Nehemiah 5 13

Nehemiah 5:13 kjv

Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

Nehemiah 5:13 nkjv

Then I shook out the fold of my garment and said, "So may God shake out each man from his house, and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said, "Amen!" and praised the LORD. Then the people did according to this promise.

Nehemiah 5:13 niv

I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!" At this the whole assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

Nehemiah 5:13 esv

I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, "So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said "Amen" and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

Nehemiah 5:13 nlt

I shook out the folds of my robe and said, "If you fail to keep your promise, may God shake you like this from your homes and from your property!" The whole assembly responded, "Amen," and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

Nehemiah 5 verses

Nehemiah 5 13 Meaning

Nehemiah 5:13 records Nehemiah's solemn and symbolic action of shaking out his lap, symbolizing a public curse upon those who would break their promise to alleviate the people's economic distress. He invokes God to similarly dispossess and empty out anyone failing to uphold their pledge. The assembly’s resounding "Amen" affirmed their agreement to this judgment and commitment to the promise, followed by their praise to God and the subsequent execution of their word.

Nehemiah 5 13 Context

Nehemiah 5 describes a significant internal crisis during the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. While facing external opposition from surrounding nations, a severe economic problem arose among the Jewish community. The wealthier Jews and nobles were exploiting their poorer brethren, lending money at high interest rates, causing the impoverished to mortgage their fields, vineyards, and homes, and even sell their children into slavery to pay royal taxes and repay debts. This oppressive behavior contradicted God's Law (e.g., Exod 22:25, Lev 25:36-37, Deut 23:19-20). Nehemiah, upon hearing their desperate cries, became greatly distressed. He confronted the nobles and officials, demanding an end to this usury and exploitation, insisting that the mortgaged properties be returned and the interest abolished. This verse (5:13) marks the solemn moment when Nehemiah secured the people's agreement to these terms through a public oath, reinforcing its gravity with a symbolic act and an invoked curse, to which the assembly enthusiastically affirmed their commitment. It highlights Nehemiah’s just leadership and the people’s subsequent obedience.

