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Nahum 3:8 Are you better than Thebes, stationed by the Nile with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water?
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Nahum 3:8 Are you better than Thebes, stationed by the Nile with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water?</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/nahum/3-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/34_Nam_03_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Nahum 3:8 - Judgment Against Nineveh" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Are you better than Thebes, stationed by the Nile with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water?" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/nahum/3-8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/nahum/3-8.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/nahum/">Nahum</a> > <a href="/nahum/3.htm">Chapter 3</a> > Verse 8</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/nahum/3-7.htm" title="Nahum 3:7">◄</a> Nahum 3:8 <a href="/nahum/3-9.htm" title="Nahum 3:9">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/nahum/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/nahum/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Are you better than Thebes, situated on the Nile, with water around her? The river was her defense, the waters her wall.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/nahum/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Are you any better than the city of Thebes, situated on the Nile River, surrounded by water? She was protected by the river on all sides, walled in by water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/nahum/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Are you better than Thebes that sat by the Nile, with water around her, her rampart a sea, and water her wall?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/nahum/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Are you better than Thebes, stationed by the Nile with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/nahum/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, <i>that had</i> the waters round about it, whose rampart <i>was</i> the sea, <i>and</i> her wall <i>was</i> from the sea?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/nahum/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Are you better than No Amon <i>That was</i> situated by the River, That had the waters around her, Whose rampart <i>was</i> the sea, Whose wall <i>was</i> the sea?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/nahum/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Are you better than No-amon, Which was situated by the canals of the Nile, With water surrounding her, Whose rampart <i>was</i> the sea, Whose wall <i>consisted</i> of the sea?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/nahum/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Are you better than No-amon, Which was situated by the waters of the Nile, With water surrounding her, Whose rampart was the sea, Whose wall consisted of the sea?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/nahum/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Are you better than No-amon, Which was situated by the waters of the Nile, With water surrounding her, Whose rampart <i>was</i> the sea, Whose wall <i>consisted</i> of the sea?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/nahum/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Are you better than No-amon, Which sits along the waters of the Nile, With water surrounding her, Whose rampart <i>was</i> the sea, Whose wall <i>consisted</i> of the sea?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/nahum/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Are you better than Thebes, Which was situated by the waters of the Nile, With water surrounding her, Whose defense was the sea (the Nile), Whose wall <i>consisted</i> of the sea?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/nahum/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Are you better than Thebes that sat along the Nile with water surrounding her, whose rampart was the sea, the river her wall?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/nahum/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Are you better than Thebes that sat along the Nile with water surrounding her, whose rampart was the sea, the river her wall? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/nahum/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Art thou better than No-amon, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about her; whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was of the sea?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/nahum/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Nineveh, do you feel safer than the city of Thebes? The Nile River was its wall of defense. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/nahum/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Art thou better than No-amon, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about her; whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was of the sea?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/nahum/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Are you better than No-amon, which sits by the streams of the Nile with water surrounding her? The sea was [her] defense. The water was her wall. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/nahum/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Nineveh, are you any better than Thebes, the capital of Egypt? She too had a river to protect her like a wall--the Nile was her defense. