Nahum 1:1
New International Version
A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

New Living Translation
This message concerning Nineveh came as a vision to Nahum, who lived in Elkosh.

English Standard Version
An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

Berean Standard Bible
This is the burden against Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:

King James Bible
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

New King James Version
The burden against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

New American Standard Bible
The pronouncement of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:

NASB 1995
The oracle of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

NASB 1977
The oracle of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

Legacy Standard Bible
The oracle of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

Amplified Bible
The oracle (a burdensome message—a pronouncement from God) concerning Nineveh [the capital city of Assyria]. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh [which he saw in spirit and prophesied].

Christian Standard Bible
The pronouncement concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

American Standard Version
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

Contemporary English Version
I am Nahum from Elkosh. And this is the message that I wrote down about Nineveh.

English Revised Version
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is a revelation from the LORD about Nineveh. This book contains the vision of Nahum from Elkosh.

Good News Translation
This is a message about Nineveh, the account of a vision seen by Nahum, who was from Elkosh.

International Standard Version
A pronouncement about Nineveh: The record of the vision of Nahum from Elkosh.

Majority Standard Bible
This is the burden against Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:

NET Bible
The oracle against Nineveh; the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:

New Heart English Bible
An oracle about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

Webster's Bible Translation
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite,

World English Bible
A revelation about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Burden of Nineveh. The Scroll of the Vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

Young's Literal Translation
Burden of Nineveh. The Book of the Vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

Smith's Literal Translation
The lifting up of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The burden of Ninive. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elcesite.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

New American Bible
Oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

New Revised Standard Version
An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
THE wound of Nineveh, which is in the book of the visions of Nahum the Alkoshite.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The plague of Nineva that is in the scroll of the visions of Nakhum the Alqushite
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The burden of Nineve: the book of the vision of Naum the Elkesite.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Oracle of Nineveh
1This is the burden against Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite: 2The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies.…

Cross References
Jonah 1:1-2
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, / “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.”

2 Kings 19:36-37
So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. / One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

Isaiah 37:37-38
So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. / One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

Zephaniah 2:13-15
And He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria; He will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as a desert. / Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar. / This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: “I am it, and there is none besides me,” what a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.

Isaiah 10:5-19
Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath. / I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets. / But this is not his intention; this is not his plan. For it is in his heart to destroy and cut off many nations. ...

Isaiah 14:24-27
The LORD of Hosts has sworn: “Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand. / I will break Assyria in My land; I will trample him on My mountain. His yoke will be taken off My people, and his burden removed from their shoulders.” / This is the plan devised for the whole earth, and this is the hand stretched out over all the nations. ...

Isaiah 30:27-33
Behold, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense smoke. His lips are full of fury, and His tongue is like a consuming fire. / His breath is like a rushing torrent that rises to the neck. He comes to sift the nations in a sieve of destruction; He bridles the jaws of the peoples to lead them astray. / You will sing as on the night of a holy festival, and your heart will rejoice like one who walks to the music of a flute, going up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. ...

Isaiah 31:8-9
“Then Assyria will fall, but not by the sword of man; a sword will devour them, but not one made by mortals. They will flee before the sword, and their young men will be put to forced labor. / Their rock will pass away for fear, and their princes will panic at the sight of the battle standard,” declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

Micah 5:5-6
And He will be our peace when Assyria invades our land and tramples our citadels. We will raise against it seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men. / And they will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod with the blade drawn. So He will deliver us when Assyria invades our land and marches into our borders.

Jeremiah 50:17-18
Israel is a scattered flock, chased away by lions. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria; the last to crush his bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.” / Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria.

Jeremiah 51:34-37
“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me; he has crushed me. He has set me aside like an empty vessel; he has swallowed me like a monster; he filled his belly with my delicacies and vomited me out. / May the violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon,” says the dweller of Zion. “May my blood be on the dwellers of Chaldea,” says Jerusalem. / Therefore this is what the LORD says: “Behold, I will plead your case and take vengeance on your behalf; I will dry up her sea and make her springs run dry. ...

Ezekiel 31:3-14
Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds. / The waters made it grow; the deep springs made it tall, directing their streams all around its base and sending their channels to all the trees of the field. / Therefore it towered higher than all the trees of the field. Its branches multiplied, and its boughs grew long as it spread them out because of the abundant waters. ...

Ezekiel 32:22-23
Assyria is there with her whole company; her graves are all around her. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword. / Her graves are set in the depths of the Pit, and her company is all around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword—those who once spread terror in the land of the living.

Matthew 12:41
The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.

Luke 11:32
The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.


Treasury of Scripture

The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

burden.

