Nehemiah 5:10 - I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury.

Generated Verse: Nehemiah 5:10

What does "Nehemiah 5:10" mean?


This verse is part of a larger passage in Nehemiah Chapter 5, which describes a serious social and economic crisis in Jerusalem. Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning in its context:

"I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain." Nehemiah is explaining that he, along with his relatives and officials, have also been involved in lending money and grain to their fellow Jews. This was a common practice during times of scarcity.

"Please let us stop this usury." This is the crucial part. "Usury" refers to the practice of lending money at excessively high interest rates, which the Old Testament law (especially in Exodus 22:25, Leviticus 25:35-37, and Deuteronomy 23:19-20) explicitly forbade among fellow Israelites. The intent of these laws was to protect the poor from being exploited and trapped in cycles of debt. Nehemiah is calling for an end to this exploitative lending practice. He and his associates, despite being in positions of power, are proposing to give up their own financial gain in order to alleviate the suffering of their people.

In summary, Nehemiah 5:10 shows Nehemiah taking a lead in addressing the issue of usury among the Jewish people by suggesting that they stop charging interest when lending to their fellow Israelites, in accordance with the Law of Moses. This indicates a personal commitment to ethical leadership and a desire to alleviate economic hardship within the community.

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