Nahum 1 6

Nahum 1:6 kjv

Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

Nahum 1:6 nkjv

Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, And the rocks are thrown down by Him.

Nahum 1:6 niv

Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him.

Nahum 1:6 esv

Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.

Nahum 1:6 nlt

Who can stand before his fierce anger?
Who can survive his burning fury?
His rage blazes forth like fire,
and the mountains crumble to dust in his presence.

Nahum 1 verses

Nahum 1 6 Meaning

Nahum 1:6 poses rhetorical questions emphasizing the irresistible and destructive power of God's wrath. It declares that no one can withstand or endure His intense indignation and fierce anger. The verse graphically illustrates this by stating that God's fury is poured out like a consuming fire, powerful enough to shatter even the strongest rocks, underscoring the absolute futility of any opposition to Him.

Nahum 1 6 Context

Nahum 1:6 is part of an oracle (a divine burden or prophecy) primarily directed against Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. Chapter 1 introduces the Lord's character in His relation to both His people and their enemies. Verses 2-3 describe God as a "jealous and avenging God" who is slow to anger but "great in power." Verses 4-5 further magnify His power, depicting creation's terror at His presence, where even mountains quake and hills melt. Verse 6 functions as a climatic rhetorical challenge building on these descriptions, setting the stage for the specific judgment against Nineveh elaborated in Chapters 2 and 3.

Historically, Assyria was a dominant, cruel, and pagan empire that had previously sacked Judah's southern neighbor Thebes (No-Amon in Nahum 3) and significantly oppressed Judah. The book offers a message of comfort and vindication for God's oppressed people by prophesying the downfall of their seemingly invincible oppressor. Nineveh, renowned for its fortifications and military might, believed itself impenetrable, but this verse asserts that no human or natural defense can withstand God's ultimate power. The destruction of Nineveh occurred in 612 BC, validating this prophecy.

Nahum 1 6 Word analysis

• Who can stand (מִי יַעֲמֹד - mî yaʿămōḏ): This is a rhetorical question common in Scripture, directly implying "no one." It emphasizes the utter inability of any created being or nation, including formidable Nineveh, to resist or oppose God. It highlights human helplessness in the face of divine power.

• before his indignation? (לִפְנֵי זַעְמוֹ - lip̄nê zaʿmô):

  • indignation (זַעַם - zaʿam): Denotes strong, furious anger or wrath, often sudden and tempestuous. It's not a mere human emotion but God's righteous displeasure against wickedness, a righteous judgment that burns with intense heat.

• and who can abide (וּמִי יָקוּם - ûmî yāqūm): This phrase parallels "who can stand," reinforcing the rhetorical nature of the question. Yāqūm suggests not just standing but standing firm, enduring, or arising victoriously. The implication remains: none can.

• in the fierceness of his anger? (בַּחֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ - baḥărôn ʾappô):

  • fierceness (חֲרוֹן - ḥărōn): Conveys "fierce heat," "burning," or "blazing." It speaks to the intense, destructive quality of the anger.
  • anger (אַף - ʾap̄): Literally "nose" or "nostrils," this Hebrew idiom refers to anger through the image of the "flaring" of the nostrils or heated breath during intense emotion. It's a vivid depiction of intense wrath.

• his fury (חֲמָתוֹ - ḥămātô):

  • fury (חֵמָה - ḥēmāh): Implies "heat," "rage," or "venom." Here, it points to a consuming, destructive rage, distinct from human emotions by its perfection and devastating consequence.

• is poured out like fire, (נִתְּכָה כָאֵשׁ - nittəḵāh kāʾēš):

  • is poured out (נָתַךְ - nāṯak): Signifies a massive, uncontained flow, like molten metal, suggesting overwhelming abundance and irresistible force.
  • like fire (כָּאֵשׁ - kāʾēš): Fire is a frequent biblical metaphor for God's judgment. It consumes, purifies, and destroys all opposition, leaving nothing. It conveys intense heat and absolute destruction.

• and the rocks (וְהַצּוּרִים - wəhaṣṣūrîm):

  • rocks (צוּר - ṣūr): Represents strength, permanence, and immutability—often a metaphor for God Himself (Ps 18:2, 31). Here, even the most solid, enduring natural elements are no match for His wrath. It symbolically refers to fortresses or strongholds, including Nineveh.

• are thrown down by him. (נִתְּצוּ מִמֶּנּוּ - nittəṣū mimmɛnnū):

  • are thrown down (נָתַץ - nāṯaṣ): Means "to tear down," "break down," "demolish," or "shatter." It indicates violent, utter demolition.
  • by him (מִמֶּנּוּ - mimmɛnnū): Clearly establishes God as the direct and irresistible agent of this shattering destruction.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Who can stand...and who can abide": These two parallel rhetorical questions function as an inescapable assertion: no one can endure God's wrath. They remove any illusion of resistance.
  • "indignation...fierceness of his anger...his fury": These terms progressively intensify, cumulatively describing God's perfect, devastating wrath as multifaceted, all-consuming, and justly earned by the wicked.
  • "poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down": This vivid imagery illustrates the destructive scope and force of God's wrath. Fire consumes and devastates everything, while even the seemingly indestructible rocks are shattered. This points to the complete and utterly ruinous effect of His judgment on any who stand against Him, irrespective of their strength.

Nahum 1 6 Bonus Section

The powerful imagery in Nahum 1:6 may evoke ancient Near Eastern concepts of divine warrior deities who manifest their power through storms, earthquakes, and volcanic activity, thus communicating God's unparalleled sovereignty to a culturally familiar audience, while simultaneously demonstrating His superiority over all false gods. This verse also implicitly contrasts the "fire" of God's wrath with human, pagan practices involving fire, such as Molech worship, demonstrating that God's holy power dwarfs all human attempts at ritual power or idolatry. The emphasis on God as the agent ("by Him") clarifies that this is not an arbitrary act but a direct, controlled outpouring of His just judgment, unlike chaotic human violence.

Nahum 1 6 Commentary

Nahum 1:6 is a potent declaration of God's sovereign and irresistible judgment, following directly from the descriptions of His power in previous verses. It establishes a core theological truth: God’s wrath is not merely a human emotion but a perfect, righteous attribute of His divine character that will inevitably manifest against sustained wickedness. The repeated rhetorical questions, "Who can stand...and who can abide...?", underscore the futility of resistance to God. The answers are self-evident: no one can.

The imagery used – fury "poured out like fire" and "rocks... thrown down" – conveys a cosmic-level demolition. Fire is consistently a biblical symbol of God’s holiness and consuming judgment, utterly destroying opposition. The breaking of rocks, foundational and seemingly immutable, further amplifies this destruction, suggesting that even the strongest earthly fortifications (like Nineveh's), or any natural impediment, offer no sanctuary from His determined judgment. This prophecy brought profound assurance to Judah, suffering under the brutal Assyrians, that their powerful oppressor was, in reality, fragile before the Almighty. For Nineveh, it foretold utter destruction that no strength could avert.

Practically, this verse reminds believers of God's holy hatred for sin and His ultimate victory over evil. It should foster reverence and inspire sincere repentance and humility. It teaches us to never underestimate God's capacity for righteous judgment, while paradoxically, Nahum 1:7 then offers immense comfort that He is a stronghold to those who take refuge in Him during such days of trouble.