Nehemiah 10:31
And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forgo the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This covenant extends beyond just keeping the Sabbath; it commits them to a deeper observance of God's rest commands. Notice how they also bind themselves to forgo the crops of the seventh year and the exacting of debts, demonstrating a holistic commitment to letting the land and people rest as God commanded.
Following a grand renewal of their covenant with God, the people make specific vows to live faithfully. This verse details their commitment to observe the Sabbath and other holy days by refusing to trade with the surrounding peoples, and also to uphold the Sabbatical year principles of letting the land rest and releasing debts. This vow comes as they solidify their dedication to God's law after returning from exile and rebuilding Jerusalem.
The people of God made a solemn promise not just to rest on the Sabbath, but to actively avoid anything that could lead to its desecration. What does this say about how we protect our own times of rest?
Nehemiah and the people recognized that keeping the Sabbath holy required more than just stopping work. It meant building strong boundaries.
Active Abstinence
They vowed not to buy any goods or grain from the surrounding peoples if they were being sold on the Sabbath or other holy days. This wasn't just about avoiding their own market activities; it was about refusing to participate in or encourage the profanation of the holy day by others.
The Slippery Slope
Commentators highlight that profaning the Sabbath was seen as a 'sure inlet to all manner of profaneness.' By cutting off even the temptation to buy on these sacred days, they were creating a robust defense against a broader slide into ungodliness. This speaks to the wisdom of setting clear limits, even when it feels inconvenient, to preserve something far more valuable.
Beyond the weekly Sabbath, this covenant also embraced a deeper, communal rhythm of rest and release. What can we learn from letting the land and debts 'rest'?
This verse links the Sabbath observance to two other significant provisions from the Law: the Sabbatical Year and the remission of debts.
The Land's Rest
The phrase 'forgo the crops of the seventh year' refers to the Sabbatical Year, where the land was to lie fallow. This wasn't just about letting the soil recover; it was a profound act of trust, acknowledging that God, not their own labor, provided their sustenance. It was a reminder that they were stewards, not owners.
Releasing Burdens
Understand the original words
am ha-aretz · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the non-Israelite inhabitants of the region. In the context of covenant maintenance, it highlights the pressure for the people of God to remain distinct and avoid cultural compromise or idolatrous practices.
shabbat · Hebrew Noun
The seventh day of the week, set apart by God at creation as a day of rest, worship, and cessation from labor, serving as a sign of the covenant between God and His people.
shamot · Hebrew Verb
Referring to the Sabbatical year (shemitah), every seventh year in which the land was to lie fallow and debts were to be released, signifying trust in God's provision and the liberation of the needy.
This verse reflects a renewed commitment to covenant faithfulness after the exile, specifically addressing the neglect of the Sabbath and Sabbatical laws that had contributed to their downfall. The people pledge not only to observe these laws themselves but also to prevent any commerce with outsiders that would violate them, showing a desire to maintain purity in their restored community.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Exile
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and deport a significant portion of the population, marking a period of profound national trauma and questioning of God's promises. Many of the laws concerning the Sabbath and the Sabbatical year had been neglected, contributing to the disaster.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus' Decree and Return from Exile
The Persian king Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon and issues a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples. This marks the beginning of the return and the effort to re-establish Jewish life and religious practice in Jerusalem.
c. 445 BC— this verse
Nehemiah's Return to Jerusalem
Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, receives permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls, facing significant opposition from neighboring peoples. His return revitalizes the community and prompts a renewal of their covenant with God.
This passage lays the foundation for the Sabbath commandment, emphasizing it as a day of rest, which Nehemiah and the people are recommitting to uphold by refusing to engage in commerce.
Exodus 23:10-11This passage directly relates to the concept of the land resting in the seventh year, a practice the people in Nehemiah's covenant promise to observe, ensuring the land and its poor receive sustenance.
Deuteronomy 15:1-2This text explains the 'year of release' and the remission of debts, paralleling the commitment in Nehemiah 10:31 to forgo the exaction of debts, demonstrating a broader principle of mercy and rest.
Nehemiah 13:15-22This later passage shows Nehemiah actively enforcing the Sabbath observance against trading, highlighting the practical challenges and the continued need for such commitments as stated in chapter 10.
Isaiah 58:6This prophetic passage speaks of the kind of fast God desires, which includes 'to loose the chains of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every burden,' echoing the spirit of releasing debts and ceasing from exploitative labor on holy days.
clarkeNehemiah 10:31: "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."
Bring ware - We will most solemnly keep the Sabbath. Leave the seventh year - We will let the land have its Sabbath, and rest every seventh year. See on Exodus 23:10-11 (note).
barnesNehemiah 10:31: "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."
Bring ware ... on the sabbath day - Compare Nehemiah 13:16 , where this desecration of the Sabbath is shown to have commonly taken place. Leave the seventh year ... - i. e., "let the land rest in the sabbatical year" (margin reference) and give up the "…
This covenant extends beyond just keeping the Sabbath; it commits them to a deeper observance of God's rest commands. Notice how they also bind themselves to forgo the crops of the seventh year and the exacting of debts, demonstrating a holistic commitment to letting the land and people rest as God commanded.
Following a grand renewal of their covenant with God, the people make specific vows to live faithfully. This verse details their commitment to observe the Sabbath and other holy days by refusing to trade with the surrounding peoples, and also to uphold the Sabbatical year principles of letting the land rest and releasing debts. This vow comes as they solidify their dedication to God's law after returning from exile and rebuilding Jerusalem.
Following a grand renewal of their covenant with God, the people make specific vows to live faithfully. This verse details their commitment to observe the Sabbath and other holy days by refusing to trade with the surrounding peoples, and also to uphold the Sabbatical year principles of letting the land rest and releasing debts. This vow comes as they solidify their dedication to God's law after returning from exile and rebuilding Jerusalem.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Nehemiah 10:31 is available in the Sola app.
Similarly, 'the exaction of every debt' points to the practice of canceling debts in the seventh year, as outlined in Deuteronomy. This was a vital social safety net, preventing perpetual poverty and reinforcing community bonds. It ensured that a temporary hardship didn't lead to permanent bondage.
A Unified Covenant
By including these in their covenant, the people showed they understood God's Law as a holistic system. Sabbath, agricultural rest, and economic release were all part of living faithfully under God's rule.
c. 445 BC
Reaffirmation of the Covenant
Following the rebuilding of the walls, the people gather under Ezra and Nehemiah to reaffirm their commitment to God's Law. This solemn occasion involves a detailed covenant outlining their return to obedience in various aspects of life, including Sabbath observance and agricultural laws.
"And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forgo the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt." — This covenant extends beyond just keeping the Sabbath; it commits them to a deeper observance of God's rest commands. Notice how they also bind themselves to forgo the crops of the seventh year and t…
