Nahum 1:9
What does Nahum 1:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Nahum 1:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nahum 1:9 means
Nahum confronts the planners in Nineveh: What are you plotting against Jehovah? However shrewd their schemes, they are folly if aimed against God and His people. Jehovah will make a “full end”—not a temporary setback. For Judah, the promise “affliction shall not rise up the second time” means the particular scourge of Assyrian oppression will be finally lifted. God will not allow the same rod to strike again. This is both warning and comfort: human designs cannot overturn divine purpose, and when God grants relief, it is decisive. The cycle of terror that seemed endless will stop by His decree.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000What do ye devise against Jehovah? he will make a full end; affliction shall not rise up the second time.
KJV
King James Version · 1611What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901What do ye devise against Jehovah? he will make a full end; affliction shall not rise up the second time.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949What are you designing against the Lord? he will put an end to it: his haters will not come up again a second time.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862What do we devise against Jehovah? An end He is making, arise not twice doth distress.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752What do ye devise against the Lord? he will make an utter end: there shall not rise a double affliction.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890What do ye imagine against Jehovah? He will make a full end: trouble shall not rise up the second time.
Context
This verse personalizes the judgment by addressing the wicked intent behind Assyria’s campaigns. It ties the flood of verse 8 to God’s purpose to end a specific affliction. The assurance to Judah prepares for the graphic descriptions in verse 10 and the identification of a particular instigator in verse 11. Structurally, it continues to alternate between the fate of enemies and the comfort of God’s people, showing both arise from God’s sovereign resolve.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 4:25
who by the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things?
- Psalms 33:10
Jehovah bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought; He maketh the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.
- 1 Samuel 26:8
Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered up thine enemy into thy hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not smite him the second time.
- Nahum 1:11
There is one gone forth out of thee, that deviseth evil against Jehovah, that counselleth wickedness.
- 2 Corinthians 10:5
casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
- 2 Samuel 20:10
But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the body, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. And Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
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