Nehemiah 10 31

Nehemiah 10:31 kjv

And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

Nehemiah 10:31 nkjv

if the peoples of the land brought wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day; and we would forego the seventh year's produce and the exacting of every debt.

Nehemiah 10:31 niv

"When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts.

Nehemiah 10:31 esv

And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.

Nehemiah 10:31 nlt

"We also promise that if the people of the land should bring any merchandise or grain to be sold on the Sabbath or on any other holy day, we will refuse to buy it. Every seventh year we will let our land rest, and we will cancel all debts owed to us.

Nehemiah 10 verses

Nehemiah 10 31 Meaning

Nehemiah 10:31 details a specific communal pledge by the returning exiles in Jerusalem. This commitment binds them to uphold God's law regarding their economic interactions: they vowed not to engage in buying goods or food from foreigners on the Sabbath day or on any other holy day. Furthermore, they committed to observing the Sabbatical year (every seventh year), which entailed allowing the land to lie fallow and forgiving debts among the Israelites. This verse highlights their practical resolve to prioritize obedience to the Torah over commercial expediency and potential financial gain.

Nehemiah 10 31 Context

Nehemiah 10:31 is part of a significant covenant renewal ceremony recorded in Nehemiah chapters 9 and 10. After the completion of the walls of Jerusalem, the people gathered to hear the Law read and to repent of their sins, leading to a profound spiritual revival. Chapter 10 describes the sealing of a binding covenant by the nation's leaders, Levites, priests, and the general populace. This commitment was to "walk in God’s Law, which was given by Moses" (Neh 10:29). The verses following this general pledge (10:30-39) list specific areas where the people vowed to obey the Law, demonstrating their sincere commitment. Verse 31 specifically addresses commercial integrity, particularly concerning the Sabbath and Sabbatical year. Historically, the violation of these very laws, especially concerning land and social justice, contributed to the Babylonian exile, making this renewed commitment profoundly significant for the returned exiles seeking to re-establish a righteous community in their land. Culturally, trading on the Sabbath and disregarding the Sabbatical year represented integration into gentile economic norms and a distrust of God's provision, which these vows directly countered.

Nehemiah 10 31 Word analysis

• "Moreover": This conjunction connects this specific resolution to the broader covenant sworn by the people in Nehemiah 10:29, indicating it is one of several concrete actions derived from their renewed commitment to God's Law.
• "if": Introduces a conditional clause, acknowledging the existing reality of "peoples of the land" engaging in trade. Their response is an active decision to abstain.
• "peoples of the land" (עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ, ‘amme ha'arets): In this context, it primarily refers to non-Jewish inhabitants and surrounding gentile traders who would frequent Jerusalem, bringing goods to sell. This highlights a deliberate choice by the Israelites to differentiate themselves economically and religiously from these foreign influences.
• "bring wares" (מַשְׁאִית, mash'it): Refers to general merchandise, articles for sale, or commodities. It denotes commercial goods for trade.
• "any grain": (davarth) While literally "a thing" or "word," in this context, when paired with "wares," it specifically refers to "grain" or "produce" as common agricultural commodities for trade, emphasizing agricultural commerce.
• "on the Sabbath day" (בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת, b'yom ha-Shabbat): A clear reference to the seventh day of the week, consecrated for rest and worship as commanded in the Decalogue (Ex 20:8-11). It signifies cessation from labor and commercial activity.
• "or on a holy day" (אוֹ בְיוֹם קֹדֶשׁ, ‘o v'yom qodesh): Encompasses all other festival days appointed by God (e.g., Passover, Tabernacles), which also required a cessation of work and commerce. This expands the commitment beyond the weekly Sabbath to all sacred times.
• "we will not buy from them": A definitive, communal refusal. This isn't merely passive acceptance but an active economic boycott of Sabbath profanation, directly addressing the temptation and opportunity to transact. This demonstrates proactive obedience and self-denial for the sake of God's honor.
• "the produce of the land": (t'vû'at ha'arets): General term for the harvest, referring to the crops or agricultural yield from the soil. This emphasizes agricultural wealth.
• "and will forgo the seventh year" (וְנִטֹּשׁ אֶת־הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִית, v'nitosh 'et ha-shanah ha-shevi'it): Literally, "we will abandon/leave free the seventh year." This refers to the Shemitah (Sabbatical year) law (Ex 23:10-11, Lev 25:1-7), where the land was to lie fallow. It represents trusting God for provision rather than incessant cultivation.
• "and the exacting of every debt" (וּמַשָּׁא כָּל־יָֽד׃, u-massa kol-yad): Refers to the release of debts among Israelites, specifically mentioned in Deut 15:1-2. In the Sabbatical year, all debts owed by fellow Israelites were to be forgiven, promoting economic justice and preventing perpetual bondage due to poverty.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day or on a holy day": This phrase clearly defines the problem: external commercial influences that violate sacred times established by God. It specifically targets mercantile activities that were common but unlawful for Israelites on holy days.
• "we will not buy from them": This phrase declares the people's collective preventative action. It's an internal, communal boundary set to prevent their own participation in the desecration of holy time and to protect the integrity of their covenant with God.
• "and will forgo the seventh year and the exacting of every debt": This phrase outlines their commitment to the Shemitah (Sabbatical year) as outlined in the Torah. It involves both agricultural (leaving the land fallow) and social (debt release) dimensions, signifying a deep trust in God's provision and a commitment to justice among His people, often neglected in times of economic pressure.

