Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
NEHEMIAH 5:11KJVWhat does Nehemiah 5:11 mean?
Nehemiah 5:11 is a demand from Nehemiah to the wealthy leaders of Jerusalem, telling them to immediately return the lands, vineyards, olive groves, houses, and a portion of the money, grain, wine, and oil they had taken from their fellow Israelites. Nehemiah insists that the people who had been forced to give up these things due to debt and hardship should have them restored right away.
Nehemiah is speaking directly to the nobles and officials who had been taking advantage of poorer members of the community during a time of economic struggle. The verse shows Nehemiah’s concern for justice and fairness, as he calls for the reversal of unfair practices and the restoration of property and resources to those who had lost them. This moment is part of a larger confrontation about social and economic injustice among the returned exiles.
The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 5:11
- "Restore" (שׁוּב, shuv): This word means to return or bring back. Nehemiah is not just asking for a stop to the unfair treatment, but for a full reversal—giving back what was taken.
- "Exact" (נָשָׁא, nashah): This word means to demand or take as interest. Nehemiah is addressing the practice of charging interest or taking extra from those in debt, which was forbidden among Israelites.
- "Hundredth" (מֵאָה, me’ah): This refers to the interest rate, likely one percent per month, showing that the leaders were charging their fellow Jews interest on loans, which was against the spirit of their law.
Why Nehemiah 5:11 matters
- Nehemiah 5:11 clarifies that Nehemiah was not only concerned with spiritual renewal but also with practical justice and the well-being of the people.
- The verse highlights the seriousness of economic exploitation and the expectation that God’s people should treat each other fairly, especially in times of hardship.
- This demand for restoration connects to the broader biblical theme of caring for the vulnerable and correcting wrongs, showing that faithfulness to God includes how people handle money and power.