Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 5:9

Also I said, It [is] not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?

9. Also I said ] ‘And I said.’ The C’thib in the Hebrew text (which is probably due to an error of transcription) gives the meaning ‘and it was said,’ i.e. by Nehemiah. The rendering ‘and I said’ follows the reading of the K’ri, LXX., Vulg.

It is not good that ye do ] R.V. The thing that ye do Is not good. The R.V. rendering is in itself preferable to that of the A.V. In addition it enables the English reader to recognize the exact correspondence of this clause with words in Exo 18:17. The sentence is so simple that too much must not be made of the resemblance. But the supposition that Nehemiah’s words perhaps unconsciously repeated a familiar sentence from ‘the book of the law’ is not to be lightly dismissed. That the words of Jethro to Moses should be used by Nehemiah to the money-lenders indicates the courtesy of his expostulation. Fiercer language would have only exasperated them.

ought ye not, &c.] or ‘will ye, or should ye, not,’ &c.

walk in the fear of our God ] This precise phrase does not, apparently, occur elsewhere in the O. T. It condenses the thought of Deu 10:12, ‘And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways,’ (cf. Neh 8:6). We find it in the N. T. in Act 9:31, ‘The church walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost was multiplied.’ ‘The fear of God,’ cf. Neh 5:15. ‘The fear of the Lord ’ is the usual expression, espec. in Pss. and Prov. ‘The fear of God,’ cf. Gen 20:11; 2Sa 23:3 ; 2Ch 26:5, R.V. Marg. The fear of God’s hatred of oppression should be before the eyes of all. Cf. Pro 14:31, ‘He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker.’

because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies ] Though the general sense is obvious, there is some uncertainty as to the exact shade of meaning to be attached to these words. (1) It may mean ‘on account of the reproach wherewith our enemies have reproached us; since, so long as we have not walked in the fear of our God, we have been feeble and weak and have deserved the reproach of our enemies. If we walk in His fear, He will bless us and remove the cause of their reproach.’ Cf. chap. Neh 4:4. (2) It may mean ‘for fear of incurring the just reproach of our enemies,’ seeing that, if they hear of your cruel and ungenerous action to your brethren, they will have good cause to rebuke and ridicule our people. Cf. Neh 6:13.

‘the heathen our enemies.’ On ‘the heathen’ see Neh 5:8. The two words are only here combined in these books. For ‘our enemies’ cf. Neh 4:15, Neh 6:1; Neh 6:16. For the general meaning see 2Sa 12:14, ‘thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.’ Cf. Isa 52:5.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Neh 5:9

Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?

Jealousy for the honour of God

There was much good sense and Christian wisdom in the reply which was once given to a dignitary of our Church by a simple rural pastor. The latter had said to the former, If you act so, what will the people say? The reply was, Do you care what the people say? The rejoinder of the plain man was, I care as little as any man what the people say; but I care a great deal what the people have a right to say. How just the distinction! Human opinion ought to have no weight with us when it contravenes duty; but it ought to weigh much with us when we incur its censure by the violation of duty. The ungodly will judge chiefly of Christianity by those who profess it, and be largely won or scandalised by the manner in which it is adorned or disgraced by them. (Hugh Stowell, M. A.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Verse 9. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God] If ye wish to accredit that religion ye profess which comes from the God of justice and mercy; should you not, in the sight of the heathen, abstain from injustice and cruelty? Can they credit your profession, when they see such practices? The inconsistent conduct of some professors of religion does much harm in the Church of God.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

It is not good, i. e. it is a very bad and wicked thing; as this same phrase is used, Pro 16:29; 17:26; 18:5; 19:2. A common figure, called meiosis, where more is understood than is expressed.

