Nahum 1 12

Nahum 1:12 kjv

Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

Nahum 1:12 nkjv

Thus says the LORD: "Though they are safe, and likewise many, Yet in this manner they will be cut down When he passes through. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more;

Nahum 1:12 niv

This is what the LORD says: "Although they have allies and are numerous, they will be destroyed and pass away. Although I have afflicted you, Judah, I will afflict you no more.

Nahum 1:12 esv

Thus says the LORD, "Though they are at full strength and many, they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.

Nahum 1:12 nlt

This is what the LORD says:
"Though the Assyrians have many allies,
they will be destroyed and disappear.
O my people, I have punished you before,
but I will not punish you again.

Nahum 1 verses

Nahum 1 12 Meaning

Nahum 1:12 proclaims a divine decree of absolute judgment against the powerful Assyrian Empire, specifically its capital Nineveh, contrasting it with a gracious promise of relief and restoration for God's afflicted people, Judah. Despite Nineveh's vast strength, numbers, and apparent security, Yahweh declares their total and swift annihilation. Simultaneously, the Lord reassures Judah that their long period of suffering under Assyrian oppression, which was part of God's sovereign hand, will conclusively cease.

Nahum 1 12 Context

Nahum 1:12 falls within the first chapter of Nahum, which serves as a majestic preamble to the prophecy against Nineveh. The preceding verses (Nahum 1:2-8) establish the formidable character of Yahweh: He is a jealous and avenging God who, though slow to anger, is great in power and will by no means clear the guilty. This depiction of divine wrath is specifically aimed at those who oppose His people. Conversely, He is a stronghold in the day of trouble and knows those who take refuge in Him.

Verse 12 is a pivot, applying this general truth of God's character to the specific situation of Assyria (represented by Nineveh) and Judah. Historically, Judah had endured centuries of oppression and heavy tribute under the ruthless Assyrian Empire. The Assyrians were notorious for their military might, vast numbers, and brutal policies, causing widespread fear and devastation throughout the ancient Near East. Their capital, Nineveh, was a sprawling, seemingly impregnable city, a symbol of their immense power. This verse brings the assurance of Nineveh's downfall as a direct act of Yahweh, simultaneously promising an end to the affliction experienced by Judah, His chosen people, whose suffering under Assyria was, paradoxically, permitted by God as discipline but now reached its appointed end.

Nahum 1 12 Word analysis

• "Thus says the LORD" (כה אמר יהוה, Koh amar Yahweh):

  • Word: "Thus says" (Koh amar).
  • Significance: A formulaic prophetic introduction found throughout the Old Testament. It signifies a direct divine utterance, lending ultimate authority and certainty to the following declaration. It is not human opinion but God's absolute word.
  • Word: "LORD" (Yahweh).
  • Significance: The covenant name of God, revealing Him as the sovereign, self-existent God who fulfills His promises and executes His judgments. It highlights His unique power compared to pagan deities worshipped by the Assyrians.

• "Though they are at full strength" (וְכֵן שְׁלֵמִים, w'ken sh'lemim):

  • Word: "Though" (w'chen - sometimes translated as 'though' or 'thus' and implies emphasis on the following condition).
  • Word: "full strength" (sh'lemim, from the root שׁלם, shalem).
  • Significance: Implies wholeness, completeness, being sound, prosperous, or uninjured. In context, it refers to Nineveh's robust state, perceived military invincibility, vast resources, and unchallenged power. It highlights the stark contrast to their coming doom, emphasizing that even their peak strength will not save them.

• "and many" (וְכֵן רַבִּים, w'ken rabbim):

  • Word: "many" (rabbim, from the root רבב, ravav).
  • Significance: Refers to great numbers, multitude, or abundance. This reinforces the description of Assyria's overwhelming human resources, its large armies, and vast population in Nineveh. It underscores the seeming impossibility of their defeat by human standards.

• "They will be cut off" (גַּזּוּ, gazzu):

  • Word: "cut off" (gazzu, from the root גזז, gazaz).
  • Significance: This verb means to shear, cut, destroy, or obliterate. It suggests a decisive, thorough, and sudden act of eradication, like wool being sheared or a vine being pruned back to nothing. It speaks to the totality of Nineveh's destruction.

