King James Version

What Does Nahum 1:2 Mean?

“God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious ; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. God: or, The LORD is a jealous God, and a revenger, etc is furious: Heb. that hath fury”

Context

The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious ; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. God: or, The LORD is a jealous God, and a revenger, etc is furious: Heb. that hath fury

The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

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Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(2-8) God’s character a pledge that the oppressor of His servants shall be destroyed. (2) **God** . . . **furious.**—Better, *A jealous and vengeful God is Jehovah, an avenger is Jehovah, aye, wrathful.* This verse lays the groundwork for the declaration of God’s sentence against the offending city. There are, of course, several passages in the Law which attribute the same character to Jehovah, *e.g.,* Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 4:24. Nahum’s model, however, is a passage of opposite purport, the well-known proclamation of Jehovah’s attribute of mercy (Exodus 34:6-7). To that passage the present is a kind of counterpoise, *Êl kannô v*’*nôkêm* here being the pendant to *Êl rachoom v*’*channoon* there.

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Nahum. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Nahum 1:2 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.