Because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies; who are round about you, and observe all your actions, and will loath and reproach both you for such barbarous usage of your brethren, and religion for your sakes; which, if you have any love or respect either to God or to yourselves, you will prevent.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

Also I said, it is not good that ye do,…. The meaning is, that it was very bad; it is a “meiosis”, by which more is intended than is expressed:

ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God; in reverence of him and his law, and according to that:

because of the reproach of the Heathen our enemies? whose mouths will be open to reproach the true religion, and the good ways of God; and say, these are the men that pretend to fear God, and serve him, and yet break his law, and use their brethren ill, see Ro 2:24.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(9) Because of the reproach.The text of another strong argument used in the assembly. We learn in Nehemiah 6 how watchful the heathen were: all matters were reported to them, and every act of oppression would become a reproach against the God of the Jews.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

9. Walk in the fear of our God Have all your conduct show reverence for God, and fear to break his laws.

Because of the reproach of the heathen That is, lest ye make yourselves an occasion of reproach among the heathen, and they say: These Jews despise their own laws by oppressing their own brethren.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Neh 5:9 Also I said, It [is] not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?

Ver. 9. Also I said, It is not good that ye do No oratory is so powerful as that of mildness. The drops that fall easily upon the corn ripen and fill the ear; when hasty showers lay all flat to the earth, without hope of recovery. Gregory hath observed, that they that could not be cured with strong potions have been recovered with warm water. Reprovers of others must deal warily, as bone-setters; and as we take a mote out of one’s eye.

Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God ] Which would have reined you in, and restrained you from such exorbitancies. Gen 42:18 , You need not fear me, said Joseph to his brethren, for I fear God, and therefore dare do you no hurt. Ye shall not oppress one another; “but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the Lord your God,” Lev 25:17 . And “will ye not tremble at my presence?” saith the Lord, Jer 5:22 . “Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,” Psa 114:7 . Oppressors are called Canaanites, Hos 12:7 . He is Canaan that is a mere natural man, utterly void of God’s holy fear, Eze 16:3 , the balances of deceit are in his hand; be loveth to oppress. To him that is afflicted pity should be showed from his friend (as it should have been to these poor Jews from their hard-hearted countrymen and kinsmen), but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty, and is therefore merciless.

Because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? ] Who watch for our halting more earnestly than a dog doth for a bone, and will be glad of any occasion to speak evil of us and of our religion, with, These are your professors, &c. You see what tyrants and tigers they are one to another. Hereby the banks of blasphemy will be broken down in them, to speak evil with open mouth of the name of God. And will ye trample upon that dear and dread name?

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

do = are doing.

ought ye . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

It is not: 1Sa 2:24, Pro 16:29, Pro 17:26, Pro 18:5, Pro 19:2, Pro 24:23

walk: Neh 5:15, Gen 20:11, Gen 42:18, Lev 25:36, Act 9:31

reproach: Gen 13:7, Gen 13:8, 2Sa 12:14, Eze 36:20, Rom 2:24, 1Ti 5:14, Tit 2:5, 1Pe 2:12

Reciprocal: Exo 18:21 – such as Lev 25:17 – fear Deu 25:18 – feared 1Sa 17:26 – reproach 2Ch 13:5 – Ought ye not Psa 89:41 – he is Pro 16:6 – by the 1Co 6:6 – brother Eph 5:21 – in Eph 6:9 – ye Col 3:22 – fearing Tit 2:8 – that he

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Neh 5:9. It is not good that ye do Though you get money by it, you contract guilt, and expose yourselves to the displeasure of God; ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God? Certainly you ought, for you profess religion and relation to him; and if you do walk in his fear, you will neither be covetous of worldly gain, nor cruel toward your brethren. They that live in the fear of God, will not dare to do an ill thing. Because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies Who are round about you, and are enemies to us, our God, and our religion. They observe all your actions, and will reproach both you for such barbarous usage of your brethren, and religion for your sakes.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

5:9 {i} Also I said, It [is] not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the {k} reproach of the heathen our enemies?

(i) Meaning, Nehemiah.

(k) Who by this occasion will blaspheme the Name of God, seeing that our actions are no better than theirs.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes