Nehemiah 5 · Verse 14

Nehemiah 5:14

Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
Nehemiah 5:14, King James Version

Nehemiah 5:14 in other translations

BSBFurthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.
WEBMoreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor.
ASVMoreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
YLTAlso, from the day that he appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the thirty and second year of Artaxerxes the king--twelve years--I, and my brethren, the bread of the governor have not eaten:
DARBYMoreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
BBENow from the time when I was made ruler of the people in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year till the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, for twelve years, I and my servants have never taken the food which was the right of the ruler.
WebsterMoreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

What does Nehemiah 5:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. Moreover from the time that I was appointed ... I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor--We have a remarkable proof both of the opulence and the disinterestedness of Nehemiah. As he declined, on conscientious grounds, to accept the lawful emoluments attached to his government, and yet maintained a style of princely hospitality for twelve years out of his own resources, it is evident that his office of cup-bearer at the court of Shushan must have been very lucrative.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. - From what is related here, and in the following verse, we find that the table of the governor was always supplied by the people with bread and wine; and, besides, they had forty shekels per diem for their other expenses. The people were also greatly oppressed by the servants and officers of the governor; but, during the twelve years that Nehemiah had been with them, he took not this salary, and ate none of their bread. Nor were his servants permitted to take or exact any thing from them. Having such an example, it was scandalous for their chiefs, priests, and nobles, thus to oppress an afflicted and distressed people.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Nehemiah 5:14-19
Those who truly fear God, will not dare to do any thing cruel or unjust. Let all who are in public places remember that they are so placed to do good, not to enrich themselves. Nehemiah mentions it to God in prayer, not as if he had merited any favour from God, but to show that he depended upon God only, to make up to him what he had lost and laid out for his honour. Nehemiah evidently spake and acted as one that knew himself to be a sinner. He did not mean to claim a reward as of debt, but in the manner that the Lord rewards a cup of cold water given to a disciple for his sake. The fear and love of God in the heart, and true love of the brethren, will lead to every good work. These are proper evidences of justifying faith; and our reconciled God will look upon persons of this character for good, according to all they have done for his people.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Nehemiah 5:14 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

גַּ֞םgamalsoH1571
מִיּ֣וֹם\׀mi.Yomfrom [the] dayH3117
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whenH834
צִוָּ֣הtzi.Vahsomeone appointedH6680
אֹתִ֗י'o.Ti<obj.> meH853
לִהְי֣וֹתlih.Yotto beH1961
פֶּחָם֮pe.Chamgovernor theirH6346
בְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzin [the] land ofH776
יְהוּדָה֒ye.hu.DahJudahH3063
מִשְּׁנַ֣תmi.she.Natfrom yearH8141
עֶשְׂרִ֗ים'es.RimtwentyH6242
וְ֠עַדVe.'adand untilH5704
שְׁנַ֨תshe.NatyearH8141
שְׁלֹשִׁ֤יםshe.lo.ShimthirtyH7970
וּשְׁתַּ֙יִם֙u.she.Ta.yimand twoH8147
לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּאle.'ar.tach.Shast'of ArtaxerxesH783
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
שָׁנִ֖יםsha.NimyearsH8141
שְׁתֵּ֣יםshe.Teimtwo [plus]H8147
עֶשְׂרֵ֑ה'es.RehtenH6240
אֲנִ֣י'a.NiIH589
וְאַחַ֔יve.'a.Chaiand brothers myH251
לֶ֥חֶםLe.chem[the] food ofH3899
הַפֶּ֖חָהha.Pe.chahthe governorH6346
לֹ֥אlo'notH3808
אָכַֽלְתִּי\׃'a.Khal.tiI ateH398

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Nehemiah 5:14

  • Nehemiah 13:6

    But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:

  • 1 Corinthians 9:18

    What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:8-9

    Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:4-15

    Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? …

  • Ezra 4:13-14

    Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;

  • Romans 13:6-7

    For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

  • Nehemiah 2:1

    And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
from the twentieth.
2:1; 13:6
I and my.
1Co 9:4-15,18; 2Th 3:8,9
the bread.
Ezr 4:13,14; Ro 13:6,7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Nehemiah 5:13

    Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise.

  • Nehemiah 5:14

    Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

  • Nehemiah 5:15

    But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

Read all of Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah 5:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		También desde el día que me mandó el rey que fuese gobernador de ellos en la tierra de Judá, desde el año veinte del rey Artajerjes hasta el año treinta y dos, doce años, ni yo ni mis hermanos comimos el pan del gobernador.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Dès le jour aussi où je fus établi leur gouverneur dans le pays de Juda, depuis la vingtième année jusqu’à la trente-deuxième année du roi Artaxerxès, pendant douze ans, ni moi, ni mes frères, nous n’avons mangé le pain du gouverneur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Auch von dem Tage an, da er mich bestellt hatte, um ihr Landpfleger zu sein im Lande Juda, vom 20 Jahre bis zum 32 Jahre des Königs Artasasta, zwölf Jahre lang, habe ich mit meinen Brüdern die Speise des Landpflegers nicht gegessen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		A die autem illa, qua præceperat rex mihi ut essem dux in terra Juda, ab anno vigesimo usque ad annum trigesimum secundum Artaxerxis regis per annos duodecim, ego et fratres mei annonas quæ ducibus debebantur non comedimus.