Nahum 3 10

Nahum 3:10 kjv

Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.

Nahum 3:10 nkjv

Yet she was carried away, She went into captivity; Her young children also were dashed to pieces At the head of every street; They cast lots for her honorable men, And all her great men were bound in chains.

Nahum 3:10 niv

Yet she was taken captive and went into exile. Her infants were dashed to pieces at every street corner. Lots were cast for her nobles, and all her great men were put in chains.

Nahum 3:10 esv

Yet she became an exile; she went into captivity; her infants were dashed in pieces at the head of every street; for her honored men lots were cast, and all her great men were bound in chains.

Nahum 3:10 nlt

Yet Thebes fell,
and her people were led away as captives.
Her babies were dashed to death
against the stones of the streets.
Soldiers threw dice to get Egyptian officers as servants.
All their leaders were bound in chains.

Nahum 3 verses

Nahum 3 10 Meaning

Nahum 3:10 describes the complete and brutal destruction, subjugation, and humiliation that befell Thebes (No-amon), highlighting the terrible consequences of military defeat in the ancient Near East. The verse graphically illustrates the carrying away into captivity of its people, the merciless killing of its infants, the enslavement and casting of lots for its noble class, and the binding in chains of its leaders. This historical event is presented as a prophetic warning to Nineveh, signifying that its own pride and power would not save it from a similar, divinely orchestrated fate.

Nahum 3 10 Context

Nahum chapter 3 vividly details the imminent and utter destruction of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, by divine judgment. It opens by describing Nineveh as a "bloody city, all full of lies and robbery" (v. 1), condemning its cruelty, deception, and insatiable appetite for conquest. The prophet continues with graphic imagery of Nineveh's defeat, foretelling its armies being routed and its leaders disgraced.

Verse 10 falls within a rhetorical challenge posed to Nineveh in verses 8-9: "Are you better than No-amon [Thebes], which was situated by the River Nile, with water around her... Yet she was carried away, she went into captivity...?" This serves as a critical historical and prophetic comparison. The Assyrians themselves, under Ashurbanipal, had conquered Thebes, the mighty capital of Egypt (called No-amon or No-of-Amun), in 663 BC. Nahum uses this recent and well-known historical event—an act perpetrated by Nineveh's own empire—as a powerful object lesson. The question is poignant: if a city as formidable, wealthy, and well-protected as Thebes could fall and suffer such a terrible fate at Assyrian hands, then Nineveh, which inflicted this suffering, is likewise susceptible to the very same brutal judgment from the Lord. Verse 10 graphically outlines the specific horrors Thebes experienced, warning Nineveh that its own actions would be mirrored back upon it.

