Nahum 3:16 web — You have increased your merchants more than the stars of the skies. The grasshopper strips, and flees away.

World English Bible

"You have increased your merchants more than the stars of the skies. The grasshopper strips, and flees away."

— Nahum 3:16, World English Bible

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Nahum 3:16 in Other Translations

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Nahum 3 — Context

13

Behold, your troops in your midst are women. The gates of your land are set wide open to your enemies. The fire has devoured your bars.

14

Draw water for the siege. Strengthen your fortresses. Go into the clay, and tread the mortar. Make the brick kiln strong.

15

There the fire will devour you. The sword will cut you off. It will devour you like the grasshopper. Multiply like grasshoppers. Multiply like the locust.

16

You have increased your merchants more than the stars of the skies. The grasshopper strips, and flees away.

17

Your guards are like the locusts, and your officials like the swarms of locusts, which settle on the walls on a cold day, but when the sun appears, they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.

18

Your shepherds slumber, king of Assyria. Your nobles lie down. Your people are scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to gather them.

19

There is no healing your wound, for your injury is fatal. All who hear the report of you clap their hands over you; for who hasn't felt your endless cruelty?

Nahum 3:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Nahum 3:16 say?
Nahum 3:16 in the World English Bible reads: “You have increased your merchants more than the stars of the skies. The grasshopper strips, and flees 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 (WEB): “You have increased your merchants more than the stars of the skies. The grasshopper strips, and flees 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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