The Meaning of Nahum 3:16 Explained

Nahum 3:16

KJV: Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away.

YLT: Multiply thy merchants above the stars of the heavens, The cankerworm hath stripped off, and doth flee away.

Darby: Thou hast multiplied thy merchants more than the stars of the heavens; the cankerworm spreadeth himself out and flieth away.

ASV: Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the canker-worm ravageth, and fleeth away.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou hast multiplied  thy merchants  above the stars  of heaven:  the cankerworm  spoileth,  and flieth away. 

What does Nahum 3:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Assyrian traders, seemingly more numerous than the stars, had increased their country"s wealth. However they would be like locusts when the invasion came in that they would fly away in vast numbers rather than defending Nineveh.

Context Summary

Nahum 3:1-19 - Deserved Doom
This terrible chapter pictures the doom of Nineveh. She had used infamous methods in bringing surrounding nations under her power, and now her shame was to be discovered and exposed. It seemed incredible that so great a city should become desolate, but she is reminded of the populous Thebes especially dedicated to Ammon, the Egyptian Jupiter. As this great city had been overwhelmed by Assyria, so would Nineveh be by the Chaldeans. In spite of her Nile and her tributary nations, Thebes fell, and Nineveh would drink of the same cup. Her fall would be as easy as the plucking of ripe figs. The centuries that have passed since the prophet spoke only lend emphasis to his words. The silence of death still reigns over the desolate mounds that mark the site of the cherished capital. In Revelation 19:1-10 the saints and martyrs celebrate the fall of Babylon the Great. Let us see to it that we are heirs of that Kingdom which cannot be shaken, Hebrews 12:28 [source]

Chapter Summary: Nahum 3

1  The destruction of Nineveh

What do the individual words in Nahum 3:16 mean?

You have multiplied your merchants more than stars of the heaven the locust plunders and flies away
הִרְבֵּית֙ רֹֽכְלַ֔יִךְ מִכּוֹכְבֵ֖י הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם יֶ֥לֶק פָּשַׁ֖ט וַיָּעֹֽף

הִרְבֵּית֙  You  have  multiplied 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person feminine singular
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
רֹֽכְלַ֔יִךְ  your  merchants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person feminine singular
Root: רָכַל  
Sense: to go about (meaning dubious).
מִכּוֹכְבֵ֖י  more  than  stars 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: כֹּוכָב  
Sense: star.
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם  of  the  heaven 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
יֶ֥לֶק  the  locust 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יֶלֶק  
Sense: young locust (early stage of development).
פָּשַׁ֖ט  plunders 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּשַׁט  
Sense: to strip, invade, strip off, make a dash, raid, spread out.
וַיָּעֹֽף  and  flies  away 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עוּף 
Sense: to fly, fly about, fly away.

What are the major concepts related to Nahum 3:16?

Loading Information...