Nahum 1:3
What does Nahum 1:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Nahum 1:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nahum 1:3 means
God’s patience and power stand together. Jehovah is slow to anger—He delays punishment, giving space for repentance. Yet His patience never cancels justice: He will not clear the guilty. He is great in power, not only in might but in moral authority to judge. The imagery of whirlwind, storm, and dust-like clouds depicts His sovereignty over creation. What terrifies people are merely the pathways of His feet. The message is sobering and consoling: the God who governs the tempests governs empires. Delay is not denial. When He rises to act, none can hinder Him, and His judgments are righteous and complete.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jehovah 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jehovah 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The Lord is slow to get angry and great in power, and will not let the sinner go without punishment: the way of the Lord is in the wind and the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> slow to anger, and great in power, And Jehovah doth not entirely acquit, In a hurricane and in a tempest <FI>is<Fi> His way, And a cloud <FI>is<Fi> the dust of His feet.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The 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.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and doth not at all clear [the guilty]: Jehovah, — his way is in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Context
This verse balances the avenging character of verse 2 with divine patience, then moves the reader from attributes to a vivid theophany. Verses 3–6 paint God’s approach in storm and earthquake to show that His coming judgment is as irresistible as the forces of nature. The focus is still general rather than specific to Nineveh, so that Judah understands the universal scope of God’s rule. From this foundation, the prophet will pivot, in verses 7–8, to separate the destinies of those who take refuge in Him and those who oppose Him.
v.2Jehovah 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.
v.3This passage
v.4He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 34:6
And Jehovah passed by before him, and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth;
- Isaiah 19:1
The burden of Egypt. Behold, Jehovah rideth upon a swift cloud, and cometh unto Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall tremble at his presence; and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
- Matthew 26:64
Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.
- Joel 2:13
and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
- Revelation 1:7
Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
- Zechariah 9:14
And Jehovah shall be seen over them; and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning; and the Lord Jehovah will blow the trumpet, and will go with whirlwinds of the south.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Nahum 1
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Nahum 1.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About God as Refuge
The Bible uses the powerful imagery of refuge to describe God as our ultimate protector and safe haven in times of trouble.
Topic
Bible Verses About the Goodness of God
God’s goodness is a foundational truth of faith, revealing His benevolent nature and faithful provision for all creation.
Topic
Bible Verses About the Wrath of God
God's wrath is a profound aspect of His holiness and justice, revealed against sin and rebellion throughout scripture.