Nahum 3 · Verse 12

Nahum 3:12

All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.
Nahum 3:12, King James Version

Nahum 3:12 in other translations

BSBAll your fortresses are fig trees with the first ripe figs; when shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater!
WEBAll your fortresses will be like fig trees with the first-ripe figs. If they are shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater.
ASVAll thy fortresses shall be like fig-trees with the first-ripe figs: if they be shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater.
YLTAll thy fortresses are fig-trees with first-fruits, If they are shaken, They have fallen into the mouth of the eater.
DARBYAll thy strongholds are like fig-trees with the first-ripe figs: if they be shaken, they even fall into the mouth of the eater.
BBEAll your walled places will be like fig-trees and your people like the first figs, falling at a shake into the mouth which is open for them.
WebsterAll thy strong holds shall be like fig-trees with the first ripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.

What does Nahum 3:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. thy strongholds--on the borders of Assyria, protecting the approaches to Nineveh: "the gates of thy land" (Na 3:13). fig trees with the first ripe figs--expressing the rapidity and ease of the capture of Nineveh (compare Is 28:4; Re 6:13).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Thy strong holds - The effects of the consternation into which the Ninevites were cast by the assault on their city are here pointed out by a very expressive metaphor; the first-ripe figs, when at full maturity, fell from the tree with the least shake; and so, at the first shake or consternation, all the fortresses of Nineveh were abandoned; and the king, in despair, burnt himself and household in his own palace.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Nahum 3:8-19

Strong-holds, even the strongest, are no defence against the judgments of God. They shall be unable to do any thing for themselves. The Chaldeans and Medes would devour the land like canker-worms. The Assyrians also would be eaten up by their own numerous hired troops, which seem to be meant by the word rendered "merchants." Those that have done evil to their neighbours, will find it come home to them. Nineveh, and…

Read the full comment on Nahum 3:8-19 →

Nahum 3:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כָּ֨ל\־Kal-allH3605
מִבְצָרַ֔יִךְmiv.tza.Ra.yikhfortifications yourH4013
תְּאֵנִ֖יםte.'e.Nim[are] fig treesH8384
עִם\־'im-withH5973
בִּכּוּרִ֑יםbi.ku.Rimfirst-fruitsH1061
אִם\־'im-ifH518
יִנּ֕וֹעוּyi.No.'uthey will be shakenH5128
וְנָפְל֖וּve.na.fe.Luand they will fallH5307
עַל\־'al-onH5921
פִּ֥יpi[the] mouth ofH6310
אוֹכֵֽל\׃'o.Khelan eaterH398

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Nahum 3:12

  • Revelation 6:13

    And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

  • Isaiah 28:4

    And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.

  • Habakkuk 1:10

    And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Hab 1:10; Re 6:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Nahum 3:11

    Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy.

  • Nahum 3:12

    All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.

  • Nahum 3:13

    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.

Read all of Nahum 3

Nahum 3:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Todas tus fortalezas cual higueras con brevas; que si las sacuden, caen en la boca del que las ha de comer.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Toutes tes forteresses sont comme des figuiers avec leurs premières figues; si on les secoue, elles tombent dans la bouche de celui qui les mange.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Alle deine Festungen sind Feigenbäume mit Frühfeigen; wenn sie geschüttelt werden, so fallen sie den Essenden in den Mund.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Omnes munitiones tuæ sicut ficus cum grossis suis: si concussæ fuerint, cadent in os comedentis.