Nehemiah 5:6 - I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Nehemiah 5:6" mean?
In Nehemiah 5:6, "I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words," Nehemiah is expressing his strong emotional reaction to the complaints of the people. Let's break down the meaning:
"Their cry and these words": This refers to the specific grievances the people were voicing. In the preceding verses (Nehemiah 5:1-5), the people (both men and women) were crying out because of:
Economic hardship: They were running out of food and needed to buy grain to survive.
Debt: They were borrowing money to pay taxes to the king and were accumulating debt.
Land and children as collateral: They were mortgaging their fields, vineyards, and even selling their sons and daughters into slavery to pay off their debts.
"I was very angry": Nehemiah's anger wasn't a petty or selfish anger. It was righteous indignation. He was furious because:
Injustice: He saw that his fellow Jews were exploiting each other's vulnerability during a time of rebuilding and hardship. This was a betrayal of their covenant with God, which emphasized caring for the poor and vulnerable.
Threat to the community: The economic situation threatened the unity and survival of the Jewish community. If people were selling their land and children, it weakened their ability to rebuild Jerusalem and defend themselves.
Disrepute: The situation was giving their enemies (those who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem) cause to mock and criticize them.
In Summary: Nehemiah 5:6 is a pivotal verse showing Nehemiah's immediate and strong emotional response to the cries of the people detailing the injustice and exploitation they were suffering. His anger served as a catalyst for him to take action and address the issues, as described in the subsequent verses. It reflects his deep concern for the well-being and unity of the Jewish community and his commitment to upholding God's law.
Nehemiah 5:6 - I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
What does "Nehemiah 5:6" mean?
In Nehemiah 5:6, "I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words," Nehemiah is expressing his strong emotional reaction to the complaints of the people. Let's break down the meaning:
"Their cry and these words": This refers to the specific grievances the people were voicing. In the preceding verses (Nehemiah 5:1-5), the people (both men and women) were crying out because of:
Economic hardship: They were running out of food and needed to buy grain to survive.
Debt: They were borrowing money to pay taxes to the king and were accumulating debt.
Land and children as collateral: They were mortgaging their fields, vineyards, and even selling their sons and daughters into slavery to pay off their debts.
"I was very angry": Nehemiah's anger wasn't a petty or selfish anger. It was righteous indignation. He was furious because:
Injustice: He saw that his fellow Jews were exploiting each other's vulnerability during a time of rebuilding and hardship. This was a betrayal of their covenant with God, which emphasized caring for the poor and vulnerable.
Threat to the community: The economic situation threatened the unity and survival of the Jewish community. If people were selling their land and children, it weakened their ability to rebuild Jerusalem and defend themselves.
Disrepute: The situation was giving their enemies (those who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem) cause to mock and criticize them.
In Summary: Nehemiah 5:6 is a pivotal verse showing Nehemiah's immediate and strong emotional response to the cries of the people detailing the injustice and exploitation they were suffering. His anger served as a catalyst for him to take action and address the issues, as described in the subsequent verses. It reflects his deep concern for the well-being and unity of the Jewish community and his commitment to upholding God's law.