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 King James Version (NKJV)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.

Context of Nahum 3:4

2Hear the crack of whips, the rumble of wheels! Horses’ hooves pound, and chariots clatter wildly. 3See the flashing swords and glittering spears as the charioteers charge past! There are countless casualties, heaps of bodies— so many bodies that people stumble over them. 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. 5“I am your enemy!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “And now I will lift your skirts and show all the earth your nakedness and shame. 6I will cover you with filth and show the world how vile you really are.

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 23:15For seventy years, the length of a king’s life, Tyre will be forgotten. But then the city will come back to life as in the song about the prostitute:
• Isaiah 47:9Well, both these things will come upon you in a moment: widowhood and the loss of your children. Yes, these calamities will come upon you, despite all your witchcraft and magic.
• Revelation 17:1One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. “Come with me,” he said, “and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters.
• Revelation 18:2He gave a mighty shout: “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal.

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
• Magic; Magician
• 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