Nahum 1:6
What does Nahum 1:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Nahum 1:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nahum 1:6 means
Two piercing questions drive the point home: who can stand before His indignation, and who can endure His burning anger? The implied answer is no one. His wrath is like fire—pure, consuming, unstoppable—and even rocks, symbols of strength and stability, are shattered by Him. Nahum wants complacent sinners to feel the impossibility of resistance. All defenses, natural or man-made, collapse when God judges. This is not to deny His mercy; rather, it shows why mercy is needed. Safety cannot be found by strength or strategy, but only by seeking God’s favor. The verse strips pride and invites refuge before the storm breaks.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Who 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Who 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Who may keep his place before his wrath? and who may undergo the heat of his passion? his wrath is let loose like fire and the rocks are broken open by him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Before His indignation who doth stand? And who riseth up in the heat of His anger? His fury hath been poured out like fire, And the rocks have been broken by Him.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who can stand before the face of his indignation? and who shall resist in the fierceness of his anger? his indignation is poured out like fire: and the rocks are melted by him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Who shall stand before his indignation? and who shall abide in the fierceness of his anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him.
Context
After displaying the cosmic effects of God’s approach, the prophet turns to direct challenge through rhetorical questions. This is the hinge between the terrifying vision (verses 2–6) and the comforting assurance of verse 7. The same fiery presence that breaks rocks will be shelter for those who trust Him. Immediately after this, in verses 8–10, the focus narrows to the fate of God’s enemies—especially Nineveh—showing how the general truth applies to a concrete historical oppressor.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 6:17
for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?
- Isaiah 27:4
Wrath is not in me: would that the briers and thorns were against me in battle! I would march upon them, I would burn them together.
- Ezekiel 30:16
And I will set a fire in Egypt: Sin shall be in great anguish, and No shall be broken up; and Memphis shall have adversaries in the day-time.
- Isaiah 10:16
Therefore will the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory there shall be kindled a burning like the burning of fire.
- Lamentations 4:11
Jehovah hath accomplished his wrath, he hath poured out his fierce anger; And he hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath devoured the foundations thereof.
- Revelation 16:1
And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth.
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