Nahum 3:8
6 I will pelt you with filth and treat you with contempt; I will make a spectacle of you.
7 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?”
Are you better than Thebes, stationed by the Nile with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water?
9 Cush and Egypt were her boundless strength; Put and Libya were her allies.
10 Yet she became an exile; she went into captivity. Her infants were dashed to pieces at the head of every street. They cast lots for her dignitaries, and all her nobles were bound in chains.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Are you better than Thebes, stationed by the Nile with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water?
- KJV
- Art thou 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?
- WEB
- 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?
- ASV
- 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?
- DARBY
- 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 was her wall?
- BLB
- Are you better than Thebes, the [city] setting by the River, [with] the waters around her, whose rampart [was] the sea, [and] the sea her wall?
- ÅB
- Mon du er bedre enn No-Amon[^1], som tronte mellom Nilens strømmer med vann rundt omkring seg, som hadde hav til vern og hav til mur?
- OTB
- Er du bedre enn No-Amon,
Som lå ved Nilens kanaler,
Omgitt av vann,
Hvis voll var havet,
Hvis mur besto av havet? - B1930
- Mon du er bedre enn No-Amon, som tronte mellem Nilens strømmer med vann rundt omkring sig, som hadde hav til vern og hav til mur? / < Teben i Egypten.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Amos 6:2
Cross over to Calneh and see; go from there to the great Hamath; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Is their territory larger than yours?
Read in contextEzekiel 30:14–16
I will lay waste Pathros, set fire to Zoan, and execute judgment on Thebes.
Read in contextEzekiel 31:2–3
“Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: ‘Who can be compared to your greatness?
Read in contextIsaiah 19:5–10
The waters of the Nile will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and empty.
Read in contextJeremiah 46:25–26
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.
Read in context