Nehemiah 5:5

Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

Cross-references

Exodus 21:1-11 provides laws protecting Hebrew slaves — the exact protections being violated by the enslavement in Nehemiah.

Leviticus 25:39-43 forbids making fellow Israelites slaves — directly condemning the practice described in Nehemiah.

2 Kings 4:1 Parallel

In 2 Kings 4:1, a widow's sons are taken for debt — the same desperate situation of children being sold into slavery to repay creditors.

Isaiah 58:7 Contrast

Isaiah 58:7 commands caring for one's own flesh and blood — the very thing the oppressors in Nehemiah are failing to do.

Matthew 18:25 depicts a debtor being sold with his family — illustrating the same practice of debt-slavery that Nehemiah laments.

James 2:6 Parallel

James 2:6 directly accuses the rich of oppressing the poor — the same sin against the poor seen in Nehemiah's debt-slavery crisis.

Exodus 21:7 Parallel

Exodus 21:7 is the law permitting a father to sell his daughter as a servant—this is the practice Nehemiah's people are forced into by debt.

Leviticus 25:48 provides the right of redemption for Hebrew slaves—a remedy Nehemiah's people cannot afford because their lands are taken.

Job 24:9 Parallel

Job 24:9 depicts oppressors taking children from the poor—parallels Nehemiah's children sold into bondage for debt.

Job 31:15 Parallel

Job 31:15 argues common creation of master and servant—mirrors Nehemiah's plea 'our flesh is as our brethren'.

Proverbs 22:7 states the borrower is servant to the lender—exactly the debt-bondage Nehemiah's people face.

James 2:5 Contrast

James 2:5 declares that God has chosen the poor to be rich in faith — contrasting their mistreatment in Nehemiah with their spiritual value.

Ephesians 6:9 Related theme

Ephesians 6:9 similarly instructs masters to treat slaves justly, mirroring the injustice Nehemiah condemns.

Colossians 4:1 Related theme

Colossians 4:1 calls masters to give justice and equality, reflecting the same principle against oppression.