Isaiah 13:1
The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.

Isaiah 14:28
In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.

Isaiah 15:1
The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;

Nineveh.

Genesis 10:11
Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,

Jonah 3:3,4
So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey…

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.

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Nahum 1
1. The majesty of God in goodness to his people, and severity against his enemies.














This is the burden
The term "burden" in Hebrew is "מַשָּׂא" (massa), which often refers to a prophetic oracle or a weighty message from God. In the context of the prophets, it signifies a divine pronouncement of judgment. This word sets the tone for the entire book, indicating that what follows is a serious and solemn message from God. The use of "burden" underscores the gravity of the prophecy and the responsibility of the prophet to deliver God's message, regardless of its severity.

against Nineveh
Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, known for its great size, wealth, and military power. Historically, Nineveh was a city of immense influence and was infamous for its cruelty and idolatry. The phrase "against Nineveh" indicates that the prophecy is directed specifically at this city, which had previously repented at the preaching of Jonah but had since returned to its wicked ways. This highlights the theme of divine justice and the certainty of God's judgment against nations that persist in sin.

the book of the vision
The word "book" (סֵפֶר, sefer) suggests that this prophecy was recorded in written form, emphasizing its importance and permanence. "Vision" (חָזוֹן, chazon) refers to a divine revelation given to the prophet. In the biblical context, visions are often supernatural insights into God's plans and purposes. This phrase assures the reader that the message is not of human origin but is a revelation from God, providing a divine perspective on the events concerning Nineveh.

of Nahum
Nahum, whose name means "comfort" or "consolation" in Hebrew, is the prophet through whom God delivers this message. His name is significant, as it contrasts with the message of judgment; it suggests that while the prophecy is one of destruction for Nineveh, it is also a source of comfort for Judah, as it promises deliverance from their oppressors. Nahum's role as a prophet is to faithfully convey God's word, serving as a vessel for divine communication.

the Elkoshite
The term "Elkoshite" indicates Nahum's place of origin, though the exact location of Elkosh is uncertain. Some traditions suggest it was a town in Judah, while others propose locations in Assyria or Galilee. The mention of his origin serves to authenticate Nahum as a historical figure and grounds the prophecy in a real-world context. It also reminds readers that God raises prophets from various backgrounds to fulfill His purposes, demonstrating His sovereignty and the universal reach of His message.

(1) The burden of Nineveh--i.e., the sentence against Nineveh (see Isaiah 13:1, Note). On the names Nahum and Elkoshite see Introduction.

Verse 1. - § 1. The heading of the book. The book has a double title, the first giving the object of the prophecy, which otherwise would not be evident; the second, its author, added to give confidence in its contents. The burden; massa (Habakkuk 1:1) - a term generally used of a weighty, threatening prophecy (Isaiah 13:1), though translated by the LXX. λῆμμα here, and elsewhere ὄρασις, and ῤῆμα. Some prefer to render it "utterance," or "oracle." The word is capable of either meaning. It almost always (except, perhaps, in Zechariah 12:1) introduces a threat of judgment. Of Nineveh. The denunciation of this city is the object of the prophecy. The effect of Jonah's preaching had been only temporary; the reformation was partial and superficial; and now God's long suffering was wearied out, and the time of punishment was to come. (For an account of Nineveh, see note on Jonah 1:2.) Some critics have deemed one part of the title an interpolation; but the connection of the two portions is obvious, and without the former we should not know the object of the prophet's denunciation till Nahum 2:8. The book of the vision. This is the second title, in apposition with the former, and defining it more closely as the Book in which was written the prophecy of Nahum. It is called a "vision," because what the prophet foretold was presented to his mental sight, and stood plainly before him (comp. Isaiah 1:1). The Elkoshite; i.e. native of Elkosh, for which, see Introduction, § II.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
This is the oracle
מַשָּׂ֖א (maś·śā)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4853: A burden, tribute, porterage, an utterance, chiefly a, doom, singing, mental, desire

of Nineveh,
נִֽינְוֵ֑ה (nî·nə·wêh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5210: Nineveh -- capital of Assyr

the book
סֵ֧פֶר (sê·p̄er)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5612: A missive, document, writing, book

of the vision
חֲז֛וֹן (ḥă·zō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2377: A sight, a dream, revelation, oracle

of Nahum
נַח֖וּם (na·ḥūm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5151: Nahum -- an Israelite prophet

the Elkoshite:
הָאֶלְקֹשִֽׁי׃ (hā·’el·qō·šî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 512: Elkoshite -- a native of Elkosh


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OT Prophets: Nahum 1:1 An oracle about Nineveh (Nah. Na)
Micah 7:20
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