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/nahum/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Are you any better than Thebes, which sits by the upper Nile, surrounded by water? The sea was her defense, the waters her wall of protection. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/nahum/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Are you better than Thebes, stationed by the Nile with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/nahum/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />You are no more secure than Thebes--she was located on the banks of the Nile; the waters surrounded her, her rampart was the sea, the water was her wall. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/nahum/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Are you better than No-Amon, who was situated among the rivers, who had the waters around her; whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was of the sea?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/nahum/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Art thou better than populous No, that was situated among the rivers, that had the waters around it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/nahum/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Are you better than No-Amon, who was situated among the rivers, who had the waters around her, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was of the sea? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/nahum/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Are you better than No-Ammon, "" That is dwelling among brooks? Waters she has around her, "" Whose bulwark [is] the sea, waters her wall.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/nahum/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Art thou better than No-Ammon, That is dwelling among brooks? Waters she hath round about her, Whose bulwark is the sea, waters her wall.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/nahum/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Wilt thou be good above No, the builder dwelling among the rivers, the waters round about to her, whose strength the sea, from the sea her wall?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/nahum/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Art thou better than the populous Alexandria, that dwelleth among the rivers? waters are round about it: the sea is its riches, the waters are its walls. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/nahum/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Are you better than the populous Alexandria, which dwells along the rivers? Waters encircle it: the sea, with its riches. The waters are its walls.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/nahum/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Are you better than No-amon that was set among the Nile’s canals, Surrounded by waters, with the river for her rampart and water for her wall? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/nahum/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Are you better than Thebes that sat by the Nile, with water around her, her rampart a sea, water her wall?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/nahum/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Are you better than Jawan of Ammon, which is situated by the rivers, that had waters round about her, whose rampart was the sea, and water her wall?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/nahum/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Are you better than Yavan of Amon who dwells on the rivers and waters surround him, whose power is the sea and the waters, his fortification<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/nahum/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Art thou better than No-amon, That was situate among the rivers, That had the waters round about her; Whose rampart was the sea, and of the sea her wall?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/nahum/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Prepare thee a portion, tune the chord, prepare a portion for Ammon: she that dwells among the rivers, water is round about her, whose dominion is the sea, and whose walls are water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/nahum/3-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1vC_xxtlDxA?start=386" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/nahum/3.htm">Judgment Against Nineveh</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">7</span>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?” <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3190.htm" title="3190: hă·ṯê·ṭə·ḇî (V-Hifil-Imperf-2fs) -- To be good, well, glad, or pleasing. A primitive root; to be make well, literally or figuratively.">Are you better</a> <a href="/hebrew/4996.htm" title="4996: min·nō (Prep-m:: N-proper-fs) -- An Egyptian city. Of Egyptian origin; No, the capital of Upper Egypt.">than Thebes,</a> <a href="/hebrew/528.htm" title="528: ’ā·mō·wn (N-proper-fs) -- An Egyptian god. Of Egyptian derivation; Amon, a deity of Egypt."