Nahum 1 11

Nahum 1:11 kjv

There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.

Nahum 1:11 nkjv

From you comes forth one Who plots evil against the LORD, A wicked counselor.

Nahum 1:11 niv

From you, Nineveh, has one come forth who plots evil against the LORD and devises wicked plans.

Nahum 1:11 esv

From you came one who plotted evil against the LORD, a worthless counselor.

Nahum 1:11 nlt

Who is this wicked counselor of yours
who plots evil against the LORD?

Nahum 1 verses

Nahum 1 11 Meaning

This verse pinpoints Nineveh (represented by "you") as the source of an individual or spirit of leadership that intentionally devises harm directly against the Lord Himself. This plotting originates from counsel that is utterly devoid of moral value, inherently wicked, and ultimately leads to ruin or destruction. It reveals the profound spiritual dimension of Nineveh's opposition, transcending mere political enmity to direct rebellion against the Almighty.

Nahum 1 11 Context

Nahum's prophecy is specifically directed against Nineveh, the formidable capital of Assyria, the dominant world power of his time. Chapter 1 introduces the Lord's character: a jealous, avenging God (vv. 2-3) who is slow to anger but great in power, relentlessly opposing His adversaries. While His wrath is terrible, He is also a stronghold for those who trust Him (vv. 7-8). Verse 11 directly indicts Nineveh, explaining why such overwhelming judgment is coming upon it. It highlights that Nineveh's oppression and pride were not merely political acts against other nations, but a direct affront to God Himself, arising from an inherent wickedness. The verse follows an emphatic declaration of God's destructive power against His enemies and serves as a direct explanation for His upcoming retribution against the city that dared to defy Him.

Nahum 1 11 Word analysis

• From you (מִמֵּךְ, Mimmeḵa): This precise phrase literally means "from within you" or "out of you." The suffix 'ḵa' is feminine singular, referring directly to Nineveh. This emphasizes that the wickedness originates intrinsically from the city/empire itself, not merely influenced from without. It denotes an internal disposition or emergence, signaling its deep-seated depravity.
• came forth (יָצָא, Yāṣā’): This verb indicates an action of going out, proceeding, or emerging. In this context, it implies a consistent manifestation or a distinct emergence of a particular entity or mindset. It is a powerful statement of origin, revealing Nineveh's true nature.
• one who plots evil (חֹשֵׁב רָעָה, ḥōšēḇ rā‘â):
  • plots (חֹשֵׁב, ḥōšēḇ): This is a participle, indicating ongoing action. It means "to devise," "to scheme," "to reckon," "to plan." It denotes deliberate, premeditated, and often cunning design, not accidental or impulsive action.
  • evil (רָעָה, rā‘â): This noun is broad in its meaning, encompassing moral evil, wickedness, disaster, misfortune, and harm. Combined with "plots," it signifies malicious schemes intended to inflict suffering or bring about destruction.
• against the Lord (עַל־יְהוָה, ‘al YHWH): This phrase is crucial.
  • against (עַל, ‘al): Can mean "against," "upon," or "concerning." Here, it signifies direct opposition and hostility.
  • the Lord (יְהוָה, YHWH): The covenant name of God, indicating His personal, revealed character as the sovereign Creator and Redeemer. The plotting is not just against His people, Israel, but against His divine authority and very being. This transforms political schemes into cosmic rebellion. It also serves as a polemic against the Assyrian deities and their kings' claims of divine sanction; they were truly opposing the one true God.
• a worthless counselor (יוֹעֵץ בְּלִיָּעַל, yō‘ēṣ Bĕliyya‘al):
  • counselor (יוֹעֵץ, yō‘ēṣ): A noun meaning "adviser," "one who gives counsel" or "devise plans." It points to the strategic, decision-making center of the empire, whether the king himself, his chief advisers, or the very spirit guiding their policies.
  • worthless (בְּלִיָּעַל, Bĕliyya‘al): This is a deeply significant and evocative Hebrew term. Etymologically, it's often linked to "bĕli" (without) and "ya‘al" (profit, usefulness), meaning "without profit" or "worthless." However, it carries profound moral and spiritual weight, referring to moral depravity, utter wickedness, and destructive baseness. In the Old Testament, "sons of Belial" refers to utterly vile, lawless, and rebellious individuals (e.g., Deut 13:13; Jdg 19:22; 1 Sam 2:12; 25:17). In some interpretations, it could even carry a hint of demonic or satanic influence, paralleled later in the NT (2 Cor 6:15). Thus, this counsel is not just futile; it is inherently corrupt and aligned with rebellion against God.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "From you came forth one who plots evil": This powerfully establishes Nineveh's internal corruption as the source of systematic, malicious planning. It isn't a reaction to external threats but an active, originating force of wickedness. The "one" (Hebrew simply uses the participle) could be a specific king (like Sennacherib who defied God in Hezekiah's time) or more broadly, the very spirit, ideology, or ruling power of the Assyrian empire personified.
• "against the Lord, a worthless counselor": This pairing explicitly reveals the true nature and target of their malicious devising. Their "evil plots" are fundamentally anti-God. The description of this plot-developer as a "worthless counselor" encapsulates the ultimate futility and moral depravity of their designs. All human counsel or schemes that oppose the Lord are destined for failure and are, by their very nature, "worthless," belonging to the sphere of chaos and destruction rather than God's order. It underscores the profound theological contrast between the steadfast, divine counsel of God (Ps 33:10-11; Isa 46:10) and the depraved, impotent counsel of those who oppose Him.

Nahum 1 11 Bonus section

The precise identity of "one who plots evil" has been a subject of scholarly discussion. While some commentaries point to specific historical figures like Sennacherib, who famously blasphemed God (2 Kgs 19:10-13), many interpret it as representing the entire mindset or spirit of Assyria itself, personifying its anti-God posture. The nature of "Beliya'al" can also be considered to stretch beyond mere human depravity, touching upon the spiritual forces of evil (as suggested by its New Testament use in 2 Cor 6:15) that often motivate arrogant earthly powers to defy the Most High. The ultimate irony embedded in this verse is that the "worthless counselor" whose advice leads to plotting against the Lord is also the one whose plans will utterly fail, reinforcing the divine truth that "there is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel against the LORD" (Prov 21:30).

Nahum 1 11 Commentary

Nahum 1:11 encapsulates the core reason for Nineveh's impending destruction: their imperial actions were not merely geopolitics but a direct and deliberate rebellion against Yahweh, the sovereign Lord. The "one who plots evil" speaks to the guiding intelligence and ethos of the Assyrian empire, manifesting in a leadership whose "counsel" (strategies, decisions, and guiding philosophy) was profoundly depraved—a "worthless counselor." The use of Beliya'al stresses its utter vileness and unprofitableness in the face of God's power. Nineveh's schemes, though powerful by human standards, are deemed utterly futile and destructive because they were aimed at defying the Creator. This verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty and the ultimate vanity of any human wisdom or strength that arrays itself against Him, revealing that God's judgment is not arbitrary but a just response to direct, conscious rebellion against His holy person and authority. This can be observed today when individuals or nations devise strategies for their own gain without reference to God's standards, often leading to moral bankruptcy and eventual collapse.