Nahum 3 19

Nahum 3:19 kjv

There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?

Nahum 3:19 nkjv

Your injury has no healing, Your wound is severe. All who hear news of you Will clap their hands over you, For upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually?

Nahum 3:19 niv

Nothing can heal you; your wound is fatal. All who hear the news about you clap their hands at your fall, for who has not felt your endless cruelty?

Nahum 3:19 esv

There is no easing your hurt; your wound is grievous. All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil?

Nahum 3:19 nlt

There is no healing for your wound;
your injury is fatal.
All who hear of your destruction
will clap their hands for joy.
Where can anyone be found
who has not suffered from your continual cruelty?

Nahum 3 verses

Nahum 3 19 Meaning

Nahum 3:19 declares the irreversible doom of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. It reveals that the severe wound inflicted upon the city is beyond healing, its injury incurable. This catastrophic fall brings universal acclaim and applause from all who witness or hear of it. The verse explicitly attributes this global rejoicing to Nineveh's long history of pervasive and constant evil, affirming that her own relentless malice is the righteous cause of her utter and unrecoverable destruction.

Nahum 3 19 Context

Nahum, one of the Minor Prophets, prophesies the total destruction of Nineveh, the capital of the formidable Assyrian Empire. Chapters 1 and 2 detail the nature of God’s avenging power and the coming military siege and collapse of the city. Chapter 3 specifically focuses on the reasons for Nineveh’s demise—her wickedness, idolatry, and unbridled cruelty as a "bloody city." The preceding verses (Nahum 3:1-18) graphically depict Nineveh as a harlot ensnaring nations and a ravenous lion devouring them, and describe her impending desolation and the impotence of her vast army. Verse 19 serves as the chilling conclusion to the prophecy, confirming the permanence of Nineveh's defeat and articulating the widespread relief and celebration that would follow, directly linking her ruin to her persistent and widespread malice against other nations. Historically, Assyria had been the dominant world power for centuries, subjugating Israel and Judah and notorious for its brutal military tactics and oppressive rule. This prophecy, delivered likely around the late 7th century BC, offered hope to Judah amidst Assyrian oppression and was remarkably fulfilled when Nineveh fell to the combined forces of the Babylonians and Medes in 612 BC. The verse polemically counters the Assyrian boasts of invincibility and the protection of their gods by proclaiming Yahweh's ultimate sovereignty and justice over even the mightiest empires.

Nahum 3 19 Word analysis

• There is no relief for your wound; your injury is incurable.

  • no relief / your wound: The Hebrew word for "wound" (שֶׁ֫בֶר, shebher) signifies a "breaking" or "crushing," often used for a severe physical injury or a national disaster. The phrase "no relief" (אֵין־כֵּהָה, ʾêyn kêhāh) literally means "there is no alleviation/healing," pointing to a permanent, unfixable condition. This suggests not merely a defeat but an absolute and irrecoverable collapse.
  • incurable: The Hebrew word (נַחְלָה, naḥlāh) reinforces the permanence, indicating that the injury is beyond repair or remedy. This echoes prophetic judgments against Judah or other nations (e.g., Jer 30:12) and highlights the finality of Nineveh’s demise. It means no restoration or recovery.

• All who hear the news of you clap their hands over you.

  • All who hear the news of you: This emphasizes the widespread, even global, awareness and rejoicing. Nineveh's tyrannical reputation ensured that many nations were eagerly anticipating its downfall. The "news" (שְׁמֻעָה, shemūʿah) here is a report of its collapse.
  • clap their hands: The gesture (תָּקְעוּ כַף, taqʿu kāph) universally conveys emotion, but in prophetic literature, it is most often used to signify derision, astonishment, or, as here, joy and triumph over an enemy’s defeat (e.g., Ez 25:6, Lam 2:15, Ps 47:1). This is a public expression of delight, celebrating Nineveh’s complete ruin.

• For who has not experienced your constant malice?

  • For who has not experienced: This is a rhetorical question, powerfully implying that everyone had experienced Nineveh’s oppression. The sheer ubiquity of its cruelty is highlighted. It asserts that Nineveh’s reign was one of widespread suffering for its neighbors.
  • your constant malice: The Hebrew (תָּמִיד רָעָתֶךָ, tāmîḏ rāʿāṯeḵā) signifies a perpetual, inherent, and pervasive evil ("malice" or "wickedness") that defined Nineveh's interactions with other nations. It was not an occasional misstep but an established pattern of oppressive behavior, characterized by ruthlessness, plunder, and a disregard for human life and dignity. This sustained evil is presented as the just cause for its unpitied, irreversible destruction.

Nahum 3 19 Bonus section

The destruction of Nineveh in 612 BC, as foretold by Nahum, was so complete that its very location became forgotten for centuries, only rediscovered in the 19th century through archaeological endeavors. This stands as a remarkable testament to the precision of prophetic fulfillment found in Nahum 3:19 and the rest of the book. The city that boasted of its impregnable walls and unmatched military might literally became a desolate ruin, a "place of rest for flocks" (Zeph 2:15). This total oblivion confirms the "incurable" nature of its wound, reinforcing that the fall was not merely a military defeat but a divine act of annihilation to remove a pervasive evil from the earth.

Nahum 3 19 Commentary

Nahum 3:19 delivers the concluding pronouncement of Nineveh's fate, declaring a judgment without reprieve. The imagery of an "incurable wound" underscores the absolute finality of its destruction; there would be no rebuilding or resurgence for the Assyrian Empire as a dominant force. The worldwide clapping is a poignant and stark contrast to Nineveh's terroristic reign; those who once trembled at her name now celebrate her fall with unadulterated joy. This global relief stems directly from Nineveh's long history of "constant malice" – her sustained cruelty, brutality, and unchecked power that afflicted surrounding nations. The verse thus articulates a core biblical truth: divine justice, though sometimes delayed, will surely come. Empires that rule through consistent oppression and wickedness, rejecting righteous limits, will ultimately face an irreversible end ordained by the sovereign Lord, becoming a testimony to His just governance over all the earth.