Nahum 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

◄ Nahum 1:3 ►

New International Version
The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.

New Living Translation
The LORD is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet.

English Standard Version
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Berean Standard Bible
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

King James Bible
The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

New King James Version
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet.

New American Standard Bible
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In the gale and the storm is His way, And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

NASB 1995
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In whirlwind and storm is His way, And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

NASB 1977
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In whirlwind and storm is His way, And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

Legacy Standard Bible
Yahweh is slow to anger and great in power, And Yahweh will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In whirlwind and storm is His way, And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

Amplified Bible
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power And He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath his feet.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

American Standard Version
Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear the guilty: Jehovah hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD is powerful, yet patient; he makes sure that the guilty are always punished. He can be seen in storms and in whirlwinds; clouds are the dust from his feet.

English Revised Version
The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear the guilty: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD is patient and has great strength. The LORD will never let the guilty go unpunished. Raging winds and storms mark his path, and clouds are the dust from his feet.

Good News Translation
The LORD does not easily become angry, but he is powerful and never lets the guilty go unpunished. Where the LORD walks, storms arise; the clouds are the dust raised by his feet!

International Standard Version
The LORD is slow to anger and powerful, and he will never let the guilty go unpunished. The LORD's path is in the windstorm and hurricane; thunderclouds are dust beneath his feet.

Majority Standard Bible
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

NET Bible
The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will certainly not allow the wicked to go unpunished. The Divine Warrior Destroys His Enemies but Protects His People He marches out in the whirlwind and the raging storm; dark storm clouds billow like dust under his feet.

New Heart English Bible
The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. The LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Webster's Bible Translation
The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

World English Bible
Yahweh is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. Yahweh has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
YHWH [is] slow to anger, and great in power, "" And YHWH does not entirely acquit, "" In a windstorm and in a storm [is] His way, "" And a cloud [is] the dust of His feet.

Young's Literal Translation
Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, And Jehovah doth not entirely acquit, In a hurricane and in a tempest is His way, And a cloud is the dust of His feet.

Smith's Literal Translation
Jehovah slow to anger and great of power, and Jehovah acquitting, will not acquit his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and a cloud the dust of his feet.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
The Lord is patient, and great in power, and will not cleanse and acquit the guilty. The Lord's ways are in a tempest, and a whirlwind, and clouds are the dust of his feet.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The Lord is patient and great in strength, and those who are not clean, he makes innocent. The Lord is in a tempest, and his way is a whirlwind, and the clouds are dust at his feet.

New American Bible
The LORD is slow to anger, yet great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. In stormwind and tempest he comes, and clouds are the dust at his feet;

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD is slow to anger but great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
The LORD is slow to anger great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked; the LORD'S way is in the whirlwind and in the tempest, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Patient is the Spirit of LORD JEHOVAH and great is his power, and he does not declare innocent to declare innocent; LORD JEHOVAH is in the whirlwind and his way is in the tempest, and the clouds are the dust of his feet

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
The LORD is long-suffering, and great in power, And will by no means clear the guilty; The LORD, in the whirlwind and in the storm is His way, And the clouds are the dust of His feet.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The Lord is long-suffering, and his power is great, and the Lord will not hold any guiltless: his way is in destruction and in the whirlwind, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Oracle of Nineveh
…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. 3The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet. 4He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Exodus 34:6-7
Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, / maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

Psalm 103:8
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.

Joel 2:13
So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

Jonah 4:2
So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster.

Numbers 14:18
‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’

Psalm 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.

Psalm 145:8
The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.

Jeremiah 15:6
You have forsaken Me, declares the LORD. You have turned your back. So I will stretch out My hand against you and I will destroy you; I am weary of showing compassion.

Lamentations 3:32-33
Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion. / For He does not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of men.

Romans 2:4
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

James 1:19
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

Revelation 19:15
And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Isaiah 57:16
For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me—the breath of life I have made.

Treasury of Scripture

The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

slow.

Exodus 34:6,7
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, …

Nehemiah 9:17
And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

Psalm 103:8
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

great.

Job 9:4
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

Psalm 62:11
God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

Psalm 66:3
Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

and will.

Numbers 14:18
The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

Job 10:14
If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

his way.

