Nahum 1:6

Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

Who can stand {H5975} before {H6440} his indignation {H2195}? and who can abide {H6965} in the fierceness {H2740} of his anger {H639}? his fury {H2534} is poured out {H5413} like fire {H784}, and the rocks {H6697} are thrown down {H5422} by him.

Who can withstand his fury? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, the rocks broken to pieces before him.

Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before Him.

Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him.

Commentary

Nahum 1:6 is a powerful rhetorical question within a broader prophetic declaration of God's character and impending judgment, primarily against the city of Nineveh. This verse emphasizes the terrifying and irresistible nature of God's wrath and power.

Context

The book of Nahum is a prophetic oracle primarily directed at Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, which was known for its cruelty and oppression. While the entire book foretells Nineveh's destruction, the opening chapter (Nahum 1:2-8) serves as a theological preface, describing the Lord's attributes. He is a jealous and avenging God, slow to anger but great in power, who will by no means clear the guilty. Verse 6 specifically poses a series of rhetorical questions and vivid imagery to underscore the absolute futility of resisting His divine displeasure, setting the stage for the coming judgment on Nineveh.

Key Themes

  • God's Irresistible Power: The verse asserts that no one, no nation, no force can withstand God's judgment. The questions "Who can stand?" and "Who can abide?" highlight His unmatched authority and might.
  • Divine Indignation and Wrath: It portrays God's anger as a fierce, consuming force. Terms like "indignation," "fierceness of his anger," and "fury" convey the intensity and destructive capacity of His righteous judgment against sin and wickedness.
  • Cosmic Manifestation of Judgment: The imagery of "fire" and "rocks are thrown down" illustrates God's power over creation itself. His wrath is not merely symbolic but has tangible, earth-shattering consequences, capable of dismantling the most solid elements of the natural world. This foreshadows the overwhelming nature of His coming judgment on Nineveh and any other entity that opposes Him.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "indignation" (za'am) implies a deep, boiling displeasure, often associated with a divine curse or punishment.
  • "Fierceness of his anger" (charon 'aph) is a vivid idiom literally meaning "burning of his nose" or "burning of his face," signifying intense, hot wrath.
  • The phrase "poured out like fire" emphasizes the overwhelming and consuming nature of God's fury, akin to a molten deluge. This powerful imagery is echoed elsewhere in Scripture, describing God as a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29).
  • "Rocks are thrown down by him" signifies the ultimate destructive power of God, capable of shattering even the most enduring and seemingly impregnable elements of creation.

Related Scriptures

The rhetorical question, "Who can stand before his indignation?" resonates with other biblical passages that speak to the futility of resisting God's power and wrath. For instance, Psalm 76:7 asks a similar question: "Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?" The destructive power described here also finds parallels in passages describing God's judgment, such as the great day of His wrath in Revelation.

Practical Application

Nahum 1:6 serves as a profound reminder of God's absolute sovereignty and immense power. For believers, it instills a sense of awe and reverence, encouraging humble submission and obedience. It underscores the seriousness of sin and the need for repentance, as God's justice is unwavering. For those who are oppressed or suffering under wicked regimes, this verse offers a measure of comfort, assuring them that God sees injustice and will ultimately act with decisive power against all forms of evil. It calls all humanity to consider the holiness of God and to seek His mercy and grace, rather than face the fierceness of His unchallengeable wrath.

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Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 10:10 (6 votes)

    But the LORD [is] the true God, he [is] the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

  • Malachi 3:2 (5 votes)

    But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

  • Deuteronomy 32:22 (4 votes)

    For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

  • Deuteronomy 32:23 (4 votes)

    I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.

  • Psalms 76:7 (3 votes)

    ¶ Thou, [even] thou, [art] to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?

  • Nahum 1:2 (3 votes)

    ¶ God [is] jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and [is] furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth [wrath] for his enemies.

  • Lamentations 4:11 (2 votes)

    The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.