Nahum 3 9

Nahum 3:9 kjv

Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers.

Nahum 3:9 nkjv

Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, And it was boundless; Put and Lubim were your helpers.

Nahum 3:9 niv

Cush and Egypt were her boundless strength; Put and Libya were among her allies.

Nahum 3:9 esv

Cush was her strength; Egypt too, and that without limit; Put and the Libyans were her helpers.

Nahum 3:9 nlt

Ethiopia and the land of Egypt
gave unlimited assistance.
The nations of Put and Libya
were among her allies.

Nahum 3 verses

Nahum 3 9 Meaning

This verse vividly depicts the utter desolation and depopulation of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. It emphasizes that even its formidable strength and vast numbers became meaningless in the face of God's judgment. The people, who once boasted of their multitude and power, were utterly annihilated or scattered, leaving the city a wasteland. The phrase "no survivors" signifies total destruction and the end of their dominance.

Nahum 3 9 Context

Nahum chapter 3 details the impending destruction of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, renowned for its military might and cruelty. The preceding verses have painted a picture of Nineveh's wickedness and arrogance, attributing its downfall to its violence, greed, and idolatry. This verse specifically follows the descriptions of its armies and people being overthrown, emphasizing the totality of the defeat. The prophecy serves as a warning and a reassurance to Judah, highlighting God's justice against oppressive nations.

Nahum 3 9 Word Analysis

• "Therefore" (כִּי / ki): While commonly translated as "for" or "because," here it functions as a conjunctive particle indicating consequence or reason. It links the judgment described in this verse to the preceding descriptions of Nineveh's actions and God's decree.
• "she" (הִיא / hi'): Refers to Nineveh, personified as a feminine entity, a common practice when referring to cities.
• "is" (הָיְתָה / hayetah): The perfect tense, indicating a completed action or a state that has come to pass, emphasizing the reality of Nineveh's ruin.
• "carried away" (הָלְכָה / hal’kah): Literally "goes" or "walks," but in this context, it implies being led away, deported, or carried into captivity. This was a common fate for conquered peoples in the ancient Near East.
• "captive" (בַּשְּׁבִי / bash·shevi'): Means "into captivity" or "as captives." It signifies the loss of freedom and subjugation to enemies.
• "into" (אֶל / el): A preposition indicating direction or destination, "to" or "unto."
• "captivity" (שֶׁבִי / shevi'): Similar to the previous word, emphasizing the state of being taken captive.
• "and" (וְ / we): A conjunction connecting the clauses.
• "her enemies" (צָרֶיהָ / tzar·re·i·hah): "Tzaraim" refers to enemies, adversaries, or those who afflict. The suffix "-eha" means "her," referring to Nineveh.
• "shall" (בּוֹ־ / bo'): Here, "bo" signifies possession or inclusion. It indicates that Nineveh will become the possession of its enemies or will be incorporated into their domain.
• "possessors" (יִרְשׁוּ / yir·shu): From the root "yarash," meaning to inherit, dispossess, occupy, or possess. It implies that the enemies will take ownership and control of Nineveh and its resources.
• "shall" (וְ / we): Another conjunction.
• "her" (לָהּ / lah): A prepositional suffix meaning "to her" or "for her," indicating that the destruction or taking will be done unto her.
• "shall" (נִמְסָה / nim·sah): From the root "masah," meaning to dissolve, melt away, or be annihilated. It suggests a complete dissolution and destruction.
• "blot out" (תִּמְחַק / tim·chach): The Qal imperative or Qal perfect of the verb "machah," meaning to wipe out, blot out, or erase. It signifies a complete obliteration, leaving no trace. The imagery is of something being erased from existence.
• "thy" (שְׁמֵךְ / shmehch): "Sh’mekha" means "your name." The suffix "-ehch" indicates "your" (feminine singular), referring to Nineveh.
• "name" (שֵׁם / shem): Signifies reputation, identity, and memory. To blot out the name means to erase any remembrance of Nineveh and its power.
• "of" (וּמִן / umin): A compound preposition meaning "and from" or "from."
• "thy" (בְּ / be): A preposition that can mean "in," "at," or "from." Here it suggests separation from.
• "children" (בָּנַיִךְ / ban·ai·yich): "Banim" means sons or children. The suffix "-eich" means "your" (feminine singular), referring to Nineveh. It encompasses the people, particularly the younger generation who would have carried on the lineage and culture.
• "shall" (פְּלַגְפוּלֵי / pe·lag·phel·le-im): This is a rare and complex word. While its precise etymology is debated, it likely relates to splitting or dividing into groups or pieces, or perhaps signifies "scattered in factions." It conveys a sense of utter disarray and disintegration of the populace.
• "be" (מִ־ / mi-): "From."
• "pieces" (פְּלָגִים / pel·lag·im): "Pelagim" means parts, fragments, or divisions. Together with "pelagphel·le-im," it intensifies the idea of being shattered and scattered.

Grouped Analysis:

• "carried away captive into captivity": This repetition ("shevi'" and "bash·shevi'") emphasizes the absolute nature of the enslavement. It's not just capture, but a complete removal from their land and sovereignty into the status of captives.
• "her possessors shall possess her": This paradoxical phrase highlights the complete reversal of fortune. Those who possessed power and dominion would now be possessed by others, losing all agency.
• "her foundations shall be dissloved": The Hebrew suggests a melting or complete disintegration, implying that the very core of the city's strength and structure would cease to exist.
• "blot out thy name": This phrase signifies the ultimate defeat. Not only the city and its people but their very memory and identity would be erased from history, leaving nothing to testify to their existence.
• "children" ... "pieces": The shattering of the children and their dispersal into "pieces" or "fragments" conveys a total breakdown of society, family structures, and the future generation being obliterated or scattered without cohesion.

Nahum 3 9 Bonus Section

The description of Nineveh's destruction in Nahum is so complete that modern archaeological evidence aligns with the prophecy. When the city was conquered by the Babylonians and Medes in 612 BCE, it was utterly sacked and burned, with much of it never rebuilt to its former glory. The powerful Assyrian Empire, which had terrorized the ancient world, ceased to be a major political entity. This fulfilled the prophetic word that Nineveh would "go into captivity" and have its name blotted out. The devastating impact on its "children" (the populace, the future) reflects the loss of a generation and the scattering of survivors, effectively erasing the societal structure of the mighty Assyrian capital. The finality implied by "no survivors" is a strong statement about God's ability to bring even the most formidable human powers to nothing when they defy His justice.

Nahum 3 9 Commentary

Nahum 3:9 offers a stark illustration of divine retribution. Nineveh, which had brought such widespread devastation and grief to many nations through its Assyrian might, is here described as suffering a fate that mirrors its own actions. The verse employs potent imagery of complete subjugation and obliteration. The capital city, once the epitome of Assyrian power, will be taken captive, and its very foundations will crumble. Its name, which once struck fear, will be wiped away, and its people, especially the future generations ("children"), will be scattered and destroyed. This speaks to the comprehensive nature of God's judgment against nations and powers that perpetrate wickedness and oppression. The mention of "no survivors" underscores the totality of this judgment, indicating a complete end to Nineveh's identity and influence. It echoes the broader biblical theme that those who live by the sword will eventually perish by it, and that God will ultimately bring justice to the oppressed.