Nehemiah 5:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →For all twelve years of his governorship Nehemiah and his associates did not take the governor's food allowance.
What Does Nehemiah 5:14 Mean?
Nehemiah now turns to his own record as governor. Across twelve full years, from the twentieth to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, he and his associates did not eat the bread of the governor, the food allowance his office could rightly have claimed from the people.
He has just called the wealthy to give up their gain; here he shows he has long done the same. Real authority is willing to forgo its privileges for the sake of the weak. The pattern looks ahead to the One who, though Lord of all, did not grasp His rights but emptied Himself to serve, choosing the welfare of others over His own entitlement.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nehemiah 5:14
What does Nehemiah 5:14 mean?
For all twelve years of his governorship Nehemiah and his associates did not take the governor's food allowance.