Nahum 1:2 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

OLBHeb;

God; the mighty God, so the French version, and the Hebrew la implieth it. Is jealous; his love is fervent for his people, his displeasure hot against his and their enemies, whose idolatries he will not long bear against himself, nor their cruelties and rage against his people; but, as jealous for his people's good, and for his own glory, he will appear and act: so Isaiah 42:13 Ezekiel 39:25 Malachi 1:14, Malachi 8:2. The Lord; Jehovah, the everlasting and unchangeable God, the same always towards his people. Revengeth; as supreme Governor, who by office is, and accounts himself, bound to right the oppressed, and to punish the oppressor; so vengeance is the Lord s, and he will repay. The Lord revengeth; it is repeated for confirming the truth, and to affect the wicked with terror, and to awaken them to a timely repentance; to affect God's own people with joy and hope, that they may wait on him till they see the vengeance from God, mighty, judge, zealous, unchangeable, and eternal. Is furious, Heb. is Lord or Master of fury; not like furious men, who cannot command or govern their anger, but grow suddenly furious, and as suddenly pour it forth, whether seasonably or unseasonably they regard not; but God, who here threatens enemies, and comforts his friends, is as much Lord of his anger, as he is Lord of power and wisdom to execute his displeasure in fittest time. Will take vengeance; when it is most seasonable he should do it he most certainly will do it. He reserveth wrath: this explains the former phrase, Lord of fury; God restrains and keeps in his own anger, which grows greater by the sufferings of his people and sins of his enemies. God; the mighty God, so the French version, and the Hebrew la implieth it. Is jealous; his love is fervent for his people, his displeasure hot against his and their enemies, whose idolatries he will not long bear against himself, nor their cruelties and rage against his people; but, as jealous for his people's good, and for his own glory, he will appear and act: so Isaiah 42:13 Ezekiel 39:25 Malachi 1:14, Malachi 8:2. The Lord; Jehovah, the everlasting and unchangeable God, the same always towards his people. Revengeth; as supreme Governor, who by office is, and accounts himself, bound to right the oppressed, and to punish the oppressor; so vengeance is the Lord s, and he will repay. The Lord revengeth; it is repeated for confirming the truth, and to affect the wicked with terror, and to awaken them to a timely repentance; to affect God's own people with joy and hope, that they may wait on him till they see the vengeance from God, mighty, judge, zealous, unchangeable, and eternal. Is furious, Heb. is Lord or Master of fury; not like furious men, who cannot command or govern their anger, but grow suddenly furious, and as suddenly pour it forth, whether seasonably or unseasonably they regard not; but God, who here threatens enemies, and comforts his friends, is as much Lord of his anger, as he is Lord of power and wisdom to execute his displeasure in fittest time. Will take vengeance; when it is most seasonable he should do it he most certainly will do it. He reserveth wrath: this explains the former phrase, Lord of fury; God restrains and keeps in his own anger, which grows greater by the sufferings of his people and sins of his enemies.

Nahum 1:2

2 Goda is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.