Nehemiah 5:7

Arabic Simplified (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)

وَفَكَّرْتُ فِي نَفْسِي فِي الأمْرِ. وَلُمْتُ الوُجَهَاءَ وَالمَسؤُولِينَ، وَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ: «أنْتُمْ تَأْخُذُونَ أُنَاسًا وَمُمتَلَكَاتٍ مِنْ بَنِي جِنسِكُمْ رَهنًا كَضَمَانٍ لِاسْتِعَادَةِ القُرُوضِ.» وَدَعَوْتُ إلَى اجتِمَاعٍ كَبِيرٍ.

What Does This Mean?

In this verse, Nehemiah is addressing the nobles and rulers for charging unfair interest on loans to fellow Jews. He calls a meeting to confront them about their wrongdoings and demands they stop.

Explained for Children

Imagine if your friends were taking extra candy from other kids. Nehemiah saw that the rich people were taking too much money from their friends, so he told them it wasn't right and called everyone together to solve the problem.

Historical Background

Nehemiah, a Jewish leader, wrote this during the 5th century BC. He was addressing the nobles and rulers of Jerusalem who were oppressing the common people by charging high interest on loans. The cultural setting was post-exile, with Jews returning to rebuild Jerusalem and facing internal struggles.

Living It Out Today

Today, we can apply this principle in workplaces or communities where leaders exploit others for personal gain. For example, if a boss is unfairly taking credit for others' work, we should speak up and demand fairness.

Topics

• justice
• morality
• leadership
• exploitation
• community
• fairness

Related Verses

• Exodus 22:25
• Psalm 15:5
• Luke 6:34-35
• Proverbs 28:8
• Ezekiel 18:8

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Nehemiah addressing in this verse?

Nehemiah is addressing the nobles and rulers who were exploiting the common people by charging them unfair interest on loans.

What does Nehemiah mean by 'exact usury'?

'Exact usury' means to charge excessive interest on loans, which was seen as exploitative and unfair in the context of ancient Jewish law.

Why did Nehemiah call a great assembly?

He called the assembly to publicly address the unfair practices and to demand that the nobles and rulers stop exploiting their fellow Jews.

How can we apply Nehemiah's actions in our lives?

We can apply Nehemiah's actions by speaking up against unfair practices and advocating for justice and fairness in our communities and workplaces.