“And it will come about that all who see you Will shrink from you and say, ‘Nineveh is devastated! Who will have sympathy for her?’ Where shall I seek comforters for you?”
Parallel translations
- WEB It will happen that all those who look at you will flee from you, and say, ‘Nineveh is laid waste! Who will mourn for her?’ Where will I seek comforters for you?”
- KJV And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?
- BSB Then all who see you will recoil from you and say, ‘Nineveh is devastated; who will grieve for her?’ Where can I find comforters for you?”
- NKJV It shall come to pass that all who look upon you Will flee from you, and say, ‘Nineveh is laid waste! Who will bemoan her?’ Where shall I seek comforters for you?”
- NLT All who see you will shrink back and say, ‘Nineveh lies in ruins. Where are the mourners?’ Does anyone regret your destruction?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
All who see Nineveh's ruin will flee, declaring it laid waste, and no one will mourn or comfort her. The fallen city will find no sympathy.
Overview
Because Nineveh inflicted such cruelty on others, her devastation evokes flight and revulsion rather than grief. The rhetorical question about comforters underscores her total abandonment in judgment. The absence of any mourner reveals the isolating end of a nation that lived by oppressing others.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Jer 15:5For who will have pity on you, Jerusalem? or who will bemoan you? or who will turn aside to ask of your welfare?
- Isa 51:19These two things have happened to you — who will grieve with you? — desolation and destruction, and famine and the sword. How can I comfort you?
- Rev 18:10standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.’
- Num 16:34All Israel that were around them fled at their cry; for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!”
- Lam 2:13What shall I testify to you? what shall I liken to you, daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare to you, that I may comfort you, virgin daughter of Zion? For your breach is great like the sea: who can heal you?
- Jer 51:9“We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed. Forsake her, and let us each go into his own country; for her judgment reaches to heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.
- Nah 1:1A revelation about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
- Nah 2:9–10Take the plunder of silver. Take the plunder of gold, for there is no end of the store, the glory of all goodly furniture.
- Jer 51:41–43“How Sheshach is taken! and the praise of the whole earth seized! How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!
- Rev 18:16–19saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls!
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The certain judgment on Nineveh and the comfort that 'the LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble' point to Christ, who is both the refuge of his people and the judge of their enemies.
How Nahum 3:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.