The Meaning of Nahum 3:6 Explained

Nahum 3:6

KJV: And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.

YLT: And I have cast upon thee abominations, And dishonoured thee, and made thee as a sight.

Darby: And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazing stock.

ASV: And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazing-stock.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And I will cast  abominable filth  upon thee, and make thee vile,  and will set  thee as a gazingstock. 

What does Nahum 3:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

As the Assyrians had made many other people detestable, the Lord would do the same to them. Nahum"s picture is that of God covering Nineveh with human excrement and then lifting her up for all to behold, a disgusting sight indeed.

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 3:6 mean?

And I will cast upon you abominable [filth] and Make you vile and make you a spectacle
וְהִשְׁלַכְתִּ֥י עָלַ֛יִךְ שִׁקֻּצִ֖ים וְנִבַּלְתִּ֑יךְ וְשַׂמְתִּ֖יךְ כְּרֹֽאִי

וְהִשְׁלַכְתִּ֥י  And  I  will  cast 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁלַךְ  
Sense: to throw, cast, hurl, fling.
עָלַ֛יִךְ  upon  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
שִׁקֻּצִ֖ים  abominable  [filth] 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: שִׁקּוּץ  
Sense: detestable thing or idol, abominable thing, abomination, idol, detested thing.
וְנִבַּלְתִּ֑יךְ  and  Make  you  vile 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular, second person feminine singular
Root: נָבֵל 
Sense: to be senseless, be foolish.
וְשַׂמְתִּ֖יךְ  and  make  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular, second person feminine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
כְּרֹֽאִי  a  spectacle 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֳאִי  
Sense: looking, appearance, seeing, sight.