Word Analysis

• Also: Connects this action to the previous verses, showing it as a crucial step in resolving the dispute.
• I shook out: (Hebrew: וַיִּנְעַר – wayyin‘ar from verb נָעַר - na‘ar). This verb means to shake, shake out, shake off, or cast off. It implies a violent, decisive motion to dislodge something. Symbolically, it means to completely rid oneself of something or someone, often connected with judgment or separation (e.g., Isa 33:15, Acts 18:6).
• my lap: (Hebrew: חֵיקִי – ḥeqī from חֵיק - ḥeq). The 'lap' here refers to the fold of one's outer garment, which was often used as a pocket or container for carrying items (e.g., goods, grain, money). Shaking out one's lap meant emptying it completely, indicating removal or destruction of contents. In this context, it visually represented the utter desolation or emptying of the disobedient person and their possessions.
• and said: Introduces Nehemiah’s pronouncement, giving verbal authority to the symbolic act.
• So may God shake out: Reiterates the action, but now as a divine judgment. The action of shaking out signifies dispossessing or expelling.
• every man from his house: The 'house' (Hebrew: בֵּיתוֹ - bēytô from בַּיִת - bayit) here refers to a family, household, or dwelling, signifying their place of security and belonging. This phrase points to ultimate displacement and homelessness.
• and from his property: (Hebrew: מִיגִיעוֹ - mîgî‘ô from יָגִיעַ - yāgîa‘). This term literally means 'his gain' or 'that which he has acquired by labor'. It refers to all his movable wealth, possessions, and livelihood. The curse includes the loss of everything accumulated.
• who does not perform this promise: Emphasizes the condition for the curse: failure to uphold the covenant they just made to cease exploitation and return pledged property. "Perform" (Hebrew: יָקֶם - yāqem from קוּם - qûm) means to establish, confirm, fulfill, or uphold.
• even thus may he be shaken out and emptied: Reemphasizes the total, violent, and complete dispossession. "Emptied" (Hebrew: נָקֶה - nāqeh) suggests being utterly bare or innocent of possession, or left desolate. It reinforces the idea of complete deprivation, a visual parallel to the empty fold of the garment.
• And all the assembly: Indicates the broad participation and agreement of the entire community, representing Israel's covenant solidarity.
• said, "Amen!": (Hebrew: אָמֵן - āmēn). A transliterated Hebrew word meaning "so be it," "truth," "certainly," or "may it be established." In this context, it signifies communal agreement, affirmation, and ratification of the spoken curse and commitment, effectively making them parties to the oath and subject to its terms. It makes the oath binding on them all.
• And praised the Lord: Their praise indicates acceptance of God's justice and sovereignty over their agreement, showing they recognized God's hand in this resolution and expected His blessing on their obedience.
• And the people did according to this promise: Crucially, the verse concludes with a verification of immediate obedience. This shows their integrity and God's empowering grace, making the solemn agreement effective.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Also I shook out my lap and said": This sequence establishes Nehemiah's leadership in both symbolic action and verbal declaration, making the commitment undeniably clear and public. It links his physical action to his invoked prayer/curse.
• "So may God shake out every man from his house and from his property who does not perform this promise, even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.": This comprehensive curse details the dire consequences for breaking the promise – total loss of stability, home, and all accumulated wealth. The repetition of "shake out" and the addition of "emptied" underscore the severity of the divine judgment, emphasizing that breaking a solemn promise, especially concerning justice, has profound ramifications orchestrated by God Himself.
• "And all the assembly said, 'Amen!' And praised the Lord.": This dual response highlights communal endorsement and spiritual submission. The "Amen" makes them active participants in the oath, binding themselves to its conditions. The "praise" indicates that they saw the resolution and the potential for justice as divine work, reinforcing their covenant relationship with God.
• "And the people did according to this promise.": This short concluding statement is vital. It testifies to the immediate effectiveness of the solemn act and oath. It demonstrates genuine repentance and commitment, moving from promise to action, which is fundamental to true faith and covenant obedience in biblical understanding.

Nehemiah 5 13 Bonus section

The concept of shaking out garments or dust (e.g., Acts 18:6, Matt 10:14) often symbolizes a separation or renunciation, indicating that the person performing the action absolves themselves of responsibility for the fate of those upon whom the judgment falls. In Nehemiah's case, it serves both as a public commitment of leadership integrity and a severe warning, distancing himself from complicity should others fail. The binding nature of an oath in ancient Israel was extremely strong, rooted in the belief that God was a witness to all agreements, particularly those invoked in His name (Mal 3:5). Breaking such an oath was an affront to God and carried significant divine judgment, which is precisely what Nehemiah prayed for against potential violators. This event illustrates the holistic nature of biblical faith: spiritual revival must lead to social justice and ethical behavior (e.g., Amos 5:24, Mic 6:8). The immediate compliance signifies a deep societal transformation, fueled by a renewed fear of God.

Nehemiah 5 13 Commentary

Nehemiah 5:13 captures a pivotal moment of crisis resolution in Israel. Nehemiah, as a righteous leader, understood that mere verbal agreement was insufficient for such a grave matter involving deep-seated injustice and God’s Law. His symbolic act of shaking out his garment and invoking a curse, paralleling the removal of contents from a garment to the dispossessing of one’s property, served as a powerful visual aid for the serious nature of the oath. This ancient Near Eastern practice made abstract promises concrete and visually terrifying regarding the consequences of disobedience. The 'Amen' from the entire assembly was more than agreement; it was a self-imprecation, drawing the potential curse upon themselves if they failed. Their subsequent praise affirmed God’s righteous judgment and acknowledged His sovereign role in demanding justice among His people. The immediate obedience ("the people did according to this promise") testifies to the power of conviction, a Spirit-prompted fear of God's judgment, and effective leadership that unites people in a commitment to righteousness, illustrating that true repentance leads to tangible action. It demonstrates that biblical oaths are not to be taken lightly but have divine repercussions for breach.