BibleWord.ai› Bible› Nahum› Chapter 1› Verse 3

Nahum 1:3

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Nahum 1:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear [the guilty]: Jehovah hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear [the guilty]: Jehovah hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Nahum 1:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Nahum 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
2Jehovah is a jealous God and avengeth; Jehovah avengeth and is full of wrath; Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth [wrath] for his enemies.
3Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear [the guilty]: Jehovah hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
5The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
6Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him.
← Nahum 1:2Nahum 1:4 →
← Full Chapter 1 Nahum Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The Lord [is] slow to anger, etc.] He is not in haste to execute it; he takes time for it, and gives men space for repentance. Nineveh had had a proof of this when it repented at the preaching of Jonah, upon which the Lord deferred the execution of his wrath; but lest they should presume upon this, and conclude the Lord would always bear with them, though they had returned to their former impieties; they are let to know, that this his forbearance was not owing to want of power or will in him to punish: since he is great in power, and will not at all acquit [the wicked]; he is able to execute the wrath he threatens, and will by no means clear the guilty, or let them go free and unpunished;…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The Lord is slow to anger - Nahum takes up the words of Jonah Jonah 4:2 as he spoke of God’s attributes toward Nineveh, but only to show the opposite side of them. Jonah declares how God is “slow to anger,” giving men time of repentance, and if they do repent, “repenting Him also of the evil;” Nahum, that the long-suffering of God is not “slackness,” that “He is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” And strong in power - Divine long-suffering gees along with Divine power. God can be long-suffering, because He can, whenever He sees good, punish. His long-suffering is a token, not of weakness, but of power. He can allow persons…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Hath his way - The methods of his providence. The whirlwind - Which beareth before it all things that stand in its way. The dust of his feet - Though he be surrounded with darkness, yet as an army afar off is discovered by the dust that their feet raise, so wilt God appear with great power marching against his enemies. Nahum 1:4”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“slow: Exo 34:6, Exo 34:7; Neh 9:17; Psa 103:8, Psa 145:8; Joe 2:13; Jon 4:2; Jam 1:19 great: Job 9:4; Psa 62:11, Psa 66:3, Psa 147:5; Eph 1:19, Eph 1:20 and will: Num 14:18; Job 10:14 his way: Exo 19:16-18; Deu 5:22-24; Kg1 19:11-13; Job 38:1; Psa 18:7-15, Psa 50:3; Psa 97:2-5, Psa 104:3; Isa 19:1, Isa 66:15; Dan 7:13; Hab 3:5-15; Zac 9:14; Mat 26:64; Rev 1:7 Nahum 1:4”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Nahum 1 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification