Nahum 3:16 kjv — Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away.

King James Version

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

— Nahum 3:16, King James Version

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Nahum 3:16 in Other Translations

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Nahum 3 — Context

13

Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars.

14

Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln.

15

There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts.

16

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

17

Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.

18

Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.

19

There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?

Nahum 3:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Nahum 3:16 say?
Nahum 3:16 in the King James Version reads: “Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away.”
Where is Nahum 3:16 in the Bible?
Nahum 3:16 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Nahum, chapter 3, verse 16.
Who wrote Nahum?
Nahum is traditionally attributed to Nahum the Elkoshite. It was written c. 663–612 BC.
What is the book of Nahum about?
A century after Jonah, Nineveh has returned to brutality. Nahum announces the certain, well-deserved fall of the Assyrian empire — a sobering reminder that God is slow to anger, but not slack about justice forever.
What are the major themes of Nahum?
Nahum explores themes including Judgment on Nineveh, God's Wrath, God's Goodness, Sovereignty. These themes shape the meaning and context of Nahum 3:16.
What translation should I read Nahum 3:16 in?
Nahum 3:16 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Nahum 3:16?
Nahum 3:16 reads (KJV): “Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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