htm">Social Justice</a></b><br>The broader context of <a href="/bsb/nehemiah/5.htm">Nehemiah 5</a> involves issues of social justice, as Nehemiah addresses the exploitation of the poor by the wealthy.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/c/compassion_for_the_needy.htm">Compassion for the Needy</a></b><br>As Christians, we are called to be attentive to the needs of those around us, just as Nehemiah was attentive to the cries of his people.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/righteous_leadership.htm">Righteous Leadership</a></b><br>Nehemiah exemplifies godly leadership by addressing the injustices faced by his people. Leaders today should strive to act justly and protect the vulnerable.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_responsibility.htm">Community Responsibility</a></b><br>The verse highlights the importance of community support. Believers are encouraged to work together to meet the needs of all members.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_provision.htm">Trust in God's Provision</a></b><br>Despite economic hardships, the people of Judah express their needs, trusting that God will provide. This teaches us to rely on God's provision in times of need.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/addressing_injustice.htm">Addressing Injustice</a></b><br>Nehemiah's response to the people's plight reminds us of the importance of addressing social injustices and advocating for fair treatment of all individuals.<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_pure_word_bible_(pwb).htm">Who were the children of King David?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/where_did_adam_and_eve's_kids_find_spouses.htm">If Adam and Eve were the first humans, where did their children find spouses?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_nehemiah_use_force_in_13_25.htm">Why does Nehemiah resort to physical force (Nehemiah 13:25) to enforce marriage laws, and doesn't this contradict other scriptures urging gentleness and compassion?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_nehemiah_10_30_oppose_intermarriage.htm">Why does Nehemiah 10:30 emphasize not intermarrying with neighboring peoples, when other passages (e.g., the Book of Ruth) show positive outcomes from such unions?</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>(2) <span class= "bld">We take up.</span>--<span class= "ital">Let us receive.</span> This is a general appeal for the governor's help.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/nehemiah/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">There were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many</span>. Those who had large families were foremost in making complaint. They found their numerous progeny not the blessing that abundant offspring is ordinarily reckoned in Holy Scripture, but a burthen and an anxiety. <span class="cmt_word">Therefore we take up corn for them</span>. We are obliged to get corn for them, or they would die, and have to run in debt for it. Corn, wine, and oil seem to have been lent, no less than money (ver. 11). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/nehemiah/5-2.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">Some</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">[and] our sons</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּנֵ֥ינוּ</span> <span class="translit">(bā·nê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and daughters</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבְנֹתֵ֖ינוּ</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇə·nō·ṯê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1323.htm">Strong's 1323: </a> </span><span class="str2">A daughter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are numerous.</span><br /><span class="heb">רַבִּ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(rab·bîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7227.htm">Strong's 7227: </a> </span><span class="str2">Much, many, great</span><br /><br /><span class="word">We must 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">to eat</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנֹאכְלָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·nō·ḵə·lāh)</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_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To eat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and live.”</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנִחְיֶֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(wə·niḥ·yeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2421.htm">Strong's 2421: </a> </span><span class="str2">To live, to revive</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/nehemiah/5-2.htm">Nehemiah 5:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/5-2.htm">Nehemiah 5:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/nehemiah/5-2.htm">Nehemiah 5:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/5-2.htm">Nehemiah 5:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/5-2.htm">Nehemiah 5:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/nehemiah/5-2.htm">Nehemiah 5:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/nehemiah/5-2.htm">Nehemiah 5:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/nehemiah/5-2.htm">Nehemiah 5:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/nehemiah/5-2.htm">Nehemiah 5:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/nehemiah/5-2.htm">Nehemiah 5:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/nehemiah/5-2.htm">OT History: Nehemiah 5:2 For there were that said We our (Neh Ne) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/nehemiah/5-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Nehemiah 5:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 5:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/nehemiah/5-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Nehemiah 5:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 5:3" /></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>