Nehemiah 5:6

KJV

¶ And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

KJV (with Strong's)

And I was very {H3966} angry {H2734} when I heard {H8085} their cry {H2201} and these words {H1697}.

Complete Jewish Bible

When I heard their outcry and the reasons for it, I became very angry.

Berean Standard Bible

When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry,

American Standard Version

And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Nehemiah 5:6 captures the intense, righteous indignation of Nehemiah, the governor of Judah, upon learning of the severe economic oppression and debt slavery afflicting the poorer Jewish families at the hands of their wealthier brethren. This verse marks a critical pivot in the narrative, shifting the focus from external threats to the internal moral and social breakdown within the covenant community, revealing Nehemiah's deep pastoral heart and commitment to justice.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Nehemiah 5:6 serves as the emotional climax and turning point following the detailed grievances articulated in [Nehemiah 5:1-5](/nehemiah/5-1 "Nehemiah 5:1-5 - The People's Grievances"). Prior to this, the book of Nehemiah primarily focuses on the external challenges to the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, including ridicule, threats, and plots from Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, as described in [Nehemiah 4](/nehemiah/4 "Nehemiah 4 - Opposition to the Rebuilding"). The people had been working diligently, weapons in hand, to overcome these external foes. However, Nehemiah 5 unveils a more insidious threat: internal injustice and exploitation that undermines the very fabric of the community. Nehemiah's anger in this verse directly precedes his decisive actions to confront the nobles and officials, as detailed in [Nehemiah 5:7-13](/nehemiah/5-7 "Nehemiah 5:7-13 - Nehemiah's Confrontation and Reform"), demonstrating his transition from an architectural leader to a social reformer.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Nehemiah 5 unfold in post-exilic Judah, likely around 445 BC, during the reign of Artaxerxes I. The Jewish community, having returned from Babylonian exile, was striving to re-establish itself under Persian suzerainty. This period was characterized by economic hardship, exacerbated by famine, heavy Persian taxes, and the ongoing labor of rebuilding the city. In this environment, the wealthy among the returnees exploited their less fortunate kin by lending money at exorbitant interest (usury), forcing them to mortgage their fields and vineyards, and ultimately to sell their sons and daughters into debt slavery to survive. This practice, while common in the ancient Near East, was explicitly forbidden among Israelites by Mosaic Law, particularly concerning interest on loans to fellow Israelites and the permanent enslavement of a brother ([Exodus 22:25](/exodus/22-25 "Exodus 22:25 - Loans to the Poor"), [Leviticus 25:35-38](/leviticus/25-35 "Leviticus 25:35-38 - Laws on Lending and Redemption"), [Deuteronomy 23:19-20](/deuteronomy/23-19 "Deuteronomy 23:19-20 - Prohibition of Usury")). Nehemiah's reaction must be understood against this backdrop of covenantal violation and social injustice.

* **Key Themes:** Nehemiah 5:6 powerfully highlights several key themes central to the book of Nehemiah and broader biblical theology. Firstly, **Righteous Indignation** is prominently displayed. Nehemiah's anger is not a sinful outburst but a holy, Spirit-prompted response to grave injustice, mirroring God's own displeasure with oppression and covenant breaking. Secondly, the passage underscores the critical importance of **Social Justice and Economic Fairness** within the covenant community. The exploitation of the vulnerable, especially by those who should be their protectors, is depicted as a severe offense against God's law and the very spirit of communal solidarity. This theme resonates throughout the Old Testament prophets who consistently condemned the abuse of the poor ([Amos 2:6-7](/amos/2-6 "Amos 2:6-7 - Injustice of Israel"), [Isaiah 1:17](/isaiah/1-17 "Isaiah 1:17 - Seek Justice")). Finally, the verse exemplifies **Compassionate and Decisive Leadership**. Nehemiah embodies a leader who is deeply attuned to the suffering of his people, willing to listen to their cries, and courageous enough to confront powerful wrongdoers, channeling his strong emotion into effective action for reform ([Nehemiah 5:7-13](/nehemiah/5-7 "Nehemiah 5:7-13 - Nehemiah's Bold Action")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Angry (Hebrew, _ḥārāh'_):** The Hebrew word חָרָה (*ḥārāh*) literally means "to burn," "to be kindled," or "to be hot." When used of emotions, it denotes a strong, intense heat of displeasure or indignation. In this context, it signifies a deep, righteous anger, not an uncontrolled, sinful rage. It is the kind of anger that arises from a moral offense and often leads to decisive action, similar to how this word is used to describe God's anger against sin and injustice in other parts of the Old Testament (e.g., [Exodus 32:10](/exodus/32-10 "Exodus 32:10 - God's Anger at Idolatry"), [Numbers 11:1](/numbers/11-1 "Numbers 11:1 - God's Anger at Complaining")). Nehemiah's anger is a reflection of God's own character, a holy zeal for justice and the well-being of His people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And I was very angry":** This phrase immediately conveys the intensity and depth of Nehemiah's emotional response. The adverb "very" emphasizes that this was no fleeting irritation but a profound, visceral reaction. His anger was not born of personal offense but of a deep moral outrage at the injustice being perpetrated within the community he governed. It highlights his empathy and his alignment with God's heart for justice.
* **"when I heard their cry":** This refers to the desperate pleas and lamentations of the people, specifically the poor and oppressed. The word "cry" (צְעָקָה, *tse'aqah*) often denotes a cry for help or a lament due to distress or injustice, frequently directed towards God or a deliverer (e.g., [Exodus 2:23](/exodus/2-23 "Exodus 2:23 - The Israelites' Cry in Egypt"), [Judges 3:9](/judges/3-9 "Judges 3:9 - Israel's Cry to God")). Nehemiah, as God's appointed leader, hears this cry and is moved to action, mirroring God's own responsiveness to the cries of His people.
* **"and these words":** This phrase points to the specific, detailed grievances outlined in [Nehemiah 5:1-5](/nehemiah/5-1 "Nehemiah 5:1-5 - The Specific Grievances"). The "words" were not vague complaints but explicit accusations of debt, usury, mortgaging of lands, and the selling of children into slavery by their fellow Jews. Nehemiah's anger is therefore not an uninformed reaction but a direct, considered response to concrete evidence of widespread, systemic injustice and covenantal violation.

#### Literary Devices
Nehemiah 5:6 effectively employs **Emotional Resonance** to draw the reader into the gravity of the situation. By explicitly stating Nehemiah's intense anger, the text invites the audience to share in his righteous indignation, underscoring the severity of the injustice. The verse also functions as a pivot, utilizing **Juxtaposition** by sharply contrasting the external threats and unified effort of wall-building in previous chapters with the internal moral decay and social division now revealed. This highlights that the greatest danger to God's people can often come from within. Furthermore, Nehemiah's anger itself serves as a powerful **Symbolism** of God's own holy wrath against injustice and oppression, positioning Nehemiah as a representative of divine justice on earth.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Nehemiah's righteous anger in [Nehemiah 5:6](/nehemiah/5-6 "Nehemiah 5:6 - Nehemiah's Righteous Anger") is deeply rooted in biblical theology, reflecting God's own character and His unwavering commitment to justice within His covenant community. It underscores that true faith is not merely personal piety but extends to social responsibility and the active pursuit of righteousness in human relationships. The exploitation of the poor and vulnerable, especially by those who share the same faith, is a profound violation of God's law and a betrayal of the covenant. Nehemiah's response demonstrates that a leader's compassion for the oppressed and zeal for God's standards should translate into decisive action against injustice, serving as a model for all believers to cultivate a sensitivity to suffering and to act as advocates for the marginalized.

* [Deuteronomy 15:7-8](/deuteronomy/15-7 "Lending to the Poor")
* [Proverbs 31:8-9](/proverbs/31-8 "Speak for the Voiceless")
* [Amos 5:24](/amos/5-24 "Justice Rolls Down")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Nehemiah 5:6 challenges believers today to cultivate a similar righteous indignation against injustice, particularly within the church and broader society. It serves as a powerful reminder that our faith is not disconnected from the realities of economic disparity, social exploitation, or systemic oppression. Like Nehemiah, we are called to listen to the "cry" of the marginalized, to understand the "words" of their suffering, and to allow a holy anger to stir within us, not leading to sin, but to prayerful, decisive, and compassionate action. This means actively seeking to understand the plight of the vulnerable, advocating for fair practices, and using our influence to dismantle systems that perpetuate injustice, always guided by biblical principles and a deep love for God and neighbor.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What specific injustices in our world or within our communities stir a righteous anger within us, similar to Nehemiah's?**
* **How can we discern between sinful anger and a holy, righteous indignation that leads to constructive action?**
* **In what practical ways can we, as individuals and as a church, better "hear the cry" of the oppressed and respond with compassion and a commitment to justice?**

### FAQ

**Was Nehemiah's anger sinful, or was it a righteous emotion?**

Answer: Nehemiah's anger, as described in [Nehemiah 5:6](/nehemiah/5-6 "Nehemiah 5:6 - Nehemiah's Righteous Anger"), was a righteous indignation, not a sinful outburst of rage. The Hebrew word *ḥārāh* (חָרָה), translated "very angry," indicates a burning displeasure often associated with a moral offense. Unlike sinful anger, which is self-serving, uncontrolled, or leads to destructive behavior, righteous anger is a holy response to injustice, sin, and the violation of God's standards. It is characterized by its focus on God's glory and the well-being of others. The Bible shows examples of righteous anger in figures like Moses ([Exodus 32:19](/exodus/32-19 "Exodus 32:19 - Moses's Anger at the Golden Calf")) and even Jesus Himself ([Mark 3:5](/mark/3-5 "Mark 3:5 - Jesus's Anger at Hardness of Heart"), [John 2:13-17](/john/2-13 "John 2:13-17 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple")). Nehemiah's anger immediately propelled him into wise and decisive action to address the injustice, demonstrating its righteous nature.

**What was the specific "cry and these words" that provoked Nehemiah's anger?**

Answer: The "cry and these words" refer to the detailed grievances presented by the people to Nehemiah, explicitly outlined in [Nehemiah 5:1-5](/nehemiah/5-1 "Nehemiah 5:1-5 - The People's Specific Grievances"). These were not vague complaints but specific accusations of severe economic oppression. The people, facing famine and heavy Persian taxes, had been forced to mortgage their fields, vineyards, and homes to their wealthier Jewish brethren to obtain food and pay taxes. Furthermore, many had been compelled to sell their sons and daughters into debt slavery to repay these loans, a practice explicitly forbidden by Mosaic Law among Israelites for permanent servitude ([Leviticus 25:39-40](/leviticus/25-39 "Leviticus 25:39-40 - Laws on Hebrew Servants")). This internal exploitation, amidst the external threat of rebuilding the wall, was a profound betrayal of covenantal solidarity and deeply offended Nehemiah's sense of justice.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Nehemiah's righteous anger and his subsequent advocacy for the oppressed in [Nehemiah 5:6](/nehemiah/5-6 "Nehemiah 5:6 - Nehemiah's Righteous Anger") find their ultimate fulfillment and perfect expression in Jesus Christ. While Nehemiah acted as a governor and reformer, Jesus is the divine King and ultimate deliverer who perfectly embodies holy indignation against all forms of injustice and oppression. Just as Nehemiah was moved by the "cry" of his people enslaved by debt, Jesus came to proclaim freedom to the captives and release to the oppressed ([Luke 4:18-19](/luke/4-18 "Luke 4:18-19 - Jesus's Mission Statement")). His cleansing of the temple ([Matthew 21:12-13](/matthew/21-12 "Matthew 21:12-13 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple")) demonstrates a righteous anger against those who exploit others in the name of religion. More profoundly, Jesus addressed the ultimate form of slavery—slavery to sin—through His atoning sacrifice, offering true liberty and redemption to all who believe ([John 8:34-36](/john/8-34 "John 8:34-36 - Freedom from Sin"), [Galatians 5:1](/galatians/5-1 "Galatians 5:1 - Freedom in Christ")). He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, including the sin of injustice, and He is the one who will ultimately establish a kingdom where righteousness dwells and there is no more crying or suffering ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Nehemiah 13:25

And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, [saying], Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

Numbers 16:15

And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

Exodus 11:8

And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.

Ephesians 4:26

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Mark 3:5

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched [it] out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Nehemiah 13:8

And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.