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5:1 Then there was <01961> a great <01419> outcry <06818> from the people <05971> and their wives <0802> against <0413> their fellow <0251> Jews <03064>. 5:2 There were <03426> those who <0834> said <0559>, “With our sons <01121> and daughters <01323>, we <0587> are many <07227>. We must obtain <03947> grain <01715> in order to eat <0398> and stay alive <02421>.” 5:3 There were <03426> others who <0834> said <0559>, “We <0587> are putting up <06148> our fields <07704>, our vineyards <03754>, and our houses <01004> as collateral in order to obtain <03947> grain <01715> during the famine <07458>.” 5:4 Then there were <03426> those who <0834> said <0559>, “We have borrowed <03867> money <03701> to pay our taxes <04060> to the king <04428> on our fields <07704> and our vineyards <03754>. 5:5 And now <06258>, though we share the same flesh <01320> and blood <01320> as our fellow <02009> countrymen <0251>, and our children <01121> are just like their children <01121>, still we <0587> have found <03533> it necessary to subject <03533> our sons <01121> and daughters <01323> to slavery <05650>. Some of our daughters <01323> have been subjected to slavery <03533>, while we are powerless to help <03027> <0410> <0369>, since our fields <07704> and vineyards <03754> now belong to other people <0312>.” 5:6 I was very <03966> angry <02734> when <0834> I heard <08085> their outcry <02201> and these <0428> complaints <01697>. 5:7 I considered <04427> these things carefully <03820> and then registered a complaint <07378> with the wealthy <02715> and the officials <05461>. I said <0559> to them, “Each <0376> one of you <0859> is seizing the collateral <05378> from your own countrymen <0251>!” Because of them I called <05414> for <05921> a great <01419> public assembly <06952>. 5:8 I said <0559> to them, “To the extent possible we <0587> have bought <07069> back our fellow <0251> Jews <03064> who had been sold <04376> to the Gentiles <01471>. But now you yourselves <0859> want to sell <04376> your own countrymen <0251>, so that we can then buy them back!” They were utterly silent <02790>, and could find <04672> nothing <03808> to say <01696>. 5:9 Then I said <0559>, “The thing <01697> that <0834> you <0859> are doing <06213> is wrong <02896> <03808>! Should you not <03808> conduct <01980> yourselves in the fear <03374> of our God <0430> in order to avoid the reproach <02781> of the Gentiles <01471> who are our enemies <0341>? 5:10 Even <01571> I <0589> and my relatives <0251> and my associates <05288> are lending <05383> them money <03701> and grain <01715>. But let us abandon <05800> this <02088> practice of seizing collateral <04855>! 5:11 This very day <03117> return <07725> to them their fields <07704>, their vineyards <03754>, their olive trees <02132>, and their houses <01004>, along with the interest <03967> that <0834> you <0859> are exacting <05383> from them on the money <03701>, the grain <01715>, the new wine <08492>, and the olive oil <03323>.” 5:12 They <01992> replied <0559>, “We will return <07725> these things, and we will no <03808> longer demand <01245> anything <03808> from them. We will do <06213> just as <03651> you <0859> say <0559>.” Then I called <07121> the priests <03548> and made the wealthy and the officials swear <07650> to do <06213> what <01697> had been promised. 5:13 I also <01571> shook out <05287> my garment <02684>, and I said <0559>, “In this way <03602> may God <0430> shake out <05287> from his house <01004> and his property <03018> every <03605> person <0376> who <0834> does not <03808> carry out <06965> this <02088> matter <01697>. In this way <03602> may he be <01961> shaken out <05287> and emptied <07386>!” All <03605> the assembly <06951> replied <0559>, “So be it <0543>!” and they praised <01984> the LORD <03069>. Then the people <05971> did <06213> as they had promised <02088> <01697>.

