Nahum 3 5

Nahum 3:5 kjv

Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.

Nahum 3:5 nkjv

"Behold, I am against you," says the LORD of hosts; "I will lift your skirts over your face, I will show the nations your nakedness, And the kingdoms your shame.

Nahum 3:5 niv

"I am against you," declares the LORD Almighty. "I will lift your skirts over your face. I will show the nations your nakedness and the kingdoms your shame.

Nahum 3:5 esv

Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will make nations look at your nakedness and kingdoms at your shame.

Nahum 3:5 nlt

"I am your enemy!"
says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.
"And now I will lift your skirts
and show all the earth your nakedness and shame.

Nahum 3 verses

Nahum 3 5 Meaning

Nahum 3:5 declares the absolute and public judgment of the Lord God against Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria. Metaphorically portraying Nineveh as a harlot, the verse proclaims that God Himself will disgrace her, stripping away her coverings and exposing her ignominy and vulnerability to all nations and kingdoms. This signifies the total destruction and humiliation of a city that was once powerful and proud, revealing its true spiritual and moral corruption before the world.

Nahum 3 5 Context

Nahum chapter 3 vividly describes the prophesied destruction of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, portraying it as a city stained with bloodshed, deceit, and "harlotry." This "harlotry" refers metaphorically to Nineveh's treacherous dealings with other nations through political alliances and sorcery (mentioned in verse 4), which entangled and oppressed others, rather than literal prostitution. The chapter opens with woes pronounced against the "bloody city," highlighting its pervasive violence and rapacity (3:1-3). Following the charge of spiritual and political harlotry and sorcery in verse 4, Nahum 3:5 delivers a direct divine pronouncement of judgment, detailing the public humiliation and disgrace Nineveh will face. Historically, Assyria, particularly Nineveh, was notorious for its cruelty, military might, and dominance over many nations, often exhibiting arrogance and boasting in its perceived impregnability. This prophecy directly confronts Nineveh's self-assured pride, declaring that its downfall will be complete, humiliating, and globally witnessed.

Nahum 3 5 Word analysis

• "Behold, I am against you":

  • "Behold" (הִנְנִי - hin'nī): An emphatic declaration, drawing immediate attention to the speaker. It signifies divine presence and an impending, certain action.
  • "I am against you" (אֵלַיִךְ - ʾēlayikh): A direct and personal confrontation from God to Nineveh (implied from the surrounding context). This expresses strong, active opposition, highlighting that Nineveh's fate is a direct result of God's sovereign judgment, not merely the vicissitudes of human conflict. This phrasing leaves no ambiguity about the source of the impending destruction.

• "declares the Lord of hosts":

  • "declares" (נְאֻם - neʾum): A prophetic formula, denoting a divine oracle. It underscores that this is a direct utterance from God, carrying ultimate authority and truth.
  • "the Lord of hosts" (יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת - Yahweh Tsvaʾot): This title emphasizes God's supreme sovereignty and power. Yahweh is the covenant name of God, indicating His faithfulness and eternality. Tsvaʾot means "armies" or "hosts," signifying God as the commander of heavenly armies and all creation, indicating that He has the power and resources to fulfill His pronouncements, no matter how mighty Nineveh might seem.

• "And I will strip your skirts from your face":

  • "And I will strip" (וְגִלֵּיתִ֥י - wəḡillêtî): From the Hebrew root gā·lāh, meaning "to uncover," "reveal," or "expose." It implies a forceful and intentional act of stripping.
  • "your skirts" (שׁוּלַ֛יִךְ - shūlayikh): Refers to the long train or lower hem of a garment, especially a robe worn by a woman. This metaphorical image is culturally potent, often associated with a woman's modesty and dignity. The action signifies a deep desecration and humiliation.
  • "from your face" (עַל־פָּנַ֖יִךְ - ʿal-pānāyikh): Literally "over your face" or "on your face." This idiom indicates extreme and utter exposure, where the garment is lifted high over the head, leaving the entire body naked. It signifies the inability to hide or conceal any shame, removing all semblance of honor or covering.

• "And show nations your nakedness":

  • "And show" (וְהַרְאֵיתִ֥י - wəharʾêtî): From the root rāʾāh, "to see" or "to show." Emphasizes the public nature of the humiliation.
  • "nations" (גוֹיִ֖ם - gôyim): All the Gentile peoples. This highlights the global audience for Nineveh's downfall, underscoring God's demonstration of justice on a grand scale, to those Nineveh oppressed and to others.
  • "your nakedness" (עֶרְוָתֵ֑ךְ - ʿerwātēkh): Refers to a state of being uncovered, especially of one's shameful or private parts. In this context, it symbolizes utter disgrace, vulnerability, and public dishonor, fitting for a city depicted as a harlot (Nahum 3:4).

• "And kingdoms your shame":

  • "And kingdoms" (וּמַמְלָכ֖וֹת - ūmamlakôt): Parallels "nations," reiterating the broad scope of the audience witnessing Nineveh's disgrace. This emphasizes the worldwide recognition of God's righteous judgment.
  • "your shame" (קָלוֹנֵֽךְ - qālōnēkh): From the root qālōn, meaning "disgrace," "ignominy," or "dishonor." It encompasses the full extent of public degradation and loss of pride.

• Word Groups Analysis:

  • "Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts": This opening sets a divine confrontation, emphasizing God's initiative, power, and sovereign authority in judgment. It's a formal, undeniable pronouncement of war from the ultimate Ruler.
  • "And I will strip your skirts from your face, And show nations your nakedness, And kingdoms your shame": This forms a poetic couplet of parallel judgments. The action of "stripping skirts from your face" vividly portrays forced, public humiliation. The consequences – showing "nations your nakedness" and "kingdoms your shame" – emphasize the complete and globally witnessed degradation, aligning the judgment with the metaphorical harlotry mentioned in the preceding verse. It’s a judgment designed not just to destroy but to publicly expose and condemn Nineveh's moral and spiritual depravity.

Nahum 3 5 Bonus section

The specific idiom "strip your skirts from your face" or "over your face" is a particularly forceful expression of humiliation in ancient Near Eastern and biblical texts. Unlike simply exposing one's lower parts, pulling the garment over the head ensures complete and inescapable exposure of the entire body. This was an ultimate public disgrace for women, often inflicted upon captives of war, designed to rob them of all dignity. This detail accentuates the comprehensive and demeaning nature of the judgment against Nineveh, signaling that it will be stripped of its pride, power, and everything it sought to hide. This imagery of ultimate shame serves as a powerful deterrent against spiritual apostasy and international treachery, reminding believers that divine judgment is not merely destructive but also perfectly righteous in exposing sin.

Nahum 3 5 Commentary

Nahum 3:5 delivers a severe and graphically symbolic pronouncement of divine judgment against Nineveh. The vivid imagery of stripping away garments and exposing nakedness to nations signifies not merely military defeat but utter public disgrace and moral revelation. Nineveh, metaphorically portrayed as a "harlot" in Nahum 3:4 due to its exploitative political alliances, oppressive cruelty, and idolatry, will now face the just consequences of its actions. The "Lord of hosts," the sovereign and powerful God, asserts His direct antagonism, declaring that He Himself will carry out this humiliating judgment. This public display serves several purposes: it underscores the extent of Nineveh's depravity, validates God's righteous character before a world suffering under Assyrian oppression, and demonstrates that no power, no matter how mighty, can stand against the decree of the Almighty. This public shaming highlights God's role as the just Judge who holds nations accountable for their wickedness and vindicates the oppressed. For instance, just as a powerful empire might parade captives to assert dominance, God will publicly expose Nineveh's shame to declare His ultimate authority and justice.