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3427.htm" title="3427: hay·yō·šə·ḇāh (Art:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-fs) -- A primitive root; properly, to sit down; by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry.">stationed</a> <a href="/hebrew/2975.htm" title="2975: bay·’ō·rîm (Prep-b, Art:: N-mp) -- Stream (of the Nile), stream, canal. ">by the Nile</a> <a href="/hebrew/4325.htm" title="4325: ma·yim (N-mp) -- Waters, water. Dual of a primitive noun; water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen.">with water</a> <a href="/hebrew/5439.htm" title="5439: sā·ḇîḇ (Adv) -- Circuit, round about. Or cbiybah; from cabab; a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly around.">around</a> <a href="/hebrew/lāh (Prep:: 3fs) -- ">her,</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">whose</a> <a href="/hebrew/2426.htm" title="2426: ḥêl (N-msc) -- Rampart, fortress. Or chel; a collateral form of chayil; an army; also an intrenchment.">rampart</a> <a href="/hebrew/3220.htm" title="3220: yām (N-ms) -- A sea or large body of water; specifically, the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river.">was the sea,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2346.htm" title="2346: ḥō·w·mā·ṯāh (N-fsc:: 3fs) -- A wall. Feminine active participle of an unused root apparently meaning to join; a wall of protection.">whose wall</a> <a href="/hebrew/3220.htm" title="3220: mî·yām (Prep-m:: N-ms) -- A sea or large body of water; specifically, the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river.">was the water?</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>Cush and Egypt were her boundless strength; Put and Libya were her allies.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/30-14.htm">Ezekiel 30:14-16</a></span><br />I will lay waste Pathros, set fire to Zoan, and execute judgment on Thebes. / I will pour out My wrath on Pelusium, the stronghold of Egypt, and cut off the crowds of Thebes. / I will set fire to Egypt, Pelusium will writhe in anguish, Thebes will be split open, and Memphis will face daily distress.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/46-25.htm">Jeremiah 46:25-26</a></span><br />The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I am about to punish Amon god of Thebes, along with Pharaoh, Egypt with her gods and kings, and those who trust in Pharaoh. / I will deliver them into the hands of those who seek their lives—of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. But after this, Egypt will be inhabited as in days of old, declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/19-4.htm">Isaiah 19:4</a></span><br />I will deliver the Egyptians into the hands of a harsh master, and a fierce king will rule over them,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/20-3.htm">Isaiah 20:3-5</a></span><br />Then the LORD said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush, / so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame. / Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/25-19.htm">Jeremiah 25:19</a></span><br />Pharaoh king of Egypt, his officials, his leaders, and all his people;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-2.htm">Isaiah 30:2-3</a></span><br />They set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice, to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shade. / But Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame, and the refuge of Egypt’s shade your disgrace.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/2-18.htm">Jeremiah 2:18</a></span><br />Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? What will you gain on your way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/31-1.htm">Isaiah 31:1</a></span><br />Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/29-10.htm">Ezekiel 29:10</a></span><br />therefore I am against you and against your rivers. I will turn the land of Egypt into a ruin, a desolate wasteland from Migdol to Syene, and as far as the border of Cush.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/19-11.htm">Isaiah 19:11-13</a></span><br />The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”? / Where are your wise men now? Let them tell you and reveal what the LORD of Hosts has planned against Egypt. / The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Memphis are deceived. The cornerstones of her tribes have led Egypt astray.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-22.htm">Acts 7:22</a></span><br />So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/11-8.htm">Revelation 11:8</a></span><br />Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/2-15.htm">Matthew 2:15</a></span><br />where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/2-10.htm">Acts 2:10</a></span><br />Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/16-12.htm">Revelation 16:12</a></span><br />And the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Are you better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?</p><p class="hdg">thou.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/31-2.htm">Ezekiel 31:2,3</a></b></br> Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/amos/6-2.htm">Amos 6:2</a></b></br> Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: <i>be they</i> better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?</p><p class="hdg">populous No.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/46-25.htm">Jeremiah 46:25,26</a></b></br> The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and <i>all</i> them that trust in him: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/30-14.htm">Ezekiel 30:14-16</a></b></br> And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No… </p><p class="hdg">that had.