• Neh 5:1-19 -- Nehemiah Intervenes on behalf of the Oppressed

• Usury

  [ebd] the sum paid for the use of money, hence interest; not, as in the modern sense, exorbitant interest. The Jews were forbidden to exact usury (Lev. 25:36, 37), only, however, in their dealings with each other (Deut. 23:19, 20)...
  [isbe] USURY - u'-zhu-ri: 1. In the Old Testament: The Hebrew law concerning exaction of interest upon loans was very humane. Hebrews were to lend to their brethren without interest (Ex 22:25; Lev 25:36 f; Dt 23:19 f). This, howeve...
  [nave] USURY, interest, not necessarily unreasonable exaction, but all income from loans. Forbidden, Ex. 22:25; Lev. 25:35-37; Deut. 23:19; Psa. 15:5; Prov. 28:8; Jer. 15:10; Ezek. 18:8, 13, 17; 22:12. Exaction of, rebuked, Neh. 5:...
  

• TAX; TAXING

  [isbe] TAX; TAXING - taks, taks'-ing: I. INTRODUCTION 1. General Considerations 2. Limits of the Discussion II. TAXES IN ISRAEL UNDER SELF-GOVERNMENT 1. In the Earliest Period 2. Under the Theocracy; in the Period of the Judges 3. ...
  

• SURETY

  [isbe] SURETY - shoor'-ti: This word is used in three different connections or groups: (1) As a derivative of the word "sure" it means "of a certainty" or "surely."--In Gen 15:13 the infinitive absolute of the verb is used to give ...
  

• SALVATION

  [isbe] SALVATION - sal-va'-shun: I. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 1. General 2. Individualism 3. Faith 4. Moral Law 5. Sacrifices 6. Ritual Law II. INTERMEDIATE LITERATURE 1. General 2. The Law III. THE TEACHING OF CHRIST 1. The Baptist 2. ...
  

• POVERTY

  [isbe] POVERTY - pov'-er-ti: 1. Old Testament References: This word, found but once in the Old Testament (Gen 45:11) outside of the Book of Proverbs in which it occurs 11 times (6:11; 10:15; 11:24 the King James Version; 13:18; 20:...
  

• MALACHI

  [isbe] MALACHI - mal'-a-ki: 1. Name of the Prophet 2. The Prophet's Times 3. Contents 4. Style 5. Message LITERATURE 1. Name of the Prophet: The last book of the Old Testament. Nothing is known of the person of Malachi. Because his...
  

• LEND, LOAN

  [isbe] LEND, LOAN - lon: The translation of 7 Hebrew and 2 Greek vbs.: 1. Lexical Usages: In the Old Testament: lawah, "to join," "cause to join," "lend" (Ex 22:25; Dt 28:12,44; Ps 37:26; Prov 19:17); nashah, "to bite," "lend" (Dt ...
  

• Jubilee

  [ebd] a joyful shout or clangour of trumpets, the name of the great semi-centennial festival of the Hebrews. It lasted for a year. During this year the land was to be fallow, and the Israelites were only permitted to gather the sp...
  

• Interest

  [isbe] INTEREST - in'-ter-est (neshekh, mashsha'; tokos): The Hebrew word neshekh is from a root which means "to bite"; thus interest is "something bitten off." The other word, mashsa', means "lending on interest." The Greek term i...
  [nave] INTEREST Income from loaning money, usually called usury in the scriptures, but not generally signifying unlawful or unjust rates.Ex. 22:25; Lev. 25:36, 37; Deut. 23:19, 20; Neh. 5:1-13; Psa. 15:5; Prov. 28:8; Isa. 24:2; Eze...
  

• GOVERNOR

  [ebd] (1.) Heb. nagid, a prominent, conspicuous person, whatever his capacity: as, chief of the royal palace (2 Chr. 28:7; comp. 1 Kings 4:6), chief of the temple (1 Chr. 9:11; Jer. 20:1), the leader of the Aaronites (1 Chr. 12:27...
  [isbe] GOVERNOR - guv'-er-ner: The word "governor" is employed in English Versions of the Bible in rendering a great variety of Hebrew and Greek words. In certain cases strict consistency is neither observed nor possible. 1. In the...
  