• "and pass away" (וְעָבָר, w'avar):

  • Word: "pass away" (w'avar, from the root עבר, avar).
  • Significance: Means to pass over, pass by, vanish, or perish. It signifies transience and final disappearance. Juxtaposed with "cut off," it implies that their might will not only be destroyed but will cease to exist or influence, becoming a historical footnote.

• "Though I have afflicted you" (וְכֵן עִנּוּךְ, w'chen 'innuch):

  • Word: "afflicted" ('innuch, from the root ענה, anah).
  • Significance: Means to humble, afflict, oppress, or discipline. The direct involvement of "I" (the LORD) is crucial. This states that Judah's suffering at the hands of Assyria was not random misfortune but a purposeful, divine allowance or act of discipline. This acknowledged pain makes the following promise of cessation all the more significant.

• "I will afflict you no more" (לֹא יֹסֵף יַעַנּוּךְ, lo yosef ya'annuch):

  • Word: "no more" (lo yosef, literally "will not add").
  • Significance: Denotes a conclusive, permanent cessation. There will be no continuation or repetition of this particular form of severe oppression. It’s an emphatic divine promise of an end to suffering directly caused or allowed by God's hand against His people.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Thus says the LORD: Though they are at full strength and many": This opening sets up a cosmic confrontation. It directly challenges human reliance on military might and numerical superiority by declaring that the most powerful empire known will fall, simply because the LORD, the ultimate authority, has decreed it. It establishes the principle that God's power far transcends any human capability or earthly empire.
• "They will be cut off and pass away.": This concise declaration details the method and completeness of the judgment. "Cut off" suggests a swift, decisive, and irreversible annihilation. "Pass away" implies that their legacy, power, and memory will utterly vanish, not merely weaken. It serves as a dramatic counter-statement to Assyria's perceived permanence and global dominance.
• "Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.": This segment shifts focus entirely to God's people, Judah. The direct address "you" affirms God's intimate relationship and care. It acknowledges divine involvement in Judah's suffering ("I have afflicted you"), indicating that the pain was not arbitrary but had a purpose (discipline, refining). The crucial promise "I will afflict you no more" delivers immense comfort and hope, signaling a turning point from a period of divine judgment to one of redemption and protection. This phrase underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant people, guaranteeing an end to their period of severe trials and an inauguration of an era of peace.

Nahum 1 12 Bonus section

The structure of Nahum 1:12 employs a parallelism that emphasizes contrasting destinies: one for the proud oppressor, and another for the humbled people of God. The "though... yet" or "although... but" structure highlights God's justice in action—His unchallengeable power ensures the downfall of the wicked and the restoration of the righteous. This verse served as a beacon of hope to the Judahites living under constant Assyrian dread, affirming Yahweh's covenant faithfulness even through prolonged periods of suffering. The specificity of the affliction and its cessation points to a definite historical deliverance, yet its themes of God judging overwhelming evil and providing rest for His weary ones resonate throughout all Scripture, culminating in the ultimate freedom from all forms of oppression and suffering in Christ.

Nahum 1 12 Commentary

Nahum 1:12 distills the core message of the entire book: divine justice upon the wicked oppressor and unwavering comfort for God's suffering people. It opens with Yahweh's authoritative pronouncement, contrasting Nineveh's earthly strength and multitude with its imminent, absolute, and divinely ordained destruction. This highlights that no human power, however formidable, can withstand the decree of the Almighty God. The verb "cut off" suggests a complete and violent severing, while "pass away" indicates final obliteration, making Nineveh's downfall irreversible.

The latter part of the verse turns God's gaze towards Judah. The admission, "Though I have afflicted you," reveals God's sovereignty over even the hardships His people endure, often for their discipline or testing. However, this divine chastening is not eternal. The promise "I will afflict you no more" signifies a new chapter of divine favor and protection. This isn't merely a promise that Assyria will cease oppressing them, but a deeper pledge from God Himself to cease His disciplinary action, leading to enduring peace. The verse powerfully demonstrates that God, while the fearsome Avenger of His foes, is simultaneously the tender Comforter and ultimate Deliverer of His covenant people.