Nehemiah 10:31

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

They pledged not to give their daughters in marriage to the peoples of the land or to take their daughters for their sons.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַאֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־נִתֵּ֥ן בְּנֹתֵ֖ינוּ לְעַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ וְאֶת־בְּנֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם לֹ֥א נִקַּ֖ח לְבָנֵֽינוּ׃

Transliteration

And that waʾăšer not nittēn our bənōtênû to the ləʿammê hāʾāreṣ, and their bənôtêhem not niqqaḥ for our ləbānênû.

Grammar Details

• *waʾăšer*: conjunction + relative particle - and that
• *nittēn*: Qal imperfect 1st person plural - we will give
• *bənōtênû*: noun feminine plural + 1st person plural suffix - our daughters
• *ləʿammê*: preposition + noun masculine plural construct - to the peoples of
• *hāʾāreṣ*: definite article + noun feminine singular - the land
• *bənôtêhem*: noun feminine plural + 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their daughters
• *niqqaḥ*: Qal imperfect 1st person plural - we will take
• *ləbānênû*: preposition + noun masculine plural + 1st person plural suffix - for our sons

Word Meanings

• *ʿammê hāʾāreṣ*: peoples of the land/non-Israelite inhabitants

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And if the people of the land bring goods or any food on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would forgo the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And yf ye people of the lode broughte ware on the Sabbath, and all maner of vytayles to sell, that we wolde not take it of them on the Sabbath and on the holy dayes. And that we wolde let the seueth yeare be fre concernynge all maner of charge.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And if the people of the lande brought ware on the Sabbath, or any vitailes to sell, that we would not take it of them on the Sabbath and on the holy dayes: and that we would let the seuenth yeere be free, and the debtes of euery person.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And if the people of the land brought ware on the Sabbath, and all maner vitailes to sell, that we would not take it of them on the Sabbath and on the holy dayes, and that we would let the seuenth yere be free, and the debtes of euery person.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And [if] the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, [that] we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and [that] we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and the peoples of the land who are bringing in the wares and any corn on the sabbath-day to sell, we receive not of them on the sabbath, and on a holy day, and we leave the seventh year, and usury on every hand.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And if the peoples of the lands come to do trade in goods or food on the Sabbath day, that we would do no trade with them on the Sabbath or on a holy day: and that in the seventh year we would take no payment from any debtor.

• World English Bible (2000)

  and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  We will not buy on the Sabbath or on a holy day from the neighboring peoples who bring their wares and all kinds of grain to sell on the Sabbath day. We will let the fields lie fallow every seventh year, and we will cancel every loan.

Referenced Verses

• Neh 13:15-22 : 15 In those days, I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath, bringing in heaps of grain, loading them on donkeys, as well as carrying wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, bringing them into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So, I warned them on the day they were selling their provisions. 16 People from Tyre who lived there were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah and in Jerusalem. 17 I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this wicked thing you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day? 18 Didn’t your ancestors do the same, so that our God brought all this disaster upon us and upon this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath!" 19 When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and directed that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I stationed some of my men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Once or twice, the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares spent the night outside Jerusalem. 21 But I warned them and said, "Why are you spending the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will lay hands on you." From that time on, they did not come on the Sabbath. 22 Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and to guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me also for this, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.
• Exod 23:10-11 : 10 For six years you are to sow your land and gather its produce. 11 But during the seventh year, you are to let it rest and leave it unplowed, so that the poor among your people may eat, and whatever they leave, the wild animals may eat. Do the same with your vineyard and olive grove.
• Exod 20:10 : 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your livestock, nor any foreigner residing within your gates.
• Lev 23:3 : 3 For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy assembly. You are not to do any work; it is a sabbath to the Lord in all your dwellings.
• Lev 23:21 : 21 On that same day you shall proclaim a sacred assembly, and you must not do any regular work. This shall be a perpetual statute for all your generations in all your dwellings.
• Lev 23:35-36 : 35 On the first day there shall be a sacred assembly. You must not do any regular work. 36 For seven days you are to present fire offerings to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall hold a sacred assembly and present a fire offering to the Lord. It is a solemn assembly; you must not do any regular work.
• Lev 25:1-7 : 1 The LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying: 2 Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you come into the land that I am giving you, the land will observe a Sabbath to the LORD. 3 For six years, you may sow your field and prune your vineyard, and gather its produce; 4 but in the seventh year, the land must have a Sabbath of complete rest, a Sabbath to the LORD. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. 5 You shall not harvest what grows by itself after your harvest, nor gather the grapes of your unpruned vines. It will be a year of complete rest for the land. 6 During this Sabbath of the land, all its produce will be food for you—for yourself, your servants, your hired workers, and the resident foreigners who live among you, 7 as well as for your livestock and the wild animals in your land. All its produce may be used as food.
• Deut 5:12-14 : 12 Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 14 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female servant, your ox, your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the foreigner residing in your towns—so that your male and female servants may rest as you do.
• Deut 15:1-3 : 1 At the end of seven years, you shall institute a release. 2 This is the manner of the release: Every creditor shall release what they have lent to their neighbor. They shall not demand payment from their neighbor or their relative, because the Lord’s release has been proclaimed. 3 You may demand payment from a foreigner, but you shall release whatever your brother owes you.
• Deut 15:7-9 : 7 If there is a poor person among your brothers within any of your gates in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother. 8 Instead, you shall freely open your hand to him and generously lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought in your heart: 'The seventh year, the year of release, is near,' and you look grudgingly on your poor brother and give him nothing. He will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin.
• 2 Chr 36:21 : 21 This happened to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the time of its desolation it rested, to fulfill seventy years.
• Neh 5:1-9 : 1 There arose a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. 2 Some were saying, 'We, along with our sons and daughters, are numerous. Let us get grain that we may eat and stay alive.' 3 Others were saying, 'We have had to mortgage our fields, vineyards, and houses to get grain during the famine.' 4 Still others were saying, 'We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.' 5 'Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Israelites, and our children are just like theirs, we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, and we are powerless to do anything about it, since our fields and vineyards now belong to others.' 6 When I heard their outcry and these words, I became extremely angry. 7 I took counsel with myself, and then I confronted the nobles and officials, saying to them, 'You are exacting interest from your own people!' So I called together a large assembly to deal with them. 8 I said to them, 'We have redeemed our fellow Jews who were sold to the nations, as much as we were able. Now, you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!' They stayed silent, unable to say a word. 9 Then I said, 'What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of the nations, our enemies?' 10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending money and grain, but let us stop charging interest on them. 11 Return to them this very day their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, as well as the interest you are charging them—on the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil. 12 'We will give it back,' they responded, 'and we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.' Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. 13 I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, 'May God likewise shake out every man who does not uphold this promise from his home and his possessions. Let him be shaken out and left empty!' The entire assembly said, 'Amen,' and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
• Isa 58:6 : 6 Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loosen the chains of injustice, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to break every yoke?
• Isa 58:13-14 : 13 If you keep your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on my holy day, and you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way or doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of Jacob your ancestor. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.
• Jer 17:21-22 : 21 This is what the LORD says: 'Be careful not to carry any load on the Sabbath day, or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem.' 22 Do not bring any load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors.
• Matt 6:12 : 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
• Matt 18:27-35 : 27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt, and let him go. 28 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe me!' 29 His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay you.' 30 But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 Then the master summoned the servant and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me to.' 33 'Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had mercy on you?' 34 In anger, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he should pay back all he owed. 35 This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.
• Col 2:16 : 16 Therefore, let no one judge you in regard to food and drink or regarding a festival, a new moon, or Sabbaths.
• Jas 2:13 : 13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
• Exod 12:16 : 16 On the first day you shall hold a sacred assembly, and on the seventh day also a sacred assembly. No work shall be done on those days, except what each person must eat—that alone may be prepared by you.
• Lev 16:29 : 29 This shall be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you are to deny yourselves and do no work—whether native-born or a foreigner living among you.