• GET; GETTING

  [isbe] GET; GETTING - A great many Hebrew words are in the Old Testament translated "get," "got," etc. The word "get" has two meanings: (1) with the idea of movement, "to go," etc.; (2) with that of acquisition, "to gain," "obtain,...
  

• EXACT

  [isbe] EXACT - eg-zakt': (1) naghas (Dt 15:2,3; 2 Ki 23:35; Isa 58:3), to secure by force or pressure interest or money for tribute, and perhaps, in Isa 58:3, labor or toil; but compare the Revised Version, margin "oppress all your...
  

• Creditor

  [isbe] CREDITOR - kred'-i-ter ((a) nosheh, participle of nashah: Ex 22:24 (English translation: 25); 2 Ki 4:1; Isa 50:1; translated "extortioner," Ps 109:11; "taker of usury," Isa 24:2 the King James Version; (b) malweh, participle...
  [nave] CREDITOR. Laws Concerning Ex. 21:2-6; Ex. 22:25-27; Lev. 25:14-17, 35-37; Deut. 15:2, 3; Deut. 23:19, 20; Deut. 24:6, 10-13, 17; Matt. 5:42; Luke 6:34 Oppressions of 2 Kin. 4:1; Neh. 5:1-13; Job 20:18-20; Job 22:6; Job 2...
  

• CUPBEARER

  [isbe] CUPBEARER - kup'-bar-er (mashqeh, "one giving drink"; oinochoos): An officer of high rank at ancient oriental courts, whose duty it was to serve the wine at the king's table. On account of the constant fear of plots and intr...
  

• CONSULT

  [isbe] CONSULT - kon-sult' (sha'al, malakh, ya`ats (Aramaic) ye`aT; sumbouleuomai): (1) "To ask," "inquire," "seek advice." Ezekiel speaks of the king of Babylonian consulting the teraphim (Ezek 21:21) and the Israelites were admon...
  

• CHILD; CHILDREN

  [isbe] CHILD; CHILDREN - child, chil'-dren (ben, "son," yeledh, "child" na`ar, "lad"; teknon, paidion): The Hebrews regarded the presence of children in the family as a mark of Divine favor and greatly to be desired (Gen 15:2; 30:1...
  

• Borrowing

  [nave] BORROWING. Ex. 22:14, 15; Neh. 5:1-13; Psa. 37:21; Prov. 22:7; Matt. 5:42 See: Lending; Interest. Instances of Israelites from the Egyptians, Ex. 3:22; 11:2; 12:35. Borrowing trouble, See: Trouble, Borrowing.
  

• BONDAGE

  [isbe] BONDAGE - bon'-daj: Used in two senses in Scripture, a literal and a metaphorical sense. (1) In the former sense it refers (a) to the condition of the Hebrews ('abhodhah) in Egypt (Ex 1:14 the King James Version; Ex 2:23 and...
  

• BANK; BANKING

  [isbe] BANK; BANKING - 1. Introductory: "Banking" in the full modern sense, of taking money on deposit and lending it out on interest, is of comparatively recent origin. A few "banks of deposit" were founded in Italy in the Middle ...
  

• Ambush

  [ebd] Joshua at the capture of Ai lay in ambush, and so deceived the inhabitants that he gained an easy victory (Josh. 8:4-26). Shechem was taken in this manner (Judg. 9:30-45. Comp. Jer. 51:12).
  

• [Neh 5:9] Watched By The World’s Malignant Eye

  Watched by the world’s malignant eye, Who load us with reproach and shame. As servants of the Lord most High, As zealous for His glorious Name, We ought in all His paths to move, With holy fear and humble love. That wisdom, Lord, on us bestow, From every evil to depart; To stop the mouth of every foe, While, upright both in life and heart, The proofs of godly fear we give, And show them how the Christians live.

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  source: Cyberhymnal

• What Is the Bible Teaching about Usury?
  The most radical reference to money lending is that of Christ himself (Luke 6:35), "Do good and lend, hoping for nothing again." But it must be remembered that the words were spoken to a people very differently situated from ...

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