Nehemiah 10 31 Bonus section

This verse reflects a direct lesson learned from the exile. Prophetic warnings often condemned Israel's neglect of the Sabbath and the Sabbatical year, connecting these transgressions to the land's expulsion of the people (Lev 26:34-35). By making this explicit vow, the returned community signaled a break from past patterns of disobedience and a deep desire to restore their covenant relationship. It also highlighted a tension point between a segregated covenant community and the economic realities of interacting with "peoples of the land," forcing a conscious decision to prioritize holiness. This specific pledge also forms a legal and spiritual precedent for Nehemiah's later actions in Nehemiah 13:15-22, where he physically intervenes to enforce Sabbath observance against persistent violations. The inclusion of the debt release (Deut 15) alongside land rest signifies that the Sabbatical year was a holistic provision, balancing economic opportunity with social equity and reliance on God. This demonstrates the interweaving of spiritual devotion with practical economic and social ethics in God's law.

Nehemiah 10 31 Commentary

Nehemiah 10:31 encapsulates a critical aspect of Israel's covenant renewal following their return from exile: the commitment to sacred time and social justice, prioritizing divine law over economic expediency. The people's pledge not to trade with foreign merchants on the Sabbath or holy days directly confronts a pragmatic temptation for commercial gain. This resolve was crucial because profaning the Sabbath through commerce was a major transgression that had contributed to the exile, as highlighted by the prophets. Their vow demonstrated a conscious choice to establish God’s distinctive rhythms—rest and holiness—within their society, even if it meant forgoing immediate profit.

Moreover, their promise to observe the Sabbatical year by letting the land lie fallow and forgiving debts among Israelites revealed a profound trust in God's sustained provision and a renewed commitment to the covenant's social justice principles. This practice protected the poor, prevented perpetual indebtedness, and taught reliance on God as the ultimate provider of all resources. Both commitments—Sabbath observance and the Sabbatical year—were foundational expressions of faith and distinct markers of their identity as God's covenant people. They learned from their past failures and actively chose obedience, knowing that true prosperity and blessing lay in honoring God's ways rather than worldly pursuits.

Examples:

• Forgoing immediate gain: Choosing not to open one's business on a Sunday (a Christian day of worship) even if customers are available, trusting God's provision for the rest of the week.
• Prioritizing rest/family: Actively stepping away from work or errands to dedicate time to spiritual reflection and family on a dedicated day of rest.
• Financial stewardship/justice: Exercising generosity and wise financial stewardship, understanding that all resources come from God, and prioritizing the care for the poor and vulnerable.