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Nahum 3
Nahum 3:1
General Information:
Nahum often wrote prophecy in the form of poetry. Hebrew poetry uses different kinds of parallelism. Here he continues to describe the destruction of Nineveh. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-poetry and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
the city full of blood
Here the word "blood" represents bloodshed and refers to the people who have committed murder. Alternate translation: "the city full of murderers" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
It is all full of lies
Here the word "lies" is a metonym for those who tell lies. Alternate translation: "It is full of liars" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Nahum 3:2
the noise of whips and the sound of rattling wheels, prancing horses, and bounding chariots
These phrases describe the sound of chariots rushing through the streets as their drivers use their whips on the horses.
Nahum 3:3
heaps of slain, great piles of bodies
These two phrases mean basically the same thing and indicate that there were so many dead bodies that the attackers piled them in heaps. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
bodies
bodies of people who have died
There is no end to the bodies
The words "no end" are an exaggeration for the great number of bodies that the attackers piled into heaps. Alternate translation: "There are too many bodies to count" or "There are a great number of bodies" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)
Nahum 3:4
the lustful actions of the beautiful prostitute
Nahum speaks of Nineveh causing other nations to be subject to her as if the city were a prostitute who seduces men with her beauty. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the expert in witchcraft
Nahum speaks of Nineveh causing other nations to be subject to her as if the city were a witch who casts a spells on others. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
who sells nations through her prostitution, and peoples through her acts of witchcraft
Here the word "sells" implies that the people of Nineveh cause other nations and peoples to become slaves. Nineveh uses her beauty, power, and influence to make others her slaves. Alternate translation: "who by her prostitution and witchcraft causes the people of other nations to become her slaves" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Nahum 3:5
See
"Look" or "Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you"
I will raise up your skirt over your face and show your private parts to the nations
This refers to the practice of publicly humiliating prostitutes by stripping them naked in front of the community. This continues the metaphor of Yahweh speaking of the city of Nineveh as if it were a prostitute. Alternate translation: "I will publicly humiliate you, as one would humiliate a prostitute by raising up her skirt over her face and showing her private parts to all the people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
your shame to the kingdoms
This phrase explains the purpose of lifting up Nineveh's skirt. The verb may be supplied from the previous phrase. Alternate translation: "I will show your shame to the kingdoms" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)
Nahum 3:6
I will throw disgusting filth on you
The words "disgusting filth" refer to all kinds of garbage. Throwing garbage at a person was a sign of strong contempt. Alternate translation: "I will show my contempt for you, like a person would throw disgusting filth at another" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)
Nahum 3:7
who will weep for her?
The people ask this rhetorical question to emphasize the negative answer. Alternate translation: "no one will weep for her." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Where can I go to find anyone to comfort you?
Yahweh uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that there will be no one who will be able to comfort Nineveh. Alternate translation: "There is nowhere I could go to find someone to comfort you." or "There will be no one to comfort you." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Nahum 3:8
General Information:
Nahum speaks to the people of Nineveh as though they were the city itself. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
are you better than Thebes ... wall?
Nahum asks this rhetorical question to emphasize the negative answer that it anticipates. Alternate translation: "you are not better than Thebes ... wall." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Thebes
This was the former capital of Egypt, which the Assyrians had conquered. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
which was located on the Nile River
"which was built by the Nile River"
whose rampart was the sea, and the sea was its wall
These two phrases share similar meanings. The word "sea" refers to the Nile River, which ran near the city. Nahum speaks of the Nile as if it were the wall that protected the city. Alternate translation: "which had the Nile river as its defense, as some cities have a wall for their defense" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
rampart
A rampart is a wall built around a city to keep enemy armies from getting into the city.
Nahum 3:9
Cush and Egypt were her strength
"Ethiopia and Egypt strengthened her" or "Cush and Egypt were her allies"
there was no end to it
The word "it" refers to the "strength" that Cush and Egypt gave to Thebes. That there was no end to it is a hyperbole that expresses the great amount of strength. Alternate translation: "their strength was very great" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)
Put and Libya
These are the names of places in northern Africa that were close to Thebes. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Nahum 3:10
General Information:
Nahum continues to speak to the people of Nineveh as though they were the city itself. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Yet Thebes was carried away
The word "Thebes" represents the people who lived in Thebes. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Yet those who attacked Thebes carried the people away" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
she went into captivity
The word "she" refers to Thebes and represents the people who lived there. Alternate translation: "they went into captivity" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
her young children were dashed in pieces
This is a brutal description of the soldiers killing children. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "enemy soldiers dashed her young children to pieces" or "enemy soldiers beat her young children to death" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
at the head of every street
The beginning of a street is spoken of as if it were the head. Also, "every" is a generalization that means many places all over the city. Alternate translation: "on every street corner" or "in the streets all over the city" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)
all her great men were bound in chains
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they bound all her great men in chains" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Nahum 3:11
You also will become drunk
Here the word "You" refers to Nineveh. Nahum speaks of the people of Nineveh suffering and dying in battle as if they had become drunk from drinking too much wine. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Nahum 3:12
General Information:
Nahum continues to speak to the people of Nineveh as though they were the city itself. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
All your fortresses
Possible meanings for the word "fortresses" are 1) it refers to Nineveh's fortifications, such as the wall that surrounded the city Alternate translation: "All of your fortifications" or "All of your defenses" or 2) it refers to the fortified cities that were situated along Assyria's borders and prevented enemy armies from attacking Nineveh. Alternate translation: "All of your fortified cities" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
All your fortresses will be like fig trees with the earliest ripe figs: if they are shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater
Nahum compares the ease with which the attackers will conquer Nineveh with the ease with which a person can cause ripe figs to fall from a tree. Alternate translation: "Your enemies will destroy your fortresses as easily as a person can shake a fig tree and eat the first ripe figs that fall" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
the earliest ripe figs
This refers to the figs that would ripen first on the tree. These figs fell from the tree easily, so that a person only had to shake the tree to make them fall. Figs that ripened later would require a person to climb the tree and pick them by hand. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
if they are shaken
"if the trees are shaken." This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "if a person shakes the trees" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
they fall into the mouth of the eater
"the figs fall into the mouth of the eater." This is an exaggeration. By saying that the figs fall from the tree into the mouth of the one who eats it, Nahum emphasizes that the figs are ready to eat immediately. Alternate translation: "a person can eat the fig immediately" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)
Nahum 3:13
the people among you are women
In this ancient culture, women were not warriors for a number of reasons, including their being generally weaker physically than men. Here Nahum speaks of Nineveh's warriors losing their strength and courage to fight as if the people in the city were all women. Alternate translation: "your people are all like women who are weak and cannot defend themselves" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the gates of your land have been opened wide to your enemies
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the gates of your land are wide open to your enemies" or "someone has opened wide to your enemies the gates of your land" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
the gates of your land have been opened wide to your enemies
Possible meanings are 1) if "fortresses" in v. 12 refers to the Nineveh's defenses, then "the gates of your land" refers to the gates in the walls around Nineveh. Alternate translation: "the gates of your city are wide open for your enemies to attack" or 2) if "fortresses" in v. 12 refers to the fortified cities that were situated along Assyria's borders, then "the gates of your land" is a metaphor in which those cities are spoken of as if they were gates that prevented enemy armies from entering the land. Alternate translation: "your land is defenseless before your enemies because they have destroyed the cities that protected your borders" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
fire has devoured their bars
Possible meanings are 1) if "fortresses" in v. 12 refers to the Nineveh's defenses, then "their bars" refers to the bars that locked the gates in the walls around Nineveh. Alternate translation: "fire has destroyed the bars that lock your city gates" or 2) if "fortresses" in v. 12 refers to the fortified cities that were situated along Assyria's borders, then "their bars" is a metaphor in which those cities are spoken of as if they were locked gates that prevented enemy armies from entering the land. Alternate translation: "the cities on your borders can no longer protect you, just as gates can no longer protect a city when fire has destroyed their bars" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
fire has devoured
Nahum speaks of fire burning up and destroying as if fire were eating. Alternate translation: "fire has destroyed" or "fire has burned up" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Nahum 3:14
General Information:
Nahum continues to speak to the people of Nineveh as though they were the city itself. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Go draw water for the siege ... pick up the molds for the bricks
Nahum speaks to the people of Nineveh. He tells them to prepare for battle and to repair the walls, although he knows that the enemy will destroy the city. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-irony)
strengthen your fortresses
"repair the fortifications"
go into the clay and tread the mortar; pick up the molds for the bricks
These phrases refer to making mud bricks that they will use to repair the city's wall.
Nahum 3:15
Fire will devour you there
Nahum speaks of fire burning and destroying as if it were eating. Alternate translation: "Fire will destroy you there" or "Your enemies will burn you with fire there" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the sword will destroy you
Here the word "sword" is a metonym for the enemies who will attack with swords. Alternate translation: "your enemies will kill you with their swords" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
It will devour you as young locusts devour everything
The word "It" refers to the "sword," which is personified as eating those whom it kills. The soldiers using their swords to kill everyone in Nineveh is compared with the way that a swarm of locusts eats every plant in its path. Alternate translation: "Your enemies' swords will kill all of you, just as easily as a swarm of locusts devours everything in its path" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
Make yourselves as many as the young locusts, as many as the full-grown locusts
These words begin a new paragraph where Nahum compares the number of people in Nineveh with the large number of locusts in a swarm.
Nahum 3:16
General Information:
Nahum speaks to the people of Nineveh as though they were the city itself. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
You have multiplied your merchants more than the stars in the heavens
This exaggeration emphasizes the great number of merchants who lived and worked in Nineveh. Alternate translation: "It is as if you have more merchants than there are stars in the sky" or "You have more merchants than anyone could count" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)
they are like young locusts: they plunder the land and then fly away
Nahum compares the way that these merchants, who have made their profit by selling their goods in Nineveh, will flee from the city when the battle begins with the way that locusts fly away after they have eaten all of the plants in their path. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
Nahum 3:17
your commanders are like locusts that camp in the walls on a cold day. But when the sun rises they flee
Nahum compares the way that the officials in Nineveh will flee when the battle starts with the way that locusts will remain still while it is cold, but will fly away when the sun rises and the air becomes warm. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
the place they go to is not known
"and no one knows where they have gone"
Nahum 3:18
your shepherds are asleep; your nobles are lying down resting
These two lines share similar meanings. Nahum speaks of the leaders of Assyria as if they were shepherd who are to care for their sheep. He speaks of the shepherds and rulers dying as if they had fallen asleep. Alternate translation: "your leaders who are like shepherds are dead; your rulers are all dead" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Your people are scattered on the mountains
Nahum speaks of the people of Nineveh as if they were sheep that scatter after the shepherds have died. Alternate translation: "Your people are scattered like sheep on the mountains" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Nahum 3:19
No healing is possible for your wounds. Your wounds are severe
Nahum speaks of the certainty of the destruction of Nineveh and the defeat of its king as if the king had suffered an incurable wound. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
No healing is possible for your wounds
The word "healing" can be translated with a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: "No one is able to heal your wounds" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
On whom has your wickedness not trodden continually?
The writer either 1) speaks of wickedness as if it were a person who steps on other people while he goes from one place to another or 2) uses "wickedness" as a metonym for the people who commit it and "trodden" as a metaphor for committing wickedness. This rhetorical question emphasizes the negative answer that it anticipates. Alternate translation: "Your wickedness has continually trodden on everyone." or "There is no one to whom you have not continually done wickedness." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)