Nahum 3:18
New International Version
King of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your nobles lie down to rest. Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them.

New Living Translation
Your shepherds are asleep, O Assyrian king; your princes lie dead in the dust. Your people are scattered across the mountains with no one to gather them together.

English Standard Version
Your shepherds are asleep, O king of Assyria; your nobles slumber. Your people are scattered on the mountains with none to gather them.

Berean Standard Bible
O king of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your officers sleep. Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them.

King James Bible
Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.

New King James Version
Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria; Your nobles rest in the dust. Your people are scattered on the mountains, And no one gathers them.

New American Standard Bible
Your shepherds are sleeping, O king of Assyria; Your officers are lying down. Your people are scattered on the mountains And there is no one to gather them.

NASB 1995
Your shepherds are sleeping, O king of Assyria; Your nobles are lying down. Your people are scattered on the mountains And there is no one to regather them.

NASB 1977
Your shepherds are sleeping, O king of Assyria; Your nobles are lying down. Your people are scattered on the mountains, And there is no one to regather them.

Legacy Standard Bible
Your shepherds are sleeping, O king of Assyria; Your mighty ones are lying down. Your people are scattered on the mountains, And there is no one to regather them.

Amplified Bible
Your shepherds are asleep, O king of Assyria; Your nobles are lying down [in death]. Your people are scattered on the mountains And there is no one to gather them.

Christian Standard Bible
King of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your officers sleep. Your people are scattered across the mountains with no one to gather them together.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
King of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your officers sleep. Your people are scattered across the mountains with no one to gather them together.

American Standard Version
Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria; thy nobles are at rest; thy people are scattered upon the mountains, and there is none to gather them.

Contemporary English Version
King of Assyria, your officials and leaders are sound asleep, while your people are scattered in the mountains. Yes, your people are sheep without a shepherd.

English Revised Version
Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy worthies are at rest: thy people are scattered upon the mountains, and there is none to gather them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Your shepherds, king of Assyria, have fallen into a deep sleep. Your best fighting men are at rest. Your people are scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to gather them.

Good News Translation
Emperor of Assyria, your governors are dead, and your noblemen are asleep forever! Your people are scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to bring them home again.

International Standard Version
Hey king of Assyria! Your shepherds are asleep and your nobles are lying down! Your people lie scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to gather them together.

Majority Standard Bible
O king of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your officers sleep. Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them.

NET Bible
Your shepherds are sleeping, O king of Assyria! Your officers are slumbering! Your people are scattered like sheep on the mountains and there is no one to regather them!

New Heart English Bible
Your shepherds slumber, king of Assyria. Your nobles lie down. Your people are scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to gather them.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people are scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.

World English Bible
Your shepherds slumber, king of Assyria. Your nobles lie down. Your people are scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to gather them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Your friends have slumbered, king of Asshur, "" Your majestic ones rest, "" Your people have been scattered on the mountains, "" And there is none gathering.

Young's Literal Translation
Slumbered have thy friends, king of Asshur, Rest do thine honourable ones, Scattered have been thy people on the mountains, And there is none gathering.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thy shepherds slumbered, O king of Assur: thy chiefs will lie down: thy people breathed upon the mountains, and none gathering.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thy shepherds have slumbered, O king of Assyria, thy princes shall be buried: thy people are hid in the mountains, and there is none to gather them together.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Your shepherds have become drowsy, king Assur. Your princes will be buried. Your people have remained hidden in the mountains, and there is no one to gather them.

New American Bible
Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria, your nobles have gone to rest; Your people are scattered upon the mountains, with none to gather them.

New Revised Standard Version
Your shepherds are asleep, O king of Assyria; your nobles slumber. Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Your friends slumber, O king of Assyria; your allies have deserted; your people are scattered on the mountains, and they have none to gather them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Your neighbors slumber, King of Assyria, and your associates have disbanded, your people are scattered on the mountains and there is none gathering them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria, Thy worthies are at rest; Thy people are scattered upon the mountains, And there is none to gather them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thy shepherds have slumbered, the Assyrian king has laid low thy mighty men: thy people departed to the mountains, and there was none to receive them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judgment Against Nineveh
17Your guards are like the swarming locust, and your scribes like clouds of locusts that settle on the walls on a cold day. When the sun rises, they fly away, and no one knows where. 18O king of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your officers sleep. Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them. 19There is no healing for your injury; your wound is severe. All who hear the news of you applaud your downfall, for who has not experienced your constant cruelty?…

Cross References
Ezekiel 31:11-14
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. / All the birds of the air nested on its fallen trunk, and all the beasts of the field lived among its boughs. ...