Nahum 3 10 Word analysis

• Yet: Marks a transition, introducing a stark contrast or surprising outcome. Despite Thebes' might (mentioned in v.8-9), this indicates its inevitable downfall.
• she was carried away: נָלְתָה (nālᵉṯāh) – from נָלָה (nālāh), "to be removed, exiled." Signifies forced displacement of an entire population, a common and cruel practice in ancient warfare, especially by the Assyrians.
• she went into captivity: הָלְכָה בַּשְּׁבִי (hālᵉḵāh baššĕvî) – literally, "she walked in captivity." This emphasizes the forced march of a defeated populace, symbolizing the loss of freedom and the degradation of national identity. It indicates a systematic removal.
• her young children: וְעֹלָלֶיהָ (wᵉ‘ōlālāyehā) – from עוֹלָל (‘ōlāl), referring to infants, suckling babies, or young children. Their vulnerability underscores the extreme barbarity and lack of mercy in the conquest.
• also were dashed to pieces: רֻטָּשׁוּ (ruṭṭāšû) – from רָטַשׁ (rāṭaš), "to dash, shatter, smash." This is a graphic and brutal act of infanticide, commonly performed by conquerors in the ancient Near East to utterly eradicate future generations and demoralize the enemy. It depicts extreme cruelty and complete annihilation.
• at the head of every street: בְּרֹאשׁ כָּל־חוּצֹת (bᵉrō’š kol-ḥûṣōṯ) – "at the top/beginning of all outer places/streets." This means publicly, visibly, and systematically in the open areas where people gather, intensifying the horror and shame. It implies a widespread and deliberate atrocity, not just random acts.
• and they cast lots: יַטִּילוּ גוֹרָל (yaṭṭîlû gôrāl) – "they caused a lot to fall." This refers to the ancient practice of distributing conquered peoples, land, or possessions as spoil among the victors. It reduces individuals to mere objects of transaction.
• for her honorable men: עַל־נִכְבַּדֶּיהָ (‘al-niḵbaddehā) – from נִכְבַּד (niḵbad), "respected, glorious, weighty." This refers to the prominent citizens, the elite, who would normally be protected or ransomed. Their subjection to lot-casting signifies utter humiliation and loss of status.
• and all her great men: וְכָל־גְּדוֹלֶיהָ (wᵉḵol-gᵉdōleyehā) – from גָּדוֹל (gādôl), "great, powerful, mighty." This term often denotes the leaders, military commanders, or influential figures. Their fate completes the picture of the total overthrow of the city's power structure.
• were bound in chains: בָּאזִקִּים (bā’ăziqqîm) – "in chains, fetters, shackles." This physical restraint is a sign of complete subjugation, humiliation, and preparation for forced labor or display as war trophies.

Words-group analysis:

• "carried away, she went into captivity": This dual phrase emphasizes the completeness of the exile – not just removed, but forcibly marched away as prisoners. It depicts the total loss of autonomy and national existence.
• "her young children also were dashed to pieces at the head of every street": This is a shocking and deeply disturbing image, underscoring the extreme brutality and comprehensive nature of the conquest. It highlights the aim of eradicating any future generations and breaking the will of the survivors by destroying the most vulnerable. This public spectacle also serves as a terrifying warning to others.
• "they cast lots for her honorable men, and all her great men were bound in chains": This phrase illustrates the profound degradation of the city's elite. Leaders, who held positions of respect and power, are reduced to property, divvied up like spoils, and paraded as shackled prisoners. It demonstrates the reversal of fortune and complete stripping of dignity and influence.

Nahum 3 10 Bonus section

The destruction of Thebes (No-amon) by the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal in 663 BC was a pivotal moment in ancient Near Eastern history, demonstrating the raw power of the Assyrian empire. For Nahum to recall this event—especially in such graphic detail—was to remind Nineveh, which celebrated such conquests, that divine justice would ensure they would soon be on the receiving end of similar, if not greater, devastation. The "dashing of children" (an act horrific to us today) was a documented practice in ancient warfare, aimed at preventing resurgence and instilling absolute terror. The Bible, while condemning such brutality, honestly records its historical occurrence as a consequence of unbridled human sin and as a tool through which God, in His sovereign power, sometimes allows judgment to unfold. This prophecy, fulfilled roughly 50 years after the fall of Thebes, demonstrates the certainty of God's prophetic word and His ultimate control over the destinies of nations.

Nahum 3 10 Commentary

Nahum 3:10 functions as a grim historical illustration used by the prophet to underpin his message of Nineveh's inescapable doom. By detailing the horrific fate of Thebes, a city once considered impregnable and culturally rich, the verse dismantles any illusion of invincibility Nineveh might hold. The gruesome specifics – forced exodus, infanticide, the enslavement of nobility, and the public shaming of leaders – reflect the cruelties inherent in ancient warfare, practices which Assyria itself had perfected and widely inflicted. The Lord, through Nahum, is turning Nineveh's own tactics back upon them. This serves as a profound statement on divine justice: what a nation sows in violence and oppression, it will ultimately reap in destruction. It illustrates that no human power, no matter how great or secure, can withstand the righteous judgment of the Sovereign God. The theologically significant point is not just the devastation, but that it is a direct consequence of divine decree against extreme wickedness and pride.