Nahum 1:5
What does Nahum 1:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Nahum 1:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nahum 1:5 means
Before Jehovah, the mountains—the most stable features of earth—quake; the hills melt like wax; the whole world and all who dwell in it are upheaved. This language communicates that God’s presence is not a private, religious feeling but a reality that shakes creation. Even rocks and ridges cannot resist His advance; how much less can human empires? The verse invites humility. The earth is not ultimate; God is. His appearing overturns what appears permanent, exposing the fragility of all that men trust. For Judah, this means their fear of Assyria must be measured against the fear of the Lord, who towers above all.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The mountains are shaking because of him, and the hills flowing away; the earth is falling to bits before him, the world and all who are in it.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Mountains have shaken because of Him, And the hills have been melted; And lifted up <FI>is<Fi> the earth at His presence, And the world and all dwelling in it.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The mountains tremble at him, and the hills are made desolate: and the earth hath quaked at his presence, and the world, and all that dwell therein.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt, and the earth is upheaved at his presence, and the world, and all that dwell therein.
Context
The description continues the theophany sequence begun in verses 3–4 and reaches a climax in scope: from seas and fields to mountains and the inhabited world. This prepares the way for the searching questions of verse 6, which press home the practical implication—no one can stand against such a God. Only after the sense of awe is complete will the prophet provide a word of comfort in verse 7, drawing a sharp contrast between the fate of those who oppose Him and those who hide in Him.
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.
v.5This passage
v.6Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Samuel 22:8
Then the earth shook and trembled, The foundations of heaven quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth.
- Psalms 68:8
The earth trembled, The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God: Yon Sinai trembled at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
- Psalms 97:4
His lightnings lightened the world: The earth saw, and trembled.
- Psalms 98:7
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein;
- Isaiah 2:12
For there shall be a day of Jehovah of hosts upon all that is proud and haughty, and upon all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low;
- Exodus 19:18
And mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Jehovah descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
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