Nahum 3 8

Nahum 3:8 kjv

Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?

Nahum 3:8 nkjv

Are you better than No Amon That was situated by the River, That had the waters around her, Whose rampart was the sea, Whose wall was the sea?

Nahum 3:8 niv

Are you better than Thebes, situated on the Nile, with water around her? The river was her defense, the waters her wall.

Nahum 3:8 esv

Are you better than Thebes that sat by the Nile, with water around her, her rampart a sea, and water her wall?

Nahum 3:8 nlt

Are you any better than the city of Thebes,
situated on the Nile River, surrounded by water?
She was protected by the river on all sides,
walled in by water.

Nahum 3 verses

Nahum 3 8 Meaning

Nahum 3:8 serves as a rhetorical question directed at Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, challenging its assumed invincibility. It questions whether Nineveh believes itself to be stronger or more secure than Thebes (No-amon), a mighty Egyptian capital known for its formidable natural defenses, which nevertheless succumbed to conquest. The verse foreshadows Nineveh's impending downfall, indicating that even immense human power and natural fortresses cannot withstand divine judgment.

Nahum 3 8 Context

This verse is situated in Nahum chapter 3, which vividly describes the impending destruction of Nineveh, the capital of the oppressive Assyrian Empire. Following chapters 1 and 2, which introduce the Lord’s just anger and portray the fierce siege and capture of Nineveh, chapter 3 elaborates on the reasons for her demise and her utter desolation. The city is depicted as a "bloody city" full of lies, plunder, and unrelenting cruelty. Nahum 3:8, specifically, is part of a series of rhetorical questions and declarations meant to shatter Nineveh's illusions of security.

Historically, the prophecy is dated between the Assyrian conquest of Thebes (No-amon) in 663 BCE and the fall of Nineveh in 612 BCE. The destruction of Thebes, a great and powerful Egyptian city known for its wealth and seemingly impenetrable defenses, was a recent and traumatic event carried out by the Assyrians themselves. By using this recent historical example, Nahum confronts Nineveh with the stark reality that if Thebes, with all its advantages, fell, Nineveh is equally vulnerable to a similar or even worse fate. It is a powerful polemic against relying on military might and strategic geography, serving as a reminder that divine justice supersedes all human fortifications and pride.

Nahum 3 8 Word analysis

• Are you better than Thebes, (הֲתֵיטְבִי מִנֹּא אָמוֹן – Ha-tey’t'vi mi-Noʼ Amon): The particle "הֲ" (Ha-) introduces a rhetorical question expecting a negative answer. It forcefully challenges Nineveh's pride and presumed superiority. "Thebes" is Noʼ Amon (נֹא אָמוֹן) in Hebrew, meaning "City of Amun," referring to the great Egyptian capital whose patron deity was Amun. By mentioning No-amon, Nahum makes a pointed, timely, and ironic comparison: Nineveh (Assyria) itself had conquered Thebes, demonstrating God's sovereign hand over the most powerful empires and their pagan gods. If Amun could not save Thebes, the gods of Assyria will surely fail to protect Nineveh from Yahweh.
• that was situated by the Nile, (ישְׁבָה בַּיְאֹרִים – yoshevah ba-yə’orim): Yoshevah means "dwelling" or "situated." Ye'orim (יְאֹרִים) is the plural of Ye'or (יאֹר), meaning "Nile." This emphasizes Thebes's proximity to and reliance upon the Nile River. The Nile provided not only sustenance but also a formidable natural defense system due to its size and periodic inundations. This echoes Nineveh's own reliance on the Tigris River and its canals for defense.
• with water around her, (מַיִם סָבִיב לָהּ – mayim saviv lah): Mayim (מַיִם) means "water," and saviv lah (סָבִיב לָהּ) means "around her." This phrase emphasizes the extensive aquatic defenses surrounding Thebes, which included the Nile itself, alongside canals and potentially flooded areas. This imagery signifies the city's natural fortification and apparent inaccessibility.
• whose rampart was the sea, (חֵילָהּ יָם – cheilah Yam): Cheilah (חֵילָהּ) means "her rampart" or "her strong defense/bulwark." Yam (יָם) typically means "sea" or "large body of water." Here, it is likely hyperbolic, referring to the vastness of the Nile or an intricate network of waterways and lakes, making Thebes seemingly impenetrable like a fortified island. It implies an overwhelming and virtually impassable watery barrier.
• whose wall was the water (וּמַיִם חוֹמָתָהּ – u-mayim chomatah): Chomatah (חוֹמָתָהּ) means "her wall." The repetition of "water" (מַיִם) as a wall emphasizes the primary defensive characteristic of Thebes. It signifies that water served as its protective barrier, making it as secure as a city with massive physical walls.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Are you better than Thebes, that was situated by the Nile": This phrase introduces the central comparison and the devastating rhetorical question. It immediately strips Nineveh of its perceived superiority by setting up Thebes, a city it knew fell, as a direct benchmark. The specific mention of the Nile highlights the reliance on natural geographic advantages for defense.
• "with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water": This tripartite description powerfully magnifies Thebes's formidable natural defenses. The piling up of water imagery ("water," "sea," "water") uses hyperbole to underscore what was believed to be an unbreachable stronghold. It sets a stark precedent, implying that if such defenses failed Thebes, Nineveh's similar watery fortifications would also be in vain against God's judgment. This rhetorical device deepens the irony for Nineveh, which also depended on the Tigris for protection.

Nahum 3 8 Bonus section

• Irony of Conqueror Becoming Conquered: The profound irony in Nahum 3:8 is that the Assyrians themselves were responsible for the destruction of Thebes in 663 BCE. This reference thus functions as a powerful mirror, reflecting Nineveh's own impending doom through the lens of a devastating act it perpetrated on another proud capital. The very example of conquest that Assyria boasted of becomes the standard for its own downfall.
• Polemics Against Pagan Deities: The Hebrew name for Thebes, Noʼ Amon (City of Amun), subtly yet significantly serves as a polemic. Amun was a chief deity in the Egyptian pantheon, believed to be the protector of Thebes. Nahum's declaration that Thebes fell despite its association with Amun highlights the impotence of pagan gods in the face of Yahweh's supreme power and judgment. This message applies directly to the Assyrians, who worshipped their own gods, like Ashur and Ishtar, and boasted of their strength.
• Application of Prophetic Principle: This verse embodies a broader biblical principle: no earthly power, however grand or secure it appears, is beyond God's reach or immune to His righteous judgment. It foreshadows the pattern of judgment against oppressive empires throughout biblical history, reinforcing God’s sovereignty over human kingdoms and His commitment to justice.

Nahum 3 8 Commentary

Nahum 3:8 powerfully undercuts Nineveh’s confidence by referencing the historical fall of Thebes, a city known for its unparalleled wealth and formidable defenses built upon the Nile. The prophet’s rhetorical question, "Are you better than Thebes?", confronts Nineveh's pride and self-assurance head-on, declaring that its fate will be no different, regardless of its own impressive walls or the Tigris River. The description of Thebes' watery ramparts, so strong that they were likened to a sea, emphasizes that even the most humanly impenetrable fortresses cannot withstand divine judgment. This verse is a stern reminder that the justice of God cannot be thwarted by human might, strategic advantage, or architectural prowess, providing an example for all who trust in worldly strength rather than in the Almighty.