Nehemiah 10:31
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This verse highlights a crucial aspect of their covenant: they commit not only to observing the Sabbath but also to upholding the land's sabbatical year rest and canceling debts. This shows their dedication to a holistic obedience, extending God's principles of rest and release beyond just a weekly day. It reveals their understanding that God's commands for justice and rhythm apply to the land and the community's financial dealings, not just individual religious practice.
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)
Following a solemn covenant to obey God's law, the people of Israel commit to specific actions, including abstaining from all commerce on the Sabbath and other holy days with the surrounding peoples. They also pledge to observe the Sabbatical year by letting the land rest and to forgo the collection of debts, addressing past failures in these areas that had led to exile.
The people of Judah had just reaffirmed their covenant with God, but the world around them was a constant temptation. How would they protect their renewed commitment?
This verse highlights a crucial aspect of the covenant renewal: drawing a firm line between the people of God and the surrounding pagan culture, especially concerning the Sabbath.
Protecting Sacred Time
This wasn't a new idea, but a recommitment to an ancient command. By refusing to participate in Sabbath-day commerce, they actively chose to honor God's command for rest and worship.
The commitment went further than just the weekly Sabbath. What other forms of rest did these covenant-makers vow to uphold?
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The covenant renewal in Nehemiah 10 wasn't solely focused on the weekly Sabbath. It also incorporated broader principles of rest mandated in the Law, demonstrating a holistic understanding of obedience.
The Seventh Year's Rest
Releasing Debts
This dual commitment—to the land's rest and the release from debt—shows a deep understanding that obedience to God involves not just personal piety but also societal justice and care for the vulnerable.
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 covenant renewal occurred after the exile and the return to Jerusalem, a time when the community was intensely focused on re-establishing their distinct identity and obedience to God's law, especially in the face of surrounding 'peoples of the land' and past failures to uphold sabbath and sabbatical year principles.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrians, leading to the deportation of many Israelites and the resettlement of foreigners in the land. This event marks a period of significant disruption and foreign influence.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Southern Kingdom of Judah is conquered by Babylon, Jerusalem is destroyed, and its people are exiled. This catastrophic event leads to a deep reflection on covenant faithfulness and obedience to God's law.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Edict
Cyrus of Persia conquers Babylon and issues a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Commission and Return
Ezra the scribe, empowered by the Persian king, leads a group of exiles back to Jerusalem. He focuses on restoring religious life and enforcing the Law of Moses among the returned community.
c. 445 BC— this verse
Nehemiah's Commission and Return to Jerusalem
Appointed governor by the Persian king, Nehemiah leads a mission to rebuild Jerusalem's walls, facing significant opposition from surrounding peoples. This period is marked by social and spiritual reforms.
This passage lays the foundational command for Sabbath observance, emphasizing it as a day of rest and holiness, which Nehemiah and the people are recommitting to uphold by abstaining from commerce.
Leviticus 25:1-7This provides the direct instruction for the land to rest every seventh year, a practice the people in Nehemiah's time had neglected and were now pledging to re-establish.
Deuteronomy 15:1-2This passage explains the 'release' that occurs in the seventh year, specifically concerning the remission of debts, which parallels the Nehemiah passage's commitment to forgo the exaction of debt.
Amos 8:5This prophetic passage vividly illustrates the very kind of Sabbath-breaking commerce that Nehemiah and the people are covenanting against, showing its deep-seated nature and God's disapproval.
Nehemiah 13:15-22This later account shows Nehemiah having to enforce these very same principles against ongoing Sabbath trade, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining these commitments and the continuous need for vigilance.
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 verse highlights a crucial aspect of their covenant: they commit not only to observing the Sabbath but also to upholding the land's sabbatical year rest and canceling debts. This shows their dedication to a holistic obedience, extending God's principles of rest and release beyond just a weekly day. It reveals their understanding that God's commands for justice and rhythm apply to the land and the community's financial dealings, not just individual religious practice.
Following a solemn covenant to obey God's law, the people of Israel commit to specific actions, including abstaining from all commerce on the Sabbath and other holy days with the surrounding peoples. They also pledge to observe the Sabbatical year by letting the land rest and to forgo the collection of debts, addressing past failures in these areas that had led to exile.
Following a solemn covenant to obey God's law, the people of Israel commit to specific actions, including abstaining from all commerce on the Sabbath and other holy days with the surrounding peoples. They also pledge to observe the Sabbatical year by letting the land rest and to forgo the collection of debts, addressing past failures in these areas that had led to exile.
"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 verse highlights a crucial aspect of their covenant: they commit not only to observing the Sabbath but also to upholding the land's sabbatical year rest and canceling debts. This shows their ded…
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Last reviewed October 2026
