Nehemiah 5:7 Meaning and Explanation
“Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →After reflecting, Nehemiah confronts the nobles and rulers for charging interest against their own brothers and calls a public assembly.
What Does Nehemiah 5:7 Mean?
Nehemiah does not act on raw emotion. He consulted with himself, taking counsel and weighing his course, then confronts the nobles and rulers directly: they are exacting usury from their own brethren. To press the point he convenes a great assembly, bringing the matter into the open before the whole community.
Wise indignation pauses before it speaks, then speaks plainly to those responsible. Nehemiah neither buries the wrong nor lashes out blindly; he names it and brings it to the light. The Law had warned God's people not to lend to a needy brother as a creditor seeking gain, and Nehemiah holds the leaders to that standard.
Nehemiah 5:7 in the Original Language
nashah (נָשָׁא), 'exact usury' -- to lend on interest or act as a creditor pressing a debtor, the practice the Law forbade among kin.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nehemiah 5:7
What does Nehemiah 5:7 mean?
After reflecting, Nehemiah confronts the nobles and rulers for charging interest against their own brothers and calls a public assembly.