Nehemiah 5:11

Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

Nehemiah 5:11 (KJV)

Context

Nehemiah served as cupbearer to the Persian king before leading the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. During that work, he heard the cries of Jewish families suffering from famine and heavy taxation. To buy food and pay the king’s tax, they had to mortgage their fields, vineyards, and homes. Wealthier Jews took advantage of this distress by lending money and charging interest, and they also demanded a “hundredth part” of the harvest as an extra burden.

Nehemiah confronted the nobles and rulers. He did not merely suggest a change; he demanded immediate action. His words “even this day” show that the injustice could not wait.

Meaning

The command to “restore” means returning what had been taken or pledged. Nehemiah lists lands, vineyards, oliveyards, and houses, covering every kind of property that families had lost. He also includes the “hundredth part” of money, corn, wine, and oil that the rulers were exacting. This was likely interest charged on loans, which the law of Moses forbade among fellow Israelites. The demand was complete: full return of property and an end to the extra charges.

Nehemiah’s appeal was rooted in the covenant law that required care for the poor and the restoration of family property. The law looked forward to the Year of Jubilee, when land would return to its original owners. By calling for restitution now, Nehemiah applied that principle to the present crisis.

Biblical connections

The law given through Moses directly addressed this kind of exploitation. Passages such as Exodus 22:25 and Leviticus 25:35-37 forbade charging interest to a fellow Israelite in need. Deuteronomy 23:19-20 repeated the same command. Nehemiah’s demand stood firmly on these earlier instructions.

Application

Nehemiah’s example challenges leaders in every setting to act justly and protect the vulnerable. Those in authority must not use their position to gain at the expense of others. Instead, they are to ensure fair treatment and to relieve burdens rather than add to them.

Believers are also called to advocate for the oppressed and to speak against injustice. Restitution is not only about returning property; it is about rebuilding trust and restoring relationships. When wrong has been done, concrete steps to make things right reflect God’s own restorative grace.

Reflection

Nehemiah’s words remind us that faith must be expressed in practical righteousness. God cares about how we treat one another in daily life, including our economic relationships. The call to restore what was wrongly taken is a call to live out mercy and justice. As we consider our own actions, we may ask whether we have ever benefited from another person’s hardship. True repentance, like the response of the rulers in Nehemiah’s day, leads to a promise and a practice of doing what is right.