Who Is the Prophet Nahum in the Bible — In Biblical Context
Nahum prophesied the destruction of Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, declaring God's justice against a cruel empire that had oppressed His people.
Nahum prophesied the destruction of Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, declaring God's justice against a cruel empire that had oppressed His people.
"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." — Nahum 1:3 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
Nahum prophesied about 150 years after Jonah's mission to Nineveh. While Nineveh repented under Jonah's preaching, the city later returned to extreme wickedness and cruelty. Nahum's prophecy announces God's irrevocable judgment against Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire. He described God as 'slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked' (Nahum 1:3). The book provides vivid imagery of Nineveh's fall, which was historically fulfilled in 612 BC. For Israel, Nahum's message brought comfort—the oppressor would be destroyed and God's justice would prevail.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Nahum 1:3, sits inside Nahum 1. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"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."
Supporting Passages
"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."
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