Exodus 19:16-18
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled…

Deuteronomy 5:22-24
These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me…

1 Kings 19:11-13
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: …

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Nahum 1

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

Berean Study Bible

The LORD is slow to anger
This phrase highlights the Hebrew word "erek apayim," which translates to "slow to anger" or "long-suffering." It reflects God's patience and mercy, emphasizing His willingness to give people time to repent. Historically, this patience is evident in God's dealings with Israel and the nations, where He often delayed judgment to allow for repentance. This attribute of God is a source of hope, reminding believers of His enduring grace and the opportunity for redemption.

and great in power
The Hebrew word "gadol" for "great" and "koach" for "power" together underscore God's omnipotence. This phrase reassures believers of God's supreme authority over all creation. Archaeological findings, such as ancient Near Eastern texts, often depict gods with limited power, contrasting with the biblical portrayal of the LORD as all-powerful. This power is not arbitrary but is exercised with justice and righteousness, providing a foundation for trust and reverence.

the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished
This phrase reflects the Hebrew concept of divine justice. The word "naqah" means "to acquit" or "to leave unpunished," and its negation here emphasizes God's commitment to justice. Scripturally, this is consistent with God's character as a righteous judge who holds individuals accountable for their actions. It serves as a warning to the unrepentant and a comfort to the oppressed, affirming that evil will not prevail indefinitely.

His path is in the whirlwind and storm
The imagery of "whirlwind" (Hebrew "searah") and "storm" (Hebrew "sufah") conveys God's majestic and awe-inspiring presence. In the ancient Near East, storms were often seen as manifestations of divine power. This metaphor illustrates God's sovereignty over nature and history, reminding believers that He is actively involved in the world. It also evokes the theophany at Mount Sinai, where God's presence was accompanied by natural phenomena, reinforcing His holiness and transcendence.

and clouds are the dust beneath His feet
This poetic expression uses "clouds" (Hebrew "anan") and "dust" (Hebrew "avak") to depict God's grandeur and the insignificance of creation in comparison to His majesty. In biblical literature, clouds often symbolize divine presence and guidance, as seen in the Exodus narrative. This imagery reassures believers of God's nearness and His control over the universe, encouraging them to trust in His providential care and ultimate plan for redemption.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) And great in power.--Better, but great in power. Jehovah's forbearance is not attributable to weakness. To vindicate His power, Nahum, after the manner of other Hebrew poets and prophets, reverts to the wonders of the Exodus (Nahum 1:4-5). The pillars of cloud and fire in the desert march; the quaking cliffs of Sinai; the Red Sea and Jordan divided at His word; Canaan succumbing at every point, upwards to mighty Lebanon in the north, and across from Eastern Bashan to Western Carmel--these are the testimonies to Jehovah's might. (Comp. Habakkuk 3:6-10.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - Slow to anger (Exodus 34:6, 7). Nahum seems to take up the words of Jonah (Jonah 4:2) or Joel (Joel 2:13). God is long suffering, not from weakness, but because he is great in power, and can punish when he will. Will not at all acquit the wicked; literally, holding pure will not hold pure; i.e. he will not treat the guilty as innocent. Ἀθωῶν [Alex., ἀθῶον] οὐκ ἀθωώσει (Septuagint); Mundans non faciet innocentem (comp. Exodus 20:7; Exodus 34:7). The Lord hath his way, etc. The prophet grounds his description of the majesty and might of God upon the revelation at the Exodus and at Sinai. (see Exodus 19:16-18; Psalm 18; Psalm 97.). The clouds are the dust of his feet, Large and grand as the clouds look to us, they are to God but as the dust raised by the feet in walking. As an illustration of this statement (though, of course, the fact was utterly unknown to Nahum), it has been remarked that recent scientific discovery asserts that clouds owe their beauty, and even their very existence, to the presence of dust particles in the atmosphere. The aqueous vapour, it is said, condenses on these particles, and thus becomes visible.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

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

is slow
אֶ֤רֶךְ (’e·reḵ)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 750: Long

to anger
אַפַּ֙יִם֙ (’ap·pa·yim)
Noun - md
Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire

and great
וּגְדָל־ (ū·ḡə·ḏāl-)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

in power;
כֹּ֔חַ (kō·aḥ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

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

will by no means
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

leave the guilty unpunished.
וְנַקֵּ֖ה (wə·naq·qêh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 5352: To be, clean, to be bare, extirpated

His path
דַּרְכּ֔וֹ (dar·kōw)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

is in the whirlwind
בְּסוּפָ֤ה (bə·sū·p̄āh)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5492: A storm wind

and storm,
וּבִשְׂעָרָה֙ (ū·ḇiś·‘ā·rāh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8183: A hurricane

and clouds
וְעָנָ֖ן (wə·‘ā·nān)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6051: A cloud, the nimbus, thunder-cloud

are the dust
אֲבַ֥ק (’ă·ḇaq)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 80: Light particles

beneath His feet.
רַגְלָֽיו׃ (raḡ·lāw)
Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda

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OT Prophets: Nahum 1:3 Yahweh is slow to anger and great (Nah. Na)