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/19-5.htm">Isaiah 19:5-10</a></b></br> And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jonah/4-8.htm">Better</a> <a href="/joel/3-18.htm">Brooks</a> <a href="/nahum/2-1.htm">Bulwark</a> <a href="/ezekiel/41-11.htm">Consisted</a> <a href="/nahum/2-5.htm">Defense</a> <a href="/nahum/2-11.htm">Dwelling</a> <a href="/ezekiel/26-8.htm">Earthwork</a> <a href="/amos/9-5.htm">Nile</a> <a href="/isaiah/32-14.htm">Populous</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-8.htm">Rampart</a> <a href="/nahum/2-6.htm">River</a> <a href="/nahum/2-6.htm">Rivers</a> <a href="/micah/5-1.htm">Round</a> <a href="/jonah/4-5.htm">Sat</a> <a href="/nahum/1-4.htm">Sea</a> <a href="/micah/7-8.htm">Seated</a> <a href="/ezekiel/27-3.htm">Situate</a> <a href="/ezekiel/27-3.htm">Situated</a> <a href="/micah/6-7.htm">Streams</a> <a href="/amos/3-11.htm">Surrounding</a> <a href="/ezekiel/30-16.htm">Thebes</a> <a href="/nahum/2-5.htm">Wall</a> <a href="/nahum/2-10.htm">Water</a> <a href="/nahum/2-8.htm">Waters</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/nahum/3-19.htm">Better</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-9.htm">Brooks</a> <a href="/habakkuk/2-1.htm">Bulwark</a> <a href="/acts/23-6.htm">Consisted</a> <a href="/luke/12-11.htm">Defense</a> <a href="/habakkuk/1-6.htm">Dwelling</a> <a href="/2_samuel/20-15.htm">Earthwork</a> <a href="/zechariah/10-11.htm">Nile</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/26-5.htm">Populous</a> <a href="/habakkuk/2-1.htm">Rampart</a> <a href="/zechariah/9-10.htm">River</a> <a href="/habakkuk/3-8.htm">Rivers</a> <a href="/habakkuk/1-4.htm">Round</a> <a href="/zechariah/5-7.htm">Sat</a> <a href="/habakkuk/1-9.htm">Sea</a> <a href="/zechariah/3-8.htm">Seated</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-5.htm">Situate</a> <a href="/matthew/5-14.htm">Situated</a> <a href="/habakkuk/3-8.htm">Streams</a> <a href="/zechariah/7-7.htm">Surrounding</a> <a href="/jeremiah/46-25.htm">Thebes</a> <a href="/habakkuk/2-11.htm">Wall</a> <a href="/nahum/3-14.htm">Water</a> <a href="/nahum/3-14.htm">Waters</a><div class="vheading2">Nahum 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nahum/3-1.htm">The destruction of Nineveh.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-3753401421161123"; /* 200 x 200 Parallel Bible */ google_ad_slot = "7676643937"; google_ad_width = 200; google_ad_height = 200; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/nahum/3.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>Are you better than Thebes</b><br />The rhetorical question posed here is directed at Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, challenging its sense of invincibility. Thebes, known in Hebrew as "No-Amon," was a prominent and powerful city in ancient Egypt, renowned for its grandeur and strength. The question implies that if Thebes, with all its might and resources, could fall, so too could Nineveh. This serves as a humbling reminder of the transient nature of earthly power and the sovereignty of God over nations.<p><b>situated by the Nile</b><br />Thebes was strategically located along the Nile River, which was the lifeblood of Egypt. The river provided sustenance, trade routes, and natural defense. In the same way, Nineveh was situated by the Tigris River, which also offered similar advantages. The mention of the Nile highlights the natural advantages that Thebes had, yet these were not enough to save it from destruction. This underscores the futility of relying solely on natural resources and geography for security, rather than on God.<p><b>with water around her</b><br />Thebes was surrounded by canals and tributaries of the Nile, which acted as natural fortifications. This imagery of water encircling the city symbolizes protection and abundance. However, the verse suggests that even such formidable defenses are insufficient without divine favor. It serves as a metaphor for the false sense of security that can come from relying on worldly defenses rather than spiritual ones.<p><b>whose rampart was the sea</b><br />The term "rampart" refers to a defensive wall or barrier. In the context of Thebes, the "sea" likely refers to the vast expanse of the Nile and its associated waterways, which provided a formidable natural defense. This phrase emphasizes the strength and security that Thebes enjoyed, yet it was still vulnerable to God's judgment. It is a reminder that no human-made or natural defense can stand against the will of God.<p><b>whose wall was the water</b><br />This phrase reiterates the idea of water as a protective barrier for Thebes. The imagery of water as a wall suggests an impregnable defense, yet history shows that Thebes fell to invaders. This serves as a powerful illustration of the limitations of human defenses and the ultimate authority of God over all creation. It calls believers to place their trust in God rather than in earthly fortifications.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/nahum/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) <span class= "bld">Populous No.</span>--Better, <span class= "ital">No Amon.</span> Thebes, the capital of Upper Egypt, was known to the Hebrews as "No Amon" (perhaps, "house of the god Amon;" similarly the Greeks called it <span class= "greekheb">?????????</span>). Assyria herself had reduced the power of Thebes. (1) Sargon, the father of Sennacherib, had defeated Shebah, the Egyptian Tar-dan, at Rapikh, cir. B.C. 716. (2) Esar-haddon, Sennacherib's son, had routed the forces of Tirhakah, subjugated the whole of the Nile valley, and taken the city where Tirhakah held his court, probably Thebes, cir. B.C. 670. (3) Asshur-bani-pal invaded Egypt in the year of his accession, B.C. 668, and reinstated certain rulers of his father's appointment, whom Tirhakah had driven out. In B.C. 665, another revolt brought this king again into Egypt. On this occasion Thebes was certainly sacked, and a large booty, including "gold, silver, precious stones, dyed garments, captives (male and female), tame animals brought up in the palace, obelisks, &c., was carried off, and conveyed to Nineveh" <span class= "ital">{Five Great Monarchies,</span> ii. 203). The present passage may refer either to this event or to Esar-haddon's previous capture of Thebes. The fall of the city was certainly a thing of the past when Nahum wrote. The allusion, therefore, helps us to assign the date of the composition (see Introduction). To mere human reasoning the downfall of Thebes testified to the power of Assyria, its conqueror. But to the inspired vision of Nahum, the ruin of the one world-power is an earnest of the ruin of the other. Both had been full of luxury and oppression, both were hated of mankind and opposed to God. If No-Amon has fallen, the city of the hundred gates, the metropolis of the Pharaohs, the conqueror whose countless captives reared the pyramids, why shall Nineveh stand? If Nineveh is protected by rivers--the Tigris and the Khausser--had not Thebes a rampart in the Nile, that "sea" of waters (comp. <a href="/isaiah/19-5.htm" title="And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up.">Isaiah 19:5</a>), and its numerous canals? If Nineveh relies on subordinate or friendly states--Mesopotamia, Babylonia, Syria--had not Thebes all the resources of Africa--Ethiopia in the south, the Egypts in the north, her Libyan allies, Put and the Lubim, in the north-west? Yet what was the fate of No Amon? Her youth carried off in the slave-gangs of Assyria; her infants dashed to pieces at the street-corner (<a href="/2_kings/8-12.htm" title="And Hazael said, Why weeps my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: their strong holds will you set on fire, and their young men will you slay with the sword, and will dash their children, and rip up their women with child.">2Kings 8:12</a>), as unprofitable to the captor; her senators reserved to grace a triumph, and assigned to the Assyrian generals by lot (<a href="/obadiah/1-11.htm" title="In the day that you stood on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots on Jerusalem, even you were as one of them.">Obadiah 1:11</a>).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/nahum/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 8-13.</span> - § 2<span class="accented">. The ruin of Nineveh can be averted no more than was that of No-Amon.</span> <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Art thou better than populous No?</span> "Better" probably means here more prosperous. "Populous No" ought to be rendered, <span class="accented">No-Amon, i.e.</span> No of the solar god Amon. This is the celebrated Thebes, in Upper Egypt, called in Egyptian Pa-Amun, "the House of Amun," and in the inscriptions Ni, which is the same word as No. The name Amon is attached because that god was particularly worshipped there. The LXX. has <span class="greek">μερίδα Ἀμμών</span> ("a portion of or for Ammon"), translating the word "No." St. Jerome, misled by his Hebrew teacher, renders, "Alexandria populorum," as if Thebes stood on the site of the much later city of Alexandria; whereas we see from Assurbanipal's annals that he was forty days marching from Memphis, where he defeated Rudammon, to Thebes (see G. Smith, 'Assurbanipal,' p. 55). On the grandeur and magnificence of this city, Denon (quoted by Rawlinson, 'Ancient Monarchies,' 1:309, note 7), writes, "On est fatigue d'ecrire, on est fatigue de lire, on est epouvante de la pensee d'une telle conception; on ne peut croire, meme apres l'avoir vu, a la realite de l'existence de tant de constructions reunies sur un meme point, a leurs dimensions, a la constance obstinee qu'a exigee leur fabrication, aux depenses incalculables de taut de somptuosite" ('Egypte,' 2:226). "In the long and rich valley of the Lower Nile, which extends above five hundred miles from Syene to Memphis, almost any situation might furnish a site for a great city, since, except at Silsilis and at the Gebelein, the valley is never less than two miles wide, the soil is always fertile, good quarries are always at hand, and lavish Nature is so bounteous with her gifts that abundant sustenance can at any point be obtained for a large population. But in this wealth of eligible sites, there are still degrees of eligibility - spots which Nature has distinguished by special favour, and, as it were, marked out for greatness and celebrity. Such a position is that which the traveller reaches when, passing through the gorge of the Gebelein, he emerges upon the magnificent plain, at least ten miles in width, through which the river flows with a course from southwest to northeast for a distance of some forty miles between Erment and Qobt. Here, for the first time since quitting the Nubian desert, does the Nile enter upon a wide and ample space. On either side the hills recede, and a broad green plain, an alluvium of the richest description, spreads itself out on both banks of the stream, dotted with <span class="accented">dom</span> and date palms, sometimes growing singly, sometimes collected into clumps or groves. Here, too, there open out on either side, to the east and to the west, lines of route offering great advantages for trade, on the one hand with the Lesser Oasis and so with the tribes of the African interior, on the other with the western coast of the Red Sea and the spice region of the opposite shore. In the valley of Hammamat, down which passed the ancient route to the coast, are abundant supplies of <span class="accented">breccia verde</span> and of other valuable and rare kinds of stone, while at no great distance to the right and left of the route lie mines of gold, silver, and lead, anciently prolific, though exhausted now for many ages. Somewhat more remote, yet readily accessible by a frequented route, was the emerald region of Gebel Zabara, where the mines are still worked" (Rawlinson, 'Ancient Egypt,' 2:124, etc.). Thebes was situated on both banks of the Nile, the principal portion lying on the east; the Necropolis and Memnonia were on the west. It seems never to have been surrounded with a wall (notwithstanding its "hundred gates"), the river and canals forming a sufficient defence. At the present time the ruins are some twenty-seven miles in circuit, including Luxor and the remains of the great temple at Karnak. <span class="cmt_word">The sea.</span> The Nile formed its rampart. Great rivers are called seas in the poetical books. Thus <a href="/isaiah/19-5.htm">Isaiah 19:5</a>; <a href="/isaiah/27-1.htm">Isaiah 27:1</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/51-36.htm">Jeremiah 51:36</a>. <span class="cmt_word">Her wall was from the sea;</span> or, <span class="accented">of the sea.</span> The sea was her wall. Septuagint, <span class="greek">ὅδωρ τὰ τείχη αὐτῆς</span>, "water her walls." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/nahum/3-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Are you better</span><br /><span class="heb">הֲתֵֽיטְבִי֙</span> <span class="translit">(hă·ṯê·ṭə·ḇî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3190.htm">Strong's 3190: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be good, well, glad, or pleasing</span><br /><br /><span class="word">than Thebes,</span><br /><span class="heb">מִנֹּ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(min·nō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4996.htm">Strong's 4996: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thebes -- an Egyptian city</span><br /><br /><span class="word">situated</span><br /><span class="heb">הַיֹּֽשְׁבָה֙</span> <span class="translit">(hay·yō·šə·ḇāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3427.htm">Strong's 3427: </a> </span><span class="str2">To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by the Nile</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּיְאֹרִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(bay·’ō·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2975.htm">Strong's 2975: </a> </span><span class="str2">Nile -- a channel, a fosse, canal, shaft, the Nile, the Tigris</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with water</span><br /><span class="heb">מַ֖יִם</span> <span class="translit">(ma·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4325.htm">Strong's 4325: </a> </span><span class="str2">Water, juice, urine, semen</span><br /><br /><span class="word">around her,</span><br /><span class="heb">סָבִ֣יב</span> <span class="translit">(sā·ḇîḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5439.htm">Strong's 5439: </a> </span><span class="str2">A circle, neighbour, environs, around</span><br /><br /><span class="word">whose</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁר־</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">rampart</span><br /><span class="heb">חֵ֣יל</span> <span class="translit">(ḥêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2426.htm">Strong's 2426: </a> </span><span class="str2">An army, an intrenchment</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was the sea,</span><br /><span class="heb">יָ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(yām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3220.htm">Strong's 3220: </a> </span><span class="str2">A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin</span><br /><br /><span class="word">whose wall</span><br /><span class="heb">חוֹמָתָֽהּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(ḥō·w·mā·ṯāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2346.htm">Strong's 2346: </a> </span><span class="str2">A wall of protection</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was the water?</span><br /><span class="heb">מִיָּ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(mî·yām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3220.htm">Strong's 3220: </a> </span><span class="str2">A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/nahum/3-8.htm">Nahum 3:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/nahum/3-8.htm">Nahum 3:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/nahum/3-8.htm">Nahum 3:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/nahum/3-8.htm">Nahum 3:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/nahum/3-8.htm">Nahum 3:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/nahum/3-8.htm">Nahum 3:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/nahum/3-8.htm">Nahum 3:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/nahum/3-8.htm">Nahum 3:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/nahum/3-8.htm">Nahum 3:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/nahum/3-8.htm">Nahum 3:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/nahum/3-8.htm">OT Prophets: Nahum 3:8 Are you better than No-Amon who was (Nah. Na) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/nahum/3-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Nahum 3:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Nahum 3:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/nahum/3-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Nahum 3:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Nahum 3:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>