I also shook out my lap: The lap of the garment referred to the “sash” (Good News Translation) in which money and personal items were kept. Some translations refer to a fold in one’s robe (so New Living Translation, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Nehemiah did this to signify the fate of those who would fail to carry out their promise. This gesture represented a curse. It showed that their money would be shaken out and they would have nothing left if they went back on their promise. Contemporary English Version says “I emptied my pockets,” but this seems anachronistic. Translators may describe and explain the lap or “sash” in a footnote as Good News Translation has done.

So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not perform this promise: This is a curse pronounced by Nehemiah against the people who had promised to do as he had told them. It is expressed in a third person wish. Making a comparison with the sash or a pocket (Nouvelle version Segond révisée), Nehemiah asks that those who do not keep their promise will be shaken free of their house and possessions (New International Version). His labor refers to the fruit of each person’s labor. This is what he has earned or what he possesses as a result of his work. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible like Good News Translation renders the Hebrew verb for shake out as an expression of future time, that is, as a prediction.

May he be shaken out and emptied: The curse is repeated this time without indicating who would carry out the punishment. From the first expression of the curse it is clear that if anyone fails to keep his promise, he will be shaken out and emptied by God.

All the assembly (see verse 7 above; see also the comments on Ezra 2.64) was witness to the oath and assented by saying Amen, which means “May it be so.” The assembly was a public gathering of the entire community in which both the guilty and the victims were undoubtedly represented. Here Nehemiah quotes the response of all the people who were gathered as though all were agreeing to what he demanded of the guilty ones. They agreed that the punishment described by Nehemiah should fall upon them if they failed to keep their promise. Contemporary English Version makes this explicit with “We will keep our promise.” Many church traditions have borrowed a form of Amen and if that is the case, translators may wish to use it here. Otherwise, if the receptor culture has an expression indicating everyone’s formal assent to a statement or to a proposal, that expression may be used here.

For praised the LORD, see Ezra 3.10.

The people did as they had promised: Because Nehemiah’s discussion was with the nobles and officials, Good News Translation renders the people as “the leaders.” However, this may mean the assembly, as is understood by most translations. Did as they had promised is literally “did according to this word,” which could mean that they shook out their garment the same way Nehemiah did. But it is more likely the people acted according to their promise.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .