Nahum 3:12
What does Nahum 3:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Nahum 3:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nahum 3:12 means
Nineveh’s fortresses, which seemed sturdy, will prove like first-ripe figs—so ready to fall that a slight shake makes them drop into an eater’s mouth. The point is not only that the defenses will fail, but that they will fail easily. What appears granite-strong is in fact brittle under God’s hand. The image humbles military pride and strategic planning; in the day of judgment, the city’s citadels become fruit for the invader. God often reveals the true quality of our supposed strengths by a simple test; here, Nineveh’s towers are exposed as overripe and unsecured, with no capacity to withstand determined assault.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000All thy fortresses shall be like fig-trees with the first-ripe figs: if they be shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater.
KJV
King James Version · 1611All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901All thy fortresses shall be like fig-trees with the first-ripe figs: if they be shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949All your walled places will be like fig-trees and your people like the first figs, falling at a shake into the mouth which is open for them.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862All thy fortresses <FI>are<Fi> fig-trees with first-fruits, If they are shaken, They have fallen into the mouth of the eater.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with their green figs: if they be shaken, they shall fall into the mouth of the eater.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890All thy strongholds are [like] fig-trees with the first-ripe figs: if they be shaken, they even fall into the mouth of the eater.
Context
Verse 12 follows verse 11’s prediction of confusion by describing the practical outcome: Nineveh’s defenses will offer little resistance. Verse 13 will intensify the picture by highlighting the weakness of the people and the breached gates. These verses together show that the collapse will be swift and systemic—both walls and will crumble. This prepares the sarcastic command in verse 14 to prepare for siege, which is immediately answered by the certainty of destruction in verse 15.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 28:4
and the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be as the first-ripe fig before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.
- Habakkuk 1:10
Yea, he scoffeth at kings, and princes are a derision unto him; he derideth every stronghold; for he heapeth up dust, and taketh it.
- Revelation 6:13
and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind.
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