Neh 5:7 | NETfull | STEP | I considered these things carefully and then registered a complaint with the wealthy and the officials. I said to them, “Each one of you is seizing the collateral from your own countrymen!” Because of them I called for a great public assembly.

Nehemiah 5:7

7 I considered these things carefully ^{▼▼ Heb “my heart was advised upon me.”} and then registered a complaint with the wealthy ^{▼▼ Heb “nobles.”} and the officials. I said to them, “Each one of you is seizing the collateral ^{▼▼ Heb “taking a creditor’s debt.” The Hebrew noun מַשָּׁא (masha’) means “interest; debt” and probably refers to the collateral (pledge) collected by a creditor (HALOT 641-42 s.v.). This particular noun form appears only in Nehemiah (5:7, 10; 10:32); however, it is related to מַשָּׁאָה (masha’ah, “contractual loan; debt; collateral”) which appears elsewhere (Deut 24:10; Prov 22:26; cf. Neh 5:11). See the note on the word “people” at the end of v. 5. The BHS editors suggest emending the MT to מָשָׂא (masa’, “burden”), following several medieval Hebrew MSS; however, the result is not entirely clear: “you are bearing a burden, a man with his brothers.”} from your own countrymen!” ^{▼▼ Heb “his brothers.”} Because of them I called for ^{▼▼ Heb “I gave.”} a great public assembly.