Nahum 3:4

Nahum 3:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.
• New International Version (NIV)all because of the wanton lust of a prostitute, alluring, the mistress of sorceries, who enslaved nations by her prostitution and peoples by her witchcraft.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And all for the countless whorings of the prostitute, graceful and of deadly charms, who betrays nations with her whorings, and peoples with her charms.
• New Living Translation (NLT)All this because Nineveh, the beautiful and faithless city, mistress of deadly charms, enticed the nations with her beauty. She taught them all her magic, enchanting people everywhere.

Context of Nahum 3:4

2The noise of a whip And the noise of rattling wheels, Of galloping horses, Of clattering chariots! 3Horsemen charge with bright sword and glittering spear. There is a multitude of slain, A great number of bodies, Countless corpses— They stumble over the corpses— Because of the multitude of harlotries of the seductive harlot, The mistress of sorceries, Who sells nations through her harlotries, And families through her sorceries. 5“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. 6I will cast abominable filth upon you, Make you vile, And make you a spectacle.

Nahum 3:4 word by word

מֵרֹב֙ זְנוּנֵ֣י זוֹנָ֔ה ט֥וֹבַת חֵ֖ן בַּעֲלַ֣ת כְּשָׁפִ֑ים הַמֹּכֶ֤רֶת גּוֹיִם֙ בִּזְנוּנֶ֔יהָ וּמִשְׁפָּח֖וֹת בִּכְשָׁפֶֽיהָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Because of the multitudeרֹבrôb · abundanceH7230
• of the whoredomsזְנוּנִיםzânûn · fornicationH2183
• of the wellfavouredחֵןchên · favorH2580
• of the wellfavouredטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• harlotזָנָהzânâh · to fornicateH2181
• the mistressבַּעֲלָהba‛ălâh · mistressH1172
• of witchcraftsכֶּ֫שֶׁףkesheph · sorceryH3785
• that sellethמָכַרmâkar · to sellH4376
• nationsגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
• and familiesמִשְׁפָּחָהmishpâchâh · familyH4940

Cross-references for Nahum 3:4

• Isaiah 23:15Now it shall come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. At the end of seventy years it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot:
• Isaiah 47:9But these two things shall come to you In a moment, in one day: The loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness Because of the multitude of your sorceries, For the great abundance of your enchantments.
• Revelation 17:1Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters,
• Revelation 18:2And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!

Commentaries on Nahum 3:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Because of the multitude of the whoredoms - Above, the Ninevites were represented under the emblem of a lion tearing all to pieces; here they are represented under the emblem of a beautiful harlot or public prostitute, enticing all men to her, inducing the nations to become idolatrous, and, by thus perverting them, rendering them also objects of the Divine wrath. Mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms - Using every means to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favored harlot - There are “multitudes of slain” because of the “multitude of whoredoms” and love of the creature instead of the Creator. So to Babylon Isaiah saith, “they (loss of children and widowhood) shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, for the great abundance of thine enchantments” Isaiah 47:9. The actual use of “enchantments,” for which Babylon was so…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4mistress of sorcery: The Assyrians attracted other nations with wealth and promises of safety and prosperity. However, they then exploited them through military power and economic control. Therefore, their punishment was a fair consequence for their actions (see Proverbs 24:12; Joel 3:4–8; Revelation 18:6; 20:12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Because of the multitude of the whoredoms--This assigns the reason for Nineveh's destruction. of the well-favoured harlot--As Assyria was not a worshipper of the true God, "whoredoms" cannot mean, as in the case of Israel, apostasy to the worship of false gods; but, her harlot-like artifices whereby she allured neighboring states so as to subject them to herself. As the unwary are allured by the "well-favored harlot's" looks, so Israel, Judah (for…Read the comment

Topics related to Nahum 3:4

• Sorcery

In the dictionaries

• Depart
• Rattling
• Witchcraft
• Assyria
• Crime; Crimes
• Daughter
• Mistress
• Nahum; the Book of
• War; Warfare

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