Nehemiah 5:3 - There were also some that said, “We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine.”
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What does "Nehemiah 5:3" mean?
This verse from Nehemiah 5:3 describes a severe economic hardship faced by some of the Jewish people who had returned to Jerusalem from exile. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"There were also some that said...": This indicates that this was a specific complaint or issue being raised by a segment of the population. It wasn't a universal sentiment, but it was a significant problem affecting enough people to warrant mention and action.
"We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses...": This is the core of the problem. They were taking out loans, using their land (fields and vineyards, which were their means of sustenance and income) and homes as collateral. In other words, they were borrowing money, and if they couldn't repay it, they would lose their property. This shows the desperation of their situation.
"Let us get grain, because of the famine.": The reason they were mortgaging their property was to buy grain (food). A famine was occurring, meaning there was a severe shortage of food. This drove up the price of grain, making it unaffordable for many. People were forced to take out loans to simply survive and feed their families.
In summary, this verse highlights the following points:
Economic hardship: A famine was causing widespread food shortages.
Desperation: People were forced to mortgage their valuable assets (land and homes) for the basic necessity of food.
Debt burden: This was creating a cycle of debt and potential loss of property, exacerbating the already difficult situation.
Context within Nehemiah:
This verse sets the stage for the larger issue of social injustice that Nehemiah addresses in Chapter 5. Other verses reveal that wealthy Jews were taking advantage of the poor by charging high interest rates and foreclosing on their property. Nehemiah, as governor, steps in to rebuke the wealthy and demand they forgive the debts and return the mortgaged property. The verse is important for understanding the social issues of the time that were threatening to undermine the rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 5:3 - There were also some that said, “We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine.”
What does "Nehemiah 5:3" mean?
This verse from Nehemiah 5:3 describes a severe economic hardship faced by some of the Jewish people who had returned to Jerusalem from exile. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"There were also some that said...": This indicates that this was a specific complaint or issue being raised by a segment of the population. It wasn't a universal sentiment, but it was a significant problem affecting enough people to warrant mention and action.
"We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses...": This is the core of the problem. They were taking out loans, using their land (fields and vineyards, which were their means of sustenance and income) and homes as collateral. In other words, they were borrowing money, and if they couldn't repay it, they would lose their property. This shows the desperation of their situation.
"Let us get grain, because of the famine.": The reason they were mortgaging their property was to buy grain (food). A famine was occurring, meaning there was a severe shortage of food. This drove up the price of grain, making it unaffordable for many. People were forced to take out loans to simply survive and feed their families.
In summary, this verse highlights the following points:
Economic hardship: A famine was causing widespread food shortages.
Desperation: People were forced to mortgage their valuable assets (land and homes) for the basic necessity of food.
Debt burden: This was creating a cycle of debt and potential loss of property, exacerbating the already difficult situation.
Context within Nehemiah:
This verse sets the stage for the larger issue of social injustice that Nehemiah addresses in Chapter 5. Other verses reveal that wealthy Jews were taking advantage of the poor by charging high interest rates and foreclosing on their property. Nehemiah, as governor, steps in to rebuke the wealthy and demand they forgive the debts and return the mortgaged property. The verse is important for understanding the social issues of the time that were threatening to undermine the rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem.