Nahum 3:3

The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and [there is] a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and [there is] none end of [their] corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:

The horseman {H6571} lifteth up {H5927} both the bright {H3851} sword {H2719} and the glittering {H1300} spear {H2595}: and there is a multitude {H7230} of slain {H2491}, and a great {H3514} number of carcases {H6297}; and there is none end {H7097} of their corpses {H1472}; they stumble {H3782}{H3782} upon their corpses {H1472}:

cavalry charging, swords flashing, spears glittering - and hosts of slain, heaps of bodies; there is no end to the corpses; they stumble over their corpses.

Charging horseman, flashing sword, shining spear; heaps of slain, mounds of corpses, dead bodies without end— they stumble over their dead—

the horseman mounting, and the flashing sword, and the glittering spear, and a multitude of slain, and a great heap of corpses, and there is no end of the bodies; they stumble upon their bodies;—

Context

Nahum 3:3 is part of a vivid prophetic oracle against Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria. The prophet Nahum delivers a message of God's impending judgment and destruction upon this powerful and notoriously cruel empire. Following descriptions of Nineveh's harlotry and idolatry in the preceding verses, this verse intensifies the imagery of its military downfall. It paints a gruesome picture of the battlefield, emphasizing the overwhelming slaughter and the utter defeat of the Assyrian forces, directly continuing the scene of war described in Nahum 3:2. This prophecy serves as a stark contrast to the previous perceived invincibility of Assyria.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Retribution: The verse powerfully illustrates God's just wrath against Nineveh's long history of violence, oppression, and cruelty. It underscores the principle that nations, like individuals, will ultimately face the consequences of their actions before a holy God.
  • Utter Destruction and Overwhelming Defeat: The repeated phrases like "multitude of slain," "great number of carcases," and "none end of their corpses" emphasize the cataclysmic scale of the defeat. The image of soldiers stumbling over bodies highlights the chaos and complete disarray of the Assyrian army, symbolizing the end of their reign of terror.
  • Consequences of Violence: Nineveh, known for its brutality and conquest, is now depicted as falling by the very violence it inflicted upon others. This serves as a powerful reminder of the cyclical nature of aggression and the ultimate futility of relying on military might apart from God. The city that boasted of its strength is now utterly broken.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew text employs powerful, evocative language to convey the horror of the battle. The "bright sword" (lahab chereb) and "glittering spear" (baraq chanit) use words that suggest a flashing, fiery appearance, emphasizing the terrifying and relentless nature of the attacking forces. Lahab can mean "flame" or "blade," and baraq means "lightning" or "flash," painting a picture of weapons glinting in the sun like lightning, bringing swift and fiery destruction. The repetition of terms for dead bodies—"slain" (chalal), "carcases" (peger), and "corpses" (gĕwiyyah)—builds a sense of overwhelming death, reinforcing the prophetic declaration of a complete and irreversible defeat.

Related Scriptures

  • This intense imagery of divine judgment echoes themes found elsewhere in the Old Testament, such as the descriptions of God's vengeance in Nahum 1:2, where it states, "God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious."
  • The "bloody city" motif, introduced in Nahum 3:1, finds its grim fulfillment in the multitude of corpses described here, directly linking Nineveh's violent character to its violent end.
  • Similar descriptions of overwhelming defeat and the piling up of bodies can be found in other prophetic judgments against wicked nations, such as the fall of Babylon in Isaiah 13:15.

Practical Application

Nahum 3:3 reminds us that there are ultimate consequences for unchecked wickedness, violence, and oppression, whether for individuals or nations. It reinforces the biblical truth that God is a righteous judge who will not allow injustice to persist indefinitely. For those who suffer under oppression, this verse offers a powerful message of hope and assurance that God sees and will act on behalf of the afflicted. For those in positions of power, it serves as a sober warning against the misuse of authority and the perpetration of cruelty. Ultimately, it calls us to consider God's sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to justice, urging us to align our lives and societies with His righteous standards.

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.

  • Ezekiel 39:4

    Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that [is] with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and [to] the beasts of the field to be devoured.

  • Habakkuk 3:11

    The sun [and] moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, [and] at the shining of thy glittering spear.

  • Isaiah 34:3

    Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.

  • Isaiah 37:36

    Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they [were] all dead corpses.

  • Ezekiel 31:3

    Behold, the Assyrian [was] a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.

  • Ezekiel 31:13

    Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches:

  • 2 Kings 19:35

    ¶ And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they [were] all dead corpses.

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