So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Nehemiah isn't just pointing out their bad behavior; he's highlighting how their actions look to outsiders. The real sting isn't just their guilt before God, but the fact that their cruelty gives their enemies a perfect excuse to mock their entire faith.
So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Nehemiah confronts the Jewish leaders and wealthy citizens for their unjust financial practices, like high interest and seizing property from their own people during a time of hardship. He appeals to them to stop this exploitation, urging them to consider how their actions bring shame upon their faith and give ammunition to their surrounding enemies who are already looking for reasons to mock them. The context is Nehemiah's passionate plea for social justice and integrity within the rebuilding community.
When God's people mistreat each other, the whole world notices. This verse is a powerful call to action, reminding us that our behavior has implications far beyond our own community.
Nehemiah confronts the Jewish nobles who have been oppressing their own people by taking their land and charging excessive interest. He doesn't just tell them their actions are wrong; he frames it with a crucial consequence: the reproach of the enemy.
The Weight of Witness
The surrounding nations, who are hostile to Israel, are watching. When they see the Israelites acting unjustly towards one another, it doesn't just reflect poorly on the oppressors; it casts a shadow on their faith and on God Himself.
It's like a family member acting terribly in public – it embarrasses the whole family, and people might even question their parents' upbringing. Here, the 'parents' are God and His laws, and the 'child' is the community of Israel.
What does God truly ask of us? Nehemiah points to a foundational principle that should guide all our interactions, especially when facing external judgment.
Nehemiah challenges the nobles with the question: 'Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God?' This isn't just about avoiding punishment; it's about living with a deep reverence and respect for God.
Fear God, Act Rightly
'Walking in the fear of God' means orienting your entire life around His presence and His commands. It's a mindset that influences every decision and action.
Ask a follow-up
When we truly fear God, we understand that our actions have eternal significance. We are motivated not just by avoiding shame from enemies, but by honoring the God who sees all and knows all. This reverence naturally leads to justice, mercy, and compassion towards others, especially those within our community.
Understand the original words
yirah · Hebrew Noun
A state of reverential awe, obedience, and trust toward God; it encompasses a moral lifestyle that avoids sin because of the believer's desire to honor and please Him.
cherpah · Hebrew Noun
Reproach or mockery leveled by pagan nations against Israel; it is a serious concern in the Bible because such taunts were seen as reflecting poorly on the reputation and honor of God Himself.
Nehemiah's rebuke highlights how the oppressors' actions not only harmed their own people but also provided ammunition for their enemies to mock God and His covenant people.
c. 538 BC
First Return from Exile
Under Zerubbabel, many Judeans returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. This marked the beginning of the post-exilic community.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Return to Jerusalem
Ezra, a scribe, returned to Jerusalem to strengthen the religious life of the community and enforce the Law of Moses.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Appointed Governor
King Artaxerxes of Persia appointed Nehemiah as governor of Judah, tasks him with rebuilding Jerusalem's walls.
c. 445 BC
Walls of Jerusalem Rebuilt
Nehemiah and the people, despite facing opposition from surrounding peoples, successfully rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in a remarkably short time.
c. 444 BC— this verse
Economic Crisis and Social Unrest
Following the wall's completion, a severe economic crisis hit Judah. Many poor Judeans were forced to mortgage their lands and even sell their children into servitude due to heavy taxation and famine.
c. 444 BC
Nehemiah Confronts Usury
Nehemiah vehemently rebuked the nobles and officials who were exploiting their own people through exorbitant interest rates.
Jethro tells Moses, 'The thing you are doing is not good,' echoing Nehemiah's direct opening to the nobles, suggesting Nehemiah might have been drawing on familiar, established wisdom.
Deuteronomy 10:12This passage lays out that the Lord requires us to fear Him and walk in His ways, a foundational concept that Nehemiah is reminding the nobles they are neglecting in their actions.
Proverbs 14:31The proverb states that oppressing the poor insults their Maker, directly linking unjust actions to disrespecting God, which Nehemiah implies by urging them to walk in God's fear.
2 Samuel 12:14David, after his sin with Bathsheba, is told he has given 'great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.' This highlights the severe consequence Nehemiah is warning against: that their ungodly behavior would give the surrounding nations a reason to mock their God.
Romans 2:24Paul quotes Isaiah, stating 'God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.' This New Testament parallel reinforces Nehemiah's point that the unrighteous actions of God's people bring reproach upon God Himself in the eyes of unbelievers.
clarkeNehemiah 5:9: "Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?"
Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God - If ye wish to accredit that religion ye profess which comes from the God of justice and mercy; should you not, in the sight of the heathen, abstain from injustice and cruelty? Can they credit your profession, when they see such practices? The inconsistent conduct of some professors of religion does m…
pulpitNehemiah 5:9: "Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?"
Verse 9. - Also I said. To silence the nobles was not enough. To shame them was not enough. What was wanted was to persuade them. Nehemiah therefore continued his address. It is not good that ye do. It is not good in itself, apart from any contrast with what I have been doing. Ought ye not to walk - or, literally, "will ye not walk"- in the fear…
Nehemiah isn't just pointing out their bad behavior; he's highlighting how their actions look to outsiders. The real sting isn't just their guilt before God, but the fact that their cruelty gives their enemies a perfect excuse to mock their entire faith.
Nehemiah confronts the Jewish leaders and wealthy citizens for their unjust financial practices, like high interest and seizing property from their own people during a time of hardship. He appeals to them to stop this exploitation, urging them to consider how their actions bring shame upon their faith and give ammunition to their surrounding enemies who are already looking for reasons to mock them. The context is Nehemiah's passionate plea for social justice and integrity within the rebuilding community.
Nehemiah confronts the Jewish leaders and wealthy citizens for their unjust financial practices, like high interest and seizing property from their own people during a time of hardship. He appeals to them to stop this exploitation, urging them to consider how their actions bring shame upon their faith and give ammunition to their surrounding enemies who are already looking for reasons to mock them. The context is Nehemiah's passionate plea for social justice and integrity within the rebuilding community.
"So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?" — Nehemiah isn't just pointing out their bad behavior; he's highlighting how their actions look to outsiders. The real sting isn't just their guilt before God, but the fact that their cruelty gives t…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026