God’s Word Translation
Nahum 3:12
12All your defenses will be like fig trees with the earliest figs. When shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.
Nahum 3:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.
- New International Version (NIV)All your fortresses are like fig trees with their first ripe fruit; when they are shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.
- English Standard Version (ESV)All your fortresses are like fig trees with first-ripe figs— if shaken they fall into the mouth of the eater.
- New King James Version (NKJV)All your strongholds are fig trees with ripened figs: If they are shaken, They fall into the mouth of the eater.
Context of Nahum 3:12
10Even she went into captivity and was exiled. Even her little children were smashed to death at every street corner. Soldiers tossed dice for her important men, and all her best men were bound in chains. 11Even you, Nineveh, will stagger like a drunk. You will disappear. Even you will look for a fortress ⌞to escape⌟ from the enemy. All your defenses will be like fig trees with the earliest figs. When shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater. 13Look at your soldiers; they’re women! The gates of your country are wide open to your enemies. Fire has destroyed the bars of your gates. 14Store water for the siege! Strengthen your defenses! Step into the claypits and trample the clay! Grab the brick mold!
Read all of Nahum 3Nahum 3:12 word by word
כָּ֨ל־מִבְצָרַ֔יִךְ תְּאֵנִ֖ים עִם־בִּכּוּרִ֑ים אִם־יִנּ֕וֹעוּ וְנָפְל֖וּ עַל־פִּ֥י אוֹכֵֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- All thy strong holdsמִבְצָרmibtsâr mibtsârâh · fortificationH4013
- fig treesתְּאֵנָהte'ên te'ênâh · figH8384
- with the firstripe figsבִּכּוּרִיםbikkûr · firstfruitH1061
- if they be shakenנוּעַnûa‛ · to shakeH5128
- they shall even fallנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
- into the mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
- of the eaterאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
Cross-references for Nahum 3:12
Commentaries on Nahum 3:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Thy strong holds - The effects of the consternation into which the Ninevites were cast by the assault on their city are here pointed out by a very expressive metaphor; the first-ripe figs, when at full maturity, fell from the tree with the least shake; and so, at the first shake or consternation, all the fortresses of Nineveh were abandoned; and the king, in despair, burnt himself and household in his own palace.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12All thy strong-holds shall be like fig trees, with the first ripe figs - Hanging from them; eagerly sought after, to be consumed. Being ripe, they are ready to fall at once; “if they be shaken;” it needs but the tremulous motion, as when trees wave in the wind, “they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater,” not costing even the slight pains of picking them from the ground. So easy is their destruction on the part of God, though it cost more pains to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-19Verses 8-19 Strong-holds, even the strongest, are no defence against the judgments of God. They shall be unable to do any thing for themselves. The Chaldeans and Medes would devour the land like canker-worms. The Assyrians also would be eaten up by their own numerous hired troops, which seem to be meant by the word rendered "merchants." Those that have done evil to their neighbours, will find it come home to them. Nineveh, and many other cities, states…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12ripe figs: Compare Amos 8:1–2; Revelation 6:13.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. thy strongholds--on the borders of Assyria, protecting the approaches to Nineveh: "the gates of thy land" (Na 3:13). fig trees with the first ripe figs--expressing the rapidity and ease of the capture of Nineveh (compare Is 28:4; Re 6:13).Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Nahum 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries