Nahum 1:12
New International Version
This is what the LORD says: “Although they have allies and are numerous, they will be destroyed and pass away. Although I have afflicted you, Judah, I will afflict you no more.

New Living Translation
This is what the LORD says: “Though the Assyrians have many allies, they will be destroyed and disappear. O my people, I have punished you before, but I will not punish you again.

English Standard Version
Thus says the LORD, “Though they are at full strength and many, they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.

Berean Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: “Though they are allied and numerous, yet they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, O Judah, I will afflict you no longer.

King James Bible
Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

New King James Version
Thus says the LORD: “Though they are safe, and likewise many, Yet in this manner they will be cut down When he passes through. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more;

New American Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: “Though they are at full strength and so they are many, So also they will be cut off and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no longer.

NASB 1995
Thus says the LORD, “Though they are at full strength and likewise many, Even so, they will be cut off and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no longer.

NASB 1977
Thus says the LORD, “Though they are at full strength and likewise many, Even so, they will be cut off and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no longer.

Legacy Standard Bible
Thus says Yahweh, “Though they are at full strength and likewise many, Even so, they will be cut off and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no longer.

Amplified Bible
This is what the LORD says, “Though they are at full strength and many in number, Even so, they will be cut off and pass away. Though I have afflicted you and caused you grief [O Jerusalem], I will afflict you no longer.

Christian Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: Though they are strong and numerous, they will still be mowed down, and he will pass away. Though I have punished you, I will punish you no longer.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: Though they are strong and numerous, they will still be mowed down, and he will pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no longer.

American Standard Version
Thus saith Jehovah: Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

Contemporary English Version
But the LORD says, "Assyria, no matter how strong you are, you will be cut down! My people Judah, I have troubled you before, but I won't do it again.

English Revised Version
Thus saith the LORD: Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is what the LORD says: Though the people of Nineveh are physically fit and many in number, they will be cut down and die. Though I have humbled you, Judah, I will not humble you again.

Good News Translation
This is what the LORD says to his people Israel: "Even though the Assyrians are strong and numerous, they will be destroyed and disappear. My people, I made you suffer, but I will not do it again.

International Standard Version
This is what the LORD says: "No matter how strong they are, and no matter how numerous, they will surely be annihilated and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will do so no more.

Majority Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: “Though they are allied and numerous, yet they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, O Judah, I will afflict you no longer.

NET Bible
This is what the LORD says: "Even though they are powerful--and what is more, even though their army is numerous--nevertheless, they will be destroyed and trickle away! Although I afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.

New Heart English Bible
Thus says the LORD: "Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so they will be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the LORD; Though they are quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

World English Bible
Yahweh says: “Though they are in full strength and likewise many, even so they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Thus said YHWH: “Though complete, and thus many, "" Yet thus they have been cut off, "" And he has passed away. Though I afflicted you, I afflict you no longer.

Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah: Though complete, and thus many, Yet thus they have been cut off, And he hath passed away. And I afflicted thee, I afflict thee no more.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah: If peace thus many, and thus they were shown and he passed through. And afflicting thee I will afflict thee no more.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord: Though they were perfect: and many of them so, yet thus shall they be cut off, and he shall pass: I have afflicted thee, and I will afflict thee no more.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Thus says the Lord: If they had been perfect, and many of them so, yet still they would be pruned, and it will cross through them. I have afflicted you, and I shall afflict you no more.

New American Bible
Thus says the LORD: though fully intact and so numerous, they shall be mown down and disappear. Though I have humbled you, I will humble you no more.

New Revised Standard Version
Thus says the LORD, “Though they are at full strength and many, they will be cut off and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thus says the LORD: Against the watersheds of many waters, they have run down and vanished; though I have humbled you, I will humble you no more.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Thus says LORD JEHOVAH concerning the sources of many waters: ”They have trickled and they have passed away, and though I have afflicted you, I shall afflict you no more
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thus saith the LORD: Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, Even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away; And though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thus saith the Lord who rules over many waters, Even thus shall they be sent away, and the report of thee shall not be heard any more.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Oracle of Nineveh
11From you, O Nineveh, comes forth a plotter of evil against the LORD, a counselor of wickedness. 12This is what the LORD says: “Though they are allied and numerous, yet they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, O Judah, I will afflict you no longer. 13For I will now break their yoke from your neck and tear away your shackles.”…

Cross References
Isaiah 10:12
So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes.

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 30:31
For Assyria will be shattered at the voice of the LORD; He will strike them with His scepter.

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.

Isaiah 37:36-38
Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! / 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.

Jeremiah 46:28
And you, My servant Jacob, do not be afraid, declares the LORD, for I am with you. Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have banished you, I will not completely destroy you. Yet I will discipline you justly, and will by no means leave you unpunished.”

Ezekiel 31:10-14
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Since it became great in height and set its top among the clouds, and it grew proud on account of its height, / I delivered it into the hand of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with it according to its wickedness. I have banished it. / Foreigners, the most ruthless of the nations, cut it down and left it. Its branches have fallen on the mountains and in every valley; its boughs lay broken in all the earth’s ravines. And all the peoples of the earth left its shade and abandoned it. ...

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.

2 Kings 19:35-37
And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! / 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.

Psalm 46:8-10
Come, see the works of the LORD, who brings devastation upon the earth. / He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire. / “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”

Psalm 76:5-6
The valiant lie plundered; they sleep their last sleep. No men of might could lift a hand. / At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both horse and rider lie stunned.

Psalm 118:10-12
All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. / They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. / They swarmed around me like bees, but they were extinguished like burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Luke 1:51-53
He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts. / He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble. / He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?


Treasury of Scripture

Thus said the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.

Through, etc.

2 Kings 19:35,37
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…

Isaiah 10:32-34
As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem…

Isaiah 14:24-27
The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: …

cut down.

Isaiah 7:20
In the same day shall the Lord shave with a rasor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.

pass.

Nahum 1:15
Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

Exodus 12:12
For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

Isaiah 8:8
And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

I will.

Isaiah 30:19
For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

Isaiah 51:22
Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:

Isaiah 60:18-20
Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise…

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Afflict Afflicted Allies Although Cause Complete Cut Ended Full Likewise Numerous Past Quiet Strength Strong Trouble Troubled
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Nahum 1
1. The majesty of God in goodness to his people, and severity against his enemies.














This is what the LORD says
This phrase introduces a divine oracle, emphasizing the authority and certainty of the message. In Hebrew, "LORD" is "YHWH," the covenant name of God, underscoring His eternal and unchanging nature. This introduction assures the reader that the message is not from a human perspective but from the sovereign Creator, who is both just and merciful.

Though they are strong and many
The phrase refers to the Assyrian empire, known for its military might and vast numbers. Historically, Assyria was a dominant force, feared by many nations. The Hebrew word for "strong" can also imply firmness or resilience, highlighting the perceived invincibility of Assyria. Yet, the message is clear: no earthly power can withstand the will of God.

they will still be cut down and pass away
This is a prophetic declaration of Assyria's downfall. The imagery of being "cut down" suggests a sudden and decisive act, much like a tree being felled. Historically, this prophecy was fulfilled when Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, fell in 612 BC. The phrase "pass away" indicates the transient nature of human power compared to God's eternal sovereignty.

Though I have afflicted you
Here, God acknowledges His role in allowing Judah to experience suffering, often as a result of their disobedience. The Hebrew root for "afflicted" can also mean to humble or oppress, suggesting a divine purpose in the trials faced by His people. This reflects the biblical theme that God disciplines those He loves, aiming for their ultimate restoration.

I will afflict you no more
This promise of relief and restoration is a turning point for Judah. It signifies the end of divine chastisement and the beginning of a new era of peace and favor. The assurance that affliction will cease is a testament to God's mercy and faithfulness. It reminds believers that while God may allow trials, His ultimate plan is for their good and His glory.

(12) Thus saith the Lord.--Better, Thus saith Jehovah, Though they be of unimpaired strength and ever so numerous, yet just in that state shall they be cut down, and he [viz., the evil counsellor of Nahum 1:11] shall pass away. Though I have afflicted thee [Jerusalem], I will afflict thee no more. Destruction comes upon the Assyrian army in the very hour of prosperity, while unscathed and complete in numbers (2Kings 19:32-33). Pass away: so in Psalms 48 (a composition generally thought to refer to this very catastrophe), "For lo, the kings were assembled: they passed away together."

Verses 12-15. - § 4. The destruction of Nineveh is emphatically announced, and Zion is depicted as rejoicing at the news of its ruin, and celebrating her feasts in safety. Verse 12. - Thus saith the lord. An expression used to introduce a solemn declaration. Though they (the Assyrians) be quiet. Shalem has this meaning elsewhere, as Genesis 34:21; but this is unsuitable here, where it must be translated, "in full strength," "unimpaired," "complete," like the thorn hedge in ver. 10. Vulgate, Si perfecti fuerint. Though they be unbroken in strength, and likewise (on that account) many in number. Septuagint, Τάδε λέγει Κύριος κατάρχων ὑδάτων πολλῶν, "Thus saith the Lord, ruling over many waters." So the Syriac and Arabic. Jerome interprets "the waters" to mean the heavenly powers (Psalm 148:4). Yet thus (though such is their state) shall they be cut down. The verb is used of the mowing of a fold or the shearing of sheep, and implies complete destruction. When he shall pass through; better, and he shall pass away. The number is changed, but the same persons are meant, spoken of as one to show their insignificance and complete annihilation. Septuagint "Thus shall they be dispersed [διασταλήσουται: dividentur, Jerome], and the report of thee shall no more be heard therein." The following clause is not translated. Though I have afflicted thee. The Lord addresses Judah, referring to the oppression of Judaea by the Assyriaus in the times of Ahaz and Hezekiah (2 Kings 16:18; 2 Chronicles 28:20, etc.; 32.). I will afflict thee no more; according to the promise in ver. 9. This is further confirmed in what follows.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
This is what
כֹּ֣ה ׀ (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the LORD
יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

says:
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Though
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

they are allied
שְׁלֵמִים֙ (šə·lê·mîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 8003: Complete, safe, at peace

and numerous,
רַבִּ֔ים (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

yet
וְכֵ֥ן (wə·ḵên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

they will be cut down
נָגֹ֖זּוּ (nā·ḡōz·zū)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1494: To cut off, to shear a, flock, shave the hair, to destroy an enemy

and pass away.
וְעָבָ֑ר (wə·‘ā·ḇār)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

Though I have afflicted you, [O Judah],
וְעִ֨נִּתִ֔ךְ (wə·‘in·ni·ṯiḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person feminine singular
Strong's 6031: To be bowed down or afflicted

I will afflict
אֲעַנֵּ֖ךְ (’ă·‘an·nêḵ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person feminine singular
Strong's 6031: To be bowed down or afflicted

you no
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

longer.
עֽוֹד׃ (‘ō·wḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more


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OT Prophets: Nahum 1:12 Thus says Yahweh: Though they be (Nah. Na)
Nahum 1:11
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