Jeremiah 50:18-19
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. / I will return Israel to his pasture, and he will graze on Carmel and Bashan; his soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.

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 14:19-20
But you are cast out of your grave like a rejected branch, covered by those slain with the sword, and dumped into a rocky pit like a carcass trampled underfoot. / You will not join them in burial, since you have destroyed your land and slaughtered your own people. The offspring of the wicked will never again be mentioned.

Jeremiah 51:57
I will make her princes and wise men drunk, along with her governors, officials, and warriors. Then they will fall asleep forever and not wake up,” declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts.

Isaiah 10:8-11
“Are not all my commanders kings?” he says. / “Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus? / As my hand seized the idolatrous kingdoms whose images surpassed those of Jerusalem and Samaria, ...

Jeremiah 50:44
Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Babylon from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”

Isaiah 13:14
Like a hunted gazelle, like a sheep without a shepherd, each will return to his own people, each will flee to his native land.

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.

Isaiah 47:15
This is what they are to you—those with whom you have labored and traded from youth—each one strays in his own direction; not one of them can save you.

Jeremiah 50:27
Kill all her young bulls; let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them, for their day has come—the time of their punishment.

Isaiah 34:12
No nobles will be left to proclaim a king, and all her princes will come to nothing.

Jeremiah 51:30
The warriors of Babylon have stopped fighting; they sit in their strongholds. Their strength is exhausted; they have become like women. Babylon’s homes have been set ablaze, the bars of her gates are broken.

Isaiah 33:1
Woe to you, O destroyer never destroyed, O traitor never betrayed! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed. When you have finished betraying, you will be betrayed.

Revelation 18:2-3
And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast. / All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.”


Treasury of Scripture

Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: your nobles shall dwell in the dust: your people is scattered on the mountains, and no man gathers them.

Thy shepherds.

Nahum 2:6
The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.

Exodus 15:16
Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

Psalm 76:5,6
The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands…

O King.

Jeremiah 50:18
Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.

Ezekiel 31:3-18
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 32:22,23
Asshur is there and all her company: his graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword: …

nobles.

Isaiah 47:1
Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.

Revelation 6:15
And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

thy people.

1 Kings 22:17
And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.

Isaiah 13:14
And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.

Jump to Previous
Asshur Assyria Dust Dwell Flock Friends Gather Gathereth Gathering Honourable Keepers Lie Mountains Nobles Ones Rest Scattered Shepherds Sleeping Slumber Slumbered Sorrow Strong Together Wandering Worthies
Jump to Next
Asshur Assyria Dust Dwell Flock Friends Gather Gathereth Gathering Honourable Keepers Lie Mountains Nobles Ones Rest Scattered Shepherds Sleeping Slumber Slumbered Sorrow Strong Together Wandering Worthies
Nahum 3
1. The destruction of Nineveh.














O king of Assyria
This phrase addresses the ruler of the Assyrian Empire, a dominant power in the ancient Near East known for its military prowess and harsh conquests. The Assyrian kings, such as Sennacherib and Ashurbanipal, were often seen as invincible. However, Nahum's prophecy foretells their downfall, emphasizing the sovereignty of God over even the mightiest of earthly rulers. This echoes the biblical theme that no kingdom stands against God's will, as seen in Daniel 2:21, where God is described as the one who "removes kings and sets up kings."

your shepherds slumber
The term "shepherds" metaphorically refers to the leaders and rulers of Assyria, responsible for guiding and protecting the people. Their slumber indicates negligence and failure in leadership, leading to the nation's vulnerability. This imagery is consistent with other biblical passages where leaders are likened to shepherds, such as in Ezekiel 34, where God condemns the shepherds of Israel for their failure to care for the flock. The slumber of Assyria's leaders signifies a divine judgment, rendering them ineffective and unprepared.

your officers sleep
Similar to the shepherds, the officers represent the military and administrative leaders of Assyria. Their sleep suggests a state of complacency or incapacity, contributing to the empire's downfall. This can be seen as a fulfillment of divine prophecy, where God uses the weaknesses of a nation's leaders to bring about its judgment. The imagery of sleep is often used in scripture to denote unawareness or impending disaster, as in 1 Thessalonians 5:6, which warns believers to stay awake and sober.

