Nahum 3:1
Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Assyrian inscriptions confirm Nahum's accusations. Kings boasted of atrocities—impaling captives, creating pyramids of skulls, deporting entire populations, burning cities. The empire's wealth came primarily from tribute and plunder extracted from conquered peoples. Nineveh itself was built with forced labor and filled with treasures stolen from defeated nations. What Assyria called glory, God called robbery and murder. The historical record vindicates Nahum's assessment: Nineveh was indeed a 'bloody city' built on violence and deception. When it fell in 612 BC, no nation mourned—instead, conquered peoples rejoiced at their oppressor's downfall (3:19). This demonstrates that empires built on injustice and cruelty, no matter how powerful, ultimately face judgment and collapse.
Questions for Reflection
- How do modern nations or institutions similarly build prosperity on violence, exploitation, and deception while presenting themselves as civilized?
- What does this passage teach about God's moral assessment differing radically from human glory and success?
- How should Christians respond to systemic injustice embedded in economic and political systems?
Analysis & Commentary
Chapter 3 opens with a cry: 'Woe to the bloody city!' (hoy ir damim). The Hebrew hoy is both lament and denunciation—a funeral dirge for the living. 'Bloody city' (ir damim) emphasizes Nineveh's violence and cruelty. 'It is all full of lies and robbery' (kullah kachash pereq mele'ah). Lies (kachash) refers to deception, false promises, and treaty violations. Robbery (pereq) suggests violent plunder and prey. 'The prey departeth not' (lo-yamish taraph) indicates constant predation—Nineveh's entire economy and empire built on conquest and exploitation. This comprehensive indictment—violence, deception, and robbery—exposes the moral bankruptcy underlying Nineveh's power and wealth. The city appeared glorious, but God sees its foundation of blood, lies, and theft. This demonstrates that God judges not merely outward actions but the fundamental character and disposition. Nineveh's entire civilization was predicated on evil, making judgment inevitable and thorough.