Nehemiah 5:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Nehemiah dramatizes a curse by shaking out his garment against any who break the oath, the assembly says Amen and praises God, and the people keep their word.
What Does Nehemiah 5:13 Mean?
Nehemiah seals the oath with a vivid sign. He shakes out the fold of his garment as a picture of how God will shake out and empty any man who fails to keep this promise, stripping him of house and livelihood. The whole congregation answers Amen and praises the LORD, and then, crucially, the people did according to this promise.
Word and deed come together: the assembly worships, and the community actually obeys. The shaken garment warns that covenant-breaking has consequences in God's hands, while the closing line shows reform completed, not merely declared. Praise rings truest when it is joined to lives that have changed, an Amen confirmed by action.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nehemiah 5:13
What does Nehemiah 5:13 mean?
Nehemiah dramatizes a curse by shaking out his garment against any who break the oath, the assembly says Amen and praises God, and the people keep their word.