Nehemiah 5 12

Nehemiah 5:12 kjv

Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.

Nehemiah 5:12 nkjv

So they said, "We will restore it, and will require nothing from them; we will do as you say." Then I called the priests, and required an oath from them that they would do according to this promise.

Nehemiah 5:12 niv

"We will give it back," they said. "And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say." Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised.

Nehemiah 5:12 esv

Then they said, "We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say." And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised.

Nehemiah 5:12 nlt

They replied, "We will give back everything and demand nothing more from the people. We will do as you say." Then I called the priests and made the nobles and officials swear to do what they had promised.

Nehemiah 5 verses

Nehemiah 5 12 Meaning

Nehemiah 5:12 records the solemn agreement made by the Jewish nobles and officials. After Nehemiah's powerful rebuke regarding their exploitative practices, they declare their commitment to fully restore the properties (fields, vineyards, olive orchards, houses) taken from their poor brethren, and further, to cease all demands for the interest or principal they had wrongfully levied. This statement signifies their acceptance of Nehemiah's challenge to rectify their injustices and abide by God's law. To ensure the sincerity and binding nature of their promise, Nehemiah then called the priests to witness, and he administered an oath, making the nobles swear before God that they would indeed fulfill their pledge. This act transformed a verbal promise into a sacred covenant.

Nehemiah 5 12 Context

Nehemiah 5:12 is situated within a critical passage (Neh 5:1-19) that addresses a severe internal crisis threatening the Jewish community's unity and the progress of the wall-rebuilding project. Despite external opposition, the most pressing threat arose from within: economic exploitation by Jewish nobles and officials. Facing a famine, heavy Persian taxes, and high food prices, many common people were forced to mortgage their fields, vineyards, and houses, and even sell their children into debt-slavery to their wealthier Jewish brethren. This was a direct violation of Mosaic law prohibiting interest (usury) on loans to fellow Israelites, especially the poor. Nehemiah, hearing the people's "great outcry" (v. 1), responded with indignation (v. 6), confronting the nobles and demanding an immediate cessation of these oppressive practices and full restitution. Verse 12 describes their capitulation and Nehemiah's wise action to solemnize their promise, ensuring accountability. The broader historical context is post-exilic Judah, returning under Persian rule to rebuild Jerusalem, a task requiring immense communal solidarity, which was undermined by such economic injustice.

Nehemiah 5 12 Word analysis

• "Then they said": Refers to the "nobles and officials" of Judah mentioned in Nehemiah 5:7. Their initial reaction to Nehemiah's powerful rebuke (vv. 7-11) was silence (v. 8), followed by this verbal agreement. This indicates that Nehemiah's words, perhaps coupled with the gravity of their sin before God and men, had a profound impact.
• "We will restore them": The Hebrew word for "restore" is shuv (שׁוּב), meaning to return, bring back, or turn. Here, it signifies a complete reversal of their unjust actions—returning not only the mortgaged properties but also implies making right the oppressive situation they created. "Them" refers specifically to the fields, vineyards, olive orchards, and houses, as well as the children sold into slavery, which Nehemiah demanded to be returned in Nehemiah 5:11. This act aligns with biblical principles of restitution (Num 5:7, Lk 19:8).
• "and will require nothing of them": The word "require" is nagash (נָגַשׁ), which can mean to press, approach for a debt, or exact. In this context, it means they would not demand the return of any loan or interest. This goes beyond mere property return; it signifies a full forgiveness of the principal and usury, which were levied against God's law (Lev 25:36-37). It shows a cessation of their oppressive demands, allowing the poor to truly be free of their burden.
• "We will do as you say": This expresses their submission to Nehemiah's righteous authority and his command, which was implicitly understood as representing God's will. It demonstrates their agreement to abide by his judgment, marking a shift from exploitative actions to (at least declared) obedience.
• "And I called the priests": Nehemiah involved the priests (Hebrew kohanim, כֹּהֲנִים) as official witnesses. Priests were the guardians of God's Law and officiators in sacred matters. Their presence conferred religious gravity and solemnity on the agreement, signifying that this was not merely a civil contract but a covenant sworn before God, to be upheld according to His divine commandments.
• "and made them swear": The verb "swear" is shava (שָׁבַע), meaning to take an oath, usually by invoking the name of God, thus bringing God in as a witness and guarantor of the promise. This made the commitment religiously binding and placed them under a divine curse if they were to renege on their promise (Deut 23:21). This adds immense weight and spiritual accountability to their verbal declaration.
• "to do as they had promised": This phrase directly links the solemn oath to their preceding verbal promise, reinforcing the specific nature of their commitment: restitution of properties and forgiveness of all debts.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Then they said, 'We will restore them, and will require nothing of them. We will do as you say.'": This is the heart of their repentance and agreement. It is a full public confession of their intent to reverse their wrongful actions. The comprehensive nature of "restore them" and "require nothing" indicates a full embrace of Nehemiah's demands for complete restorative justice and adherence to God's law regarding usury and care for the poor. The concluding "We will do as you say" shows their capitulation to righteous leadership, even if prompted by public pressure and a desire to avoid further rebuke.
• "And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised.": This phrase describes Nehemiah's prudent and spiritually astute move. He did not simply accept their verbal promise at face value but established a formal, religious procedure to secure it. Involving the priests elevates the agreement from a mere human promise to a divinely witnessed and therefore enforceable oath, grounding it firmly in the Mosaic covenant. This demonstrates Nehemiah's wisdom in leadership, ensuring accountability and preventing future backsliding by invoking divine oversight and judgment over their pledged actions.

Nehemiah 5 12 Bonus section

• The severity of the situation is further emphasized by the explicit mention of sons and daughters being enslaved due to debt (Neh 5:5), which deeply grieved Nehemiah. The nobles' agreement to "restore them" includes these individuals, highlighting a full release from such bondage, embodying a form of redemption.
• This verse showcases Nehemiah's approach to leadership: he first rebukes the sin (Neh 5:7-8), then presents God's expectation for righteousness (Neh 5:9-11), receives their commitment (Neh 5:12a), and finally solidifies that commitment with a sacred act (Neh 5:12b). This layered approach ensures both conviction and concrete accountability.
• The immediate and positive response of the nobles (saying "we will restore" immediately) may suggest the immense moral authority Nehemiah possessed and the palpable presence of the Lord in the situation. Their actions were less likely forced and more a product of internal conviction sparked by Nehemiah's passionate and righteous plea.
• The presence of the "priests" ensured that this was not merely a secular or governmental promise, but a covenant under Mosaic law, implying potential religious repercussions (divine judgment or public censure from the priesthood) if violated.

Nehemiah 5 12 Commentary

Nehemiah 5:12 marks a critical turning point in the internal conflict faced by the Jewish community in Jerusalem. It signifies the success of Nehemiah's bold and righteous confrontation against economic injustice. The nobles and officials, despite their initial silence, submit to Nehemiah's demand for full restitution and debt forgiveness. This outcome wasn't simply a negotiation but a recognition, perhaps divinely prompted, of their breach of God's law. Nehemiah's wisdom in administering a solemn oath through the priests highlights his spiritual foresight. He understood that human promises, particularly from those in positions of power who benefited from their past actions, required more than good intentions. The oath, taken before God, provided a powerful deterrent against future transgression and bound them under divine accountability, safeguarding the well-being of the poor. This verse is a testament to the power of conviction, a commitment to biblical justice, and prudent leadership in ensuring that good intentions translate into righteous actions. It underscores the Lord's expectation that promises, especially those concerning justice and care for the vulnerable, be kept with utmost integrity.