Your people are scattered on the mountains
The scattering of the people signifies the complete disintegration of Assyrian society and the loss of national unity. Mountains often symbolize places of refuge or isolation in biblical literature, indicating that the people are fleeing in desperation. This scattering fulfills the prophetic warnings of dispersion as a consequence of divine judgment, similar to the scattering of Israel and Judah due to their disobedience, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:64.

with no one to gather them
The absence of a leader to gather the people underscores the total collapse of Assyrian authority and governance. This phrase highlights the futility of relying on human strength and leadership apart from God. It contrasts with the biblical promise of God as the ultimate shepherd who gathers His people, as seen in Isaiah 40:11, where God is depicted as gathering the lambs in His arms. The lack of a gatherer for Assyria emphasizes the finality of their judgment and the absence of divine favor.

Persons / Places / Events
1. King of Assyria
The ruler of the Assyrian Empire, representing the political and military power of the nation. Assyria was known for its might and cruelty, often oppressing other nations.

2. Shepherds
Symbolic of the leaders or rulers of Assyria, responsible for guiding and protecting the people. Their slumber indicates negligence and failure in leadership.

3. Nobles
The elite class in Assyria, who are depicted as resting, suggesting complacency and a lack of vigilance.

4. People of Assyria
The citizens of the Assyrian Empire, who are described as scattered, indicating a loss of unity and protection.

5. Mountains
Often symbolic of places of refuge or isolation, representing the scattered state of the Assyrian people without leadership.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Negligent Leadership
Leaders have a responsibility to guide and protect those under their care. Negligence can lead to chaos and scattering, as seen in Assyria's downfall.

The Importance of Vigilance
Complacency among leaders and the elite can lead to downfall. Constant vigilance and active engagement are necessary to maintain order and unity.

God's Sovereignty Over Nations
Despite the might of empires like Assyria, God is sovereign and can bring about their downfall. Trust in God's ultimate authority over earthly powers.

The Need for Spiritual Shepherds
Just as physical leaders are necessary, spiritual shepherds are crucial for guiding people in faith. The church must ensure its leaders are awake and active.

Unity and Community
The scattering of people highlights the importance of unity and community. Believers should strive to maintain fellowship and support one another.(18) Shepherds--i.e., chief officers, as in Micah 5:2 and passim. Their sheep are "scattered upon the mountains and none attempts to gather them." So Micaiah announces to Ahab, "I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills as sheep that have not a shepherd" (1Kings 22:17).

Thy nobles shall dwell.--Better, thy mighty men are lying still.

Verse 18. - Thy shepherds. The princes and counsellors, on whom the safety of the state depends. Slumber. Sleep the sleep of death - slain in the war (Psalm 76:6). O King of Assyria. The power and evil of Nineveh personified, not any particular king. Shall dwell in the dust; are lying, or are at rest, in death; Septuagint, Ἐκοίμισε τοὺς δυνάστας σου, "Put to sleep thy mighty men" (comp. Euripides, 'Hec.,' 473, where κοιμίζειν is used in the sense of "to slay"): Vulgate, sepelientur. Is scattered upon the mountains. Their shepherds being dead, the flock, the herd of common people, is scattered abroad and perishes, because no man gathereth them - there is no one to collect them. "The mountains" referred to are those which shut in Assyria on the north.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
O king
מֶ֣לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Assyria,
אַשּׁ֔וּר (’aš·šūr)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 804: Ashshur

your shepherds
רֹעֶ֙יךָ֙ (rō·‘e·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with

slumber;
נָמ֤וּ (nā·mū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5123: To be drowsy, slumber

your officers
אַדִּירֶ֑יךָ (’ad·dî·re·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 117: Wide, large, powerful

sleep.
יִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ (yiš·kə·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7931: To settle down, abide, dwell

Your people
עַמְּךָ֛ (‘am·mə·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

are scattered
נָפֹ֧שׁוּ (nā·p̄ō·šū)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6335: Probably to spring about

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the mountains
הֶהָרִ֖ים (he·hā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

with no one
וְאֵ֥ין (wə·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

to gather them.
מְקַבֵּֽץ׃ (mə·qab·bêṣ)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6908: To gather, collect


Links
Nahum 3:18 NIV
Nahum 3:18 NLT
Nahum 3:18 ESV
Nahum 3:18 NASB
Nahum 3:18 KJV

Nahum 3:18 BibleApps.com
Nahum 3:18 Biblia Paralela
Nahum 3:18 Chinese Bible
Nahum 3:18 French Bible
Nahum 3:18 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Nahum 3:18 Your shepherds slumber king of Assyria (Nah. Na)
Nahum 3:17
Top of Page
Top of Page