Nahum 3:10

Authorized King James Version

Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
גַּם
H1571
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
#2
הִ֗יא
H1931
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
#3
לַגֹּלָה֙
H1473
Yet was she carried away
exile; concretely and collectively exiles
#4
הָלְכָ֣ה
H1980
she went
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#5
בַשֶּׁ֔בִי
H7628
into captivity
exiled; captured; as noun, exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively); by extension, booty
#6
גַּ֧ם
H1571
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
#7
עֹלָלֶ֛יהָ
H5768
her young children
a suckling
#8
יְרֻטְּשׁ֖וּ
H7376
also were dashed in pieces
to dash down
#9
בְּרֹ֣אשׁ
H7218
at the top
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
#10
כָּל
H3605
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#11
חוּצ֑וֹת
H2351
of all the streets
properly, separate by a wall, i.e., outside, outdoors
#12
וְעַל
H5921
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#13
נִכְבַּדֶּ֙יהָ֙
H3513
for her honourable men
to be heavy, i.e., in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same
#14
יַדּ֣וּ
H3032
and they cast
properly, to handle, i.e., to throw, e.g., lots
#15
גוֹרָ֔ל
H1486
lots
properly, a pebble, i.e., a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively, a portion or destiny (as if determined by lot)
#16
וְכָל
H3605
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#17
גְּדוֹלֶ֖יהָ
H1419
and all her great men
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
#18
רֻתְּק֥וּ
H7576
were bound
to fasten
#19
בַזִּקִּֽים׃
H2131
in chains
properly, what leaps forth, i.e., flash of fire, or a burning arrow; also (from the original sense of the root) a bond

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Nahum Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection