Nahum 1:6

6 1Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath 2is poured out like fire, and 3the rocks are broken into pieces by him.

Nahum 1:6 Meaning and Commentary

Nahum 1:6

Who can stand before his indignation?
&c.] No creature whatever; no man nor body of men; not Nineveh, and the inhabitants of it; nor the whole Assyrian empire: and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger?
not the great men of the earth; not kings or generals of armies; not kingdoms and nations, ever so numerous and powerful; but all must be consumed by him, who is a consuming fire; see ( Jeremiah 10:10 ) ( Revelation 6:15-17 ) ; his fury is poured out like fire;
or like metal that is melted by fire, and poured out by the force of it; or like fire of lightning poured out of the heavens, which is quick, powerful, and penetrating, and there is no resisting it: and the rocks are thrown down by him;
by the Lord, by his wrath and fury; kingdoms that seemed as strong and immovable as rocks and mountains are thrown down; as such have been by the force of fire bursting from the midst of them, as Etna, Vesuvius, and others.

Nahum 1:6 In-Context

4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; the bloom of Lebanon withers.
5 The mountains quake before him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who dwell in it.
6 Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.
7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.
8 But with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

Cross References 3

  • 1. [Malachi 3:2]
  • 2. 2 Chronicles 34:21; [Psalms 79:6]
  • 3. Ezekiel 38:20
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.