Nahum 1:2
What does Nahum 1:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Nahum 1:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nahum 1:2 means
Verse 2 declares the moral center of the book: Jehovah is a jealous and avenging God. His jealousy is not petty envy, but covenant zeal—the burning commitment to His own honor and to the good of His people. He is not indifferent to evil. He takes note, stores up, and finally pours out just wrath on His adversaries. The triple repetition of His vengeance underscores certainty. Far from capricious rage, His retribution arises from holiness. Enemies may prosper for a time, but He “reserveth wrath” until the appointed day. This verse comforts the oppressed and warns the proud: God’s justice is personal, measured, and unstoppable.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jehovah is a jealous God and avengeth; Jehovah avengeth and is full of wrath; Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
KJV
King James Version · 1611God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jehovah is a jealous God and avengeth; Jehovah avengeth and is full of wrath; Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The Lord is a God who takes care of his honour and gives punishment for wrong; the Lord gives punishment and is angry; the Lord sends punishment on those who are against him, being angry with his haters.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862A God zealous and avenging <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah, An avenger <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah, and possessing fury. An avenger <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah on His adversaries, And He is watching for His enemies.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The Lord is a jealous God, and a revenger: the Lord is a revenger, and hath wrath: the Lord taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he is angry with his enemies.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890A jealous and avengingGod is Jehovah: an avenger is Jehovah, and full of fury: Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth [wrath] for his enemies.
Context
After the heading, Nahum first speaks about who God is, because the fate of Nineveh flows from God’s character. Verse 2 sets a judicial tone that continues into verses 3–6. The prophet wants Judah to see that the coming judgment is not political accident but divine response to real evil. The emphasis on jealousy and vengeance balances, in verse 3, with God’s patience, ensuring readers do not mistake His slowness for weakness. These attributes explain both the delay and the certainty of Nineveh’s fall.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 10:30
For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
- Zechariah 1:14
So the angel that talked with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
- Job 20:23
When he is about to fill his belly, Godwill cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, And will rain it upon him while he is eating.
- Exodus 20:5
thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me,
- Ezekiel 39:25
Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Now will I bring back the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for my holy name.
- Isaiah 59:17
And he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle.
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