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Nehemiah 10:31

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Nehemiah 10:31 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
Nehemiah 10:31 — American Standard Version

Context — Nehemiah 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
28And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinim, and all they that had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one that had knowledge, and understanding;
29They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God`s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of Jehovah our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes;
30and that we would not give our daughters unto the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;
31and 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.
32Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;
33for the showbread, and for the continual meal-offering, and for the continual burnt-offering, for the sabbaths, for the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin-offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
34And we cast lots, the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood-offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers` houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn upon the altar of Jehovah our God, as it is written in the law;
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And if the people of the land bring ware, etc.] Any thing to be sold, any sort of goods, that being sold might be taken away, as the word signifies; or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell; anything to make food of; wheat or barley, as Aben Ezra interprets it; the same word is rendered corn, (see Gill on “<014201>Genesis 42:1”); to sell which was not lawful on the sabbath day, (see <300805>Amos 8:5) that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day; any festival, as the feast of the passover, pentecost, and tabernacles: and that we would leave the seventh year: the ground untilled in that year, the vines unpruned, and the fruits of the earth, which sprung of themselves,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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 “pledge-taking” Nehemiah 10:2-10. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“People of the land - The Heathens. On the sabbath - They that covenant to keep all the commandments of God, must particularly covenant to keep the sabbath holy. For the profanation of this is a sure inlet to all manner of profaneness. Next: Nehemiah Chapter 11”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“10:31 Ceasing trade on the Sabbath was necessary for covenant faithfulness (cp. 13:15-22; see Exod 16:29; 20:8-11; 31:15; Num 15:32-36; Amos 8:5). • Every seventh year: See Exod 23:10-11; Lev 25:2-7; Deut 15:1-3.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the people: Neh 13:15-22; Exo 20:10; Lev 23:3; Deu 5:12-14; Isa 58:13, Isa 58:14; Jer 17:21, Jer 17:22 on the holy day: Exo 12:16; Lev 16:29, Lev 23:21, Lev 23:35, Lev 23:36; Col 2:16 and that we: Exo 23:10, Exo 23:11; Lev 25:4-7; Ch2 36:21 the exaction: Neh 5:1-13; Deu 15:1-3, Deu 15:7-9; Mat 6:12, Mat 18:27-35; Jam 2:13 debt: Heb. band, Isa 58:6 Nehemiah 10:32”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification