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Judgment on Nineveh
Nahum 3 speaks a severe prophecy against Nineveh. Using vivid images of battle, shame, failed defences and scattered people, the passage shows Yahweh’s judgment on a city marked by violence, deceit and cruelty.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this chapter, Nahum addresses Nineveh directly and explains why judgment is coming. The prophecy describes bloodshed, lies and oppressive influence, then compares Nineveh with No-Amon, a city that seemed secure yet still fell. It ends by declaring that Nineveh’s wound is fatal and that others respond to its downfall because of its cruelty.
Nahum 3:1–19Main takeaway
Nahum 3 teaches that Nineveh’s power, wealth and defences cannot protect it when Yahweh judges its violence, deceit and cruelty.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A city full of blood, lies and preyThe chapter opens with “Woe” to the “bloody city”. Nineveh is described as full of lies and robbery, with “no end to the prey”.
Explanation
The chapter opens with “Woe” to the “bloody city”. Nineveh is described as full of lies and robbery, with “no end to the prey”. The sounds of whip, wheels, horses and chariots lead into images of many slain. This prophecy uses forceful language to expose Nineveh’s violent character and its consequences.
02Why Yahweh is against NinevehNineveh is compared to an alluring prostitute and mistress of witchcraft who “sells nations” and families.
Explanation
Nineveh is compared to an alluring prostitute and mistress of witchcraft who “sells nations” and families. Then Yahweh of Armies says, “I am against you”. The shame imagery that follows shows public exposure, disgrace and filth before nations and kingdoms, ending with people seeing Nineveh laid waste and without comforters.
03No-Amon shows that strong allies cannot saveNahum asks whether Nineveh is better than No-Amon, a city surrounded by waters and backed by Cush, Egypt, Put and Libya.
Explanation
Nahum asks whether Nineveh is better than No-Amon, a city surrounded by waters and backed by Cush, Egypt, Put and Libya. Yet No-Amon still went into captivity. The example warns Nineveh that impressive surroundings, powerful allies and hopes of refuge cannot guarantee safety when judgment comes.
04Nineveh’s defences and rulers will failNahum says Nineveh’s fortresses will fall like ripe figs. In the prophecy’s taunt, its troops are described with humiliating judgment language, while its gates stand open and its bars are burned, showing failed defence, not a general teaching about women.
Explanation
Nahum says Nineveh’s fortresses will fall like ripe figs. In the prophecy’s taunt, its troops are described with humiliating judgment language, while its gates stand open and its bars are burned, showing failed defence, not a general teaching about women. Even siege preparations will not save it. Merchants, guards and leaders vanish like locusts, and the people end scattered with no healing.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What reasons does the passage itself give for Nineveh’s judgment?
02How does the comparison with No-Amon strengthen Nahum’s message?
Notice what made No-Amon seem secure and what still happened to it despite those advantages.
03How does Nahum describe Nineveh’s defences failing in the last part of the chapter?
Find the images of falling figs, open gates, burned bars, unsuccessful siege work, fleeing locusts and scattered people.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Nahum 3:1–19
1Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and robbery—no end to the prey.
2The noise of the whip, the noise of the rattling of wheels, prancing horses, and bounding chariots,
3the horseman charging, and the flashing sword, the glittering spear, and a multitude of slain, and a great heap of corpses, and there is no end of the bodies. They stumble on their bodies
4because of the multitude of the prostitution of the alluring prostitute, the mistress of witchcraft, who sells nations through her prostitution, and families through her witchcraft.
5“Behold, I am against you,” says Yahweh of Armies, “and I will lift your skirts over your face. I will show the nations your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame.
6I will throw abominable filth on you and make you vile, and will make you a spectacle.
7It will happen that all those who look at you will flee from you, and say, ‘Nineveh is laid waste! Who will mourn for her?’ Where will I seek comforters for you?”
8Are you better than No-Amon, who was situated among the rivers, who had the waters around her, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was of the sea?
9Cush and Egypt were her boundless strength. Put and Libya were her helpers.
10Yet was she carried away. She went into captivity. Her young children also were dashed in pieces at the head of all the streets, and they cast lots for her honorable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.
11You also will be drunken. You will be hidden. You also will seek a stronghold because of the enemy.
12All your fortresses will be like fig trees with the first-ripe figs. If they are shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater.
13Behold, your troops among you are women. The gates of your land are set wide open to your enemies. The fire has devoured your bars.
14Draw water for the siege. Strengthen your fortresses. Go into the clay, and tread the mortar. Make the brick kiln strong.
15There the fire will devour you. The sword will cut you off. It will devour you like the grasshopper. Multiply like grasshoppers. Multiply like the locust.
16You have increased your merchants more than the stars of the skies. The grasshopper strips and flees away.
17Your guards are like the locusts, and your officials like the swarms of locusts, which settle on the walls on a cold day, but when the sun appears, they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.
18Your shepherds slumber, king of Assyria. Your nobles lie down. Your people are scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to gather them.
19There is no healing your wound, for your injury is fatal. All who hear the report of you clap their hands over you, for who hasn’t felt your endless cruelty?