Nahum 3:5

Nahum 3:5 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (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.
• English Standard Version (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.
• New King James Version (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.

Context of Nahum 3:5

3Horses charge! Swords flash! Spears glitter! Many are killed! Dead bodies pile up! There is no end to the corpses! People trip over corpses 4because of Nineveh’s constant prostitution, this very charming mistress of evil magic. She used to sell nations her prostitution and people her evil magic. “I am against you, Nineveh,” declares the Lord of Armies. “I will lift up your dress over your face. I will show nations your naked body and kingdoms your disgrace. 6I will throw filth on you. I will make you look like a fool. I will make you a sight to be seen. 7Everyone who sees you will run from you, saying, ‘Nineveh has been violently destroyed! Who will feel sorry for her?’ Where can I find anyone to comfort you?”

Nahum 3:5 word by word

הִנְנִ֣י אֵלַ֗יִךְ נְאֻם֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת וְגִלֵּיתִ֥י שׁוּלַ֖יִךְ עַל־פָּנָ֑יִךְ וְהַרְאֵיתִ֤י גוֹיִם֙ מַעְרֵ֔ךְ וּמַמְלָכ֖וֹת קְלוֹנֵֽךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• against thee, saithנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
• and I will discoverגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: uncoverH1540
• thy skirtsשׁוּלshûl · hemH7757
• upon thy faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• and I will shewרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• the nationsגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
• thy nakednessמַעַרma‛ar · nakednessH4626
• and the kingdomsמַמְלָכָהmamlâkâh · kingdomH4467
• thy shameקָלוֹןqâlôn · dishonorH7036

Cross-references for Nahum 3:5

• Nahum 2:13“I am against you, Nineveh,” declares the Lord of Armies. “I will send your chariots up in smoke, and a sword will kill your young lions. I will remove your prey from the earth, and no one will ever hear the voice of your messengers again.”
• Ezekiel 23:25I will direct my burning anger against you so that they will deal with you in anger. They will cut off your nose and ears and kill everyone who remains. They will take your sons and your daughters and burn down whatever is left.
• Isaiah 47:2Take millstones and grind flour. Remove your veil. Take off your skirt. Uncover your legs, and cross the river.
• Jeremiah 13:22If you ask yourself, “Why do these things happen to me?” it’s because you have so many sins. Your clothes have been torn off and your limbs are bare.
• Ezekiel 16:37That is why I will gather all your lovers with whom you found pleasure. I will have all those who love you and hate you gather around. I will uncover your body for them, and they will see you naked.
• Ezekiel 23:29They will treat you hatefully and take away everything that you have worked for. They will leave you naked and bare. The shame of your prostitution will be revealed.
• Micah 1:11Pass by, naked and ashamed, inhabitants of Shaphir. Don’t come out, inhabitants of Zaanan. Beth Ezel is in mourning. It will take its support away from you.
• Habakkuk 2:16You are filled with disgrace rather than glory. Drink! Yes you! And expose yourself as godless. The cup in the Lord’s right hand will come around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.

Commentaries on Nahum 3:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5I will discover thy skirts upon thy face - It was an ancient, though not a laudable custom, to strip prostitutes naked, or throw their clothes over their heads, and expose them to public view, and public execration. This verse alludes to such a custom.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Behold I am against thee, saith the Lord of Hosts - Jerome: “I will not send an Angel, nor give thy destruction to others; I Myself will come to destroy thee.” Cyril: “She has not to do with man, or war with man: He who is angered with her is the Lord of hosts. But who would meet God Almighty, who hath power over all, if He would war against him?” In the Medes and Persians it was God who was against them. “Behold I am against thee,” literally, “toward…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5Twice, God tells Nineveh, I am against you (also Nahum 2:13). Nineveh's judgment serves as a historical reminder that the Lord hates sin and will judge people and nations based on their actions (Psalms 9:7–8; 62:12; Jeremiah 46:28; Acts 17:31). One day, God's justice will reach the entire world, affecting those who have rebelled against him (Revelation 17–19).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. I will discover thy skirts upon thy face--that is, discover thy nakedness by throwing up thy skirts upon thy face (the greatest possible insult), pulling them up as as high as thy head (Jr 13:22; Eze 16:37-41). I will treat thee not as a matron, but as a harlot whose shame is exposed; her gaudy finery being lifted up off her (Is 47:2, 3). So Nineveh shall be stripped of all her glory and defenses on which she prides herself.Read the comment

Topics related to Nahum 3:5

• Sorcery

In the dictionaries

• Lord of Hosts
• Depart
• Rattling
• Discover
• Nahum; the Book of
• Naked; Nakedness

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