And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
Parallel translations
- WEB I said to them, “We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us?” Then they held their peace, and found not a word to say.
- BSB and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.
- NKJV And I said to them, “According to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations. Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or should they be sold to us?” Then they were silenced and found nothing to say.
- NASB And I said to them, “We, according to our ability, have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?” Then they were silent and could not find a word to say.
- NLT At the meeting I said to them, “We are doing all we can to redeem our Jewish relatives who have had to sell themselves to pagan foreigners, but you are selling them back into slavery again. How often must we redeem them?” And they had nothing to say in their defense.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Nehemiah points out the contradiction: the leaders' own people have redeemed Jews sold to the nations, yet now the nobles re-enslave their own brothers. The shame of it silences them.
Overview
Nehemiah exposes the hypocrisy of buying back enslaved Jews only to have others sell those same brothers back into bondage. Confronted with this contradiction, the nobles have nothing to say. The theme of redeeming the enslaved foreshadows the gospel, in which Christ redeems His people from slavery to sin (Galatians 4:4-5).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Lev 25:47–49And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger’s family:
- Job 32:15They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.
- 2 Cor 8:12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
- Rom 14:15But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
- Matt 25:29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
- Matt 25:15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
- 1 Cor 8:11And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
- Job 29:10The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
- Deut 24:7If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.
- Rom 3:19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
- Matt 22:12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
- Exod 21:16And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
- Gal 6:10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
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Christ at the center
The rebuilt walls and renewed covenant community foreshadow the greater builder who gathers and secures a people for God, the one who declares 'I will build my church.'
How Nehemiah 5:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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