Nahum 3:5
What does Nahum 3:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Nahum 3:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nahum 3:5 means
God Himself now steps forward: “Behold, I am against thee,” says Jehovah of hosts. The Judge will publicly shame Nineveh, stripping her of the pomp that concealed her corruption. The exposure of nakedness is a vivid picture of humiliation—reputation laid bare before the nations, secrets uncovered, pretensions shattered. The One called “of hosts” commands heavenly and earthly armies; His opposition seals Nineveh’s fate. This is not merely enemy propaganda but divine verdict. When God says, “I am against you,” strength becomes weakness and pride becomes disgrace. Nineveh’s calculated image-management will fail; her true condition will be displayed for all kingdoms to behold.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will uncover thy skirts upon thy face; and I will show the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will uncover thy skirts upon thy face; and I will show the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949See, I am against you, says the Lord of armies, and I will have your skirts pulled over your face, and let the nations see you unclothed, and the kingdoms your shame.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Lo, I <FI>am<Fi> against thee, An affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts, And have removed thy skirts before thy face, And have shewed nations thy nakedness, And kingdoms thy shame,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Behold I come against thee, saith the Lord of hosts: and I will discover thy shame to thy face, and will shew thy nakedness to the nations, and thy shame to kingdoms.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts; and I will uncover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.
Context
Having named Nineveh’s spiritual crimes in verse 4, verse 5 declares God’s personal enmity and the public nature of judgment. Verses 6–7 will develop this humiliation—defilement and universal rejection. The flow emphasizes that God is not distant; He actively confronts the oppressor. Reading verse 5 this way prepares us to see the next images (filth, gazing-stock, lack of mourners) as the fitting and inevitable outcome of God’s pronounced opposition.
v.4because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favored harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.
v.5This passage
v.6And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazing-stock.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 13:26
Therefore will I also uncover thy skirts upon thy face, and thy shame shall appear.
- Isaiah 47:2
Take the millstones, and grind meal; remove thy veil, strip off the train, uncover the leg, pass through the rivers.
- Ezekiel 23:25
And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal with thee in fury; they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy residue shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire.
- Ezekiel 23:29
and they shall deal with thee in hatred, and shall take away all thy labor, and shall leave thee naked and bare; and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be uncovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.
- Jeremiah 13:22
And if thou say in thy heart, Wherefore are these things come upon me? for the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts uncovered, and thy heels suffer violence.
- Habakkuk 2:16
Thou art filled with shame, and not glory: drink thou also, and be as one uncircumcised; the cup of Jehovah’s right hand shall come round unto thee, and foul shame shall be upon thy glory.
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