Nahum 3:15

There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts.

There shall the fire {H784} devour {H398} thee; the sword {H2719} shall cut thee off {H3772}, it shall eat thee up {H398} like the cankerworm {H3218}: make thyself many {H3513} as the cankerworm {H3218}, make thyself many {H3513} as the locusts {H697}.

There the fire will burn you up; and the sword will cut you down; it will devour you like grasshoppers. Make yourselves as many as grasshoppers, Make yourselves as many as locusts!

There the fire will devour you; the sword will cut you down and consume you like a young locust. Make yourself many like the young locust; make yourself many like the swarming locust!

There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off; it shall devour thee like the canker-worm: make thyself many as the canker-worm; make thyself many as the locust.

Nahum 3:15 delivers a powerful and chilling prophecy of judgment against Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. This verse intensifies the imagery of utter destruction, using vivid metaphors to underscore the futility of Nineveh's strength against divine wrath.

Context of Nahum 3:15

The Book of Nahum is a prophetic oracle primarily directed at Nineveh, known for its immense power, wealth, and particularly its brutal cruelty. Chapter 3 graphically details Nineveh's impending downfall, describing it as a "bloody city" (Nahum 3:1) full of lies and robbery. Verse 15 follows descriptions of invading forces, fire, and the sword, painting a picture of inescapable doom. It serves as a sarcastic challenge or a prophetic taunt, highlighting that no matter how many armies or resources Nineveh might muster, they will be consumed by the very forces of judgment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Justice: The verse powerfully conveys God's righteous judgment against nations that practice oppression, violence, and idolatry. Nineveh's destruction is presented as a just recompense for its wickedness and cruelty. This echoes the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty over all nations and His commitment to justice.
  • Total Annihilation: The imagery of "fire devour thee" and "sword shall cut thee off" speaks to a complete and devastating end. The comparison to "cankerworm" and "locusts" further emphasizes this, as these insects are known for their ability to strip and consume everything in their path, leaving desolation.
  • Futility of Human Strength: Despite Nineveh's reputation for military might and vast populations, the command "make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts" is deeply ironic. It implies that even if their numbers were as innumerable and destructive as a plague of insects, they would still be consumed by an even greater, divinely appointed force. This highlights the futility of human power when it opposes God's decree.
  • Poetic Irony: The prophet uses a powerful rhetorical device. Nineveh, which had itself acted like a destructive plague upon other nations, is now told to multiply like plagues, only to be consumed.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used for the devastating insects are significant:

  • Cankerworm (Hebrew: yeleq, יֶלֶק): This term often refers to a specific stage of the locust or a voracious, stripping insect, known for its destructive power. In Joel 1:4, the yeleq is part of a sequence of devastating insect plagues.
  • Locusts (Hebrew: arbeh, אַרְבֶּה): This is the most common Hebrew word for locust, symbolizing overwhelming numbers and total consumption. The repetition of these terms underscores the complete and inescapable nature of Nineveh's doom.

Practical Application

Nahum 3:15, while a prophecy against an ancient city, carries timeless lessons:

  • Accountability for Injustice: It serves as a stark reminder that God holds nations and individuals accountable for their actions, especially for cruelty, oppression, and moral decay.
  • Humility Before God: No amount of human power, military might, or economic strength can ultimately stand against the sovereign will of God. This calls for humility and reliance on divine strength rather than self-sufficiency.
  • Hope for the Oppressed: For those suffering under tyrannical regimes or experiencing injustice, this prophecy offers a glimmer of hope. It assures that God sees the suffering and will, in His time, bring justice to the oppressors, fulfilling His promise of strength to those who wait on Him.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Joel 1:4

    That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.

  • Nahum 3:13

    Behold, thy people in the midst of thee [are] women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars.

  • Nahum 2:13

    Behold, I [am] against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.

  • Zephaniah 2:13

    And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, [and] dry like a wilderness.

  • Joel 2:25

    And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

  • Exodus 10:13

    And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all [that] night; [and] when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.

  • Exodus 10:15

    For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

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