The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

NAHUM 1:7KJV
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Nahum 1:7 (KJV)

What does Nahum 1:7 mean?

Nahum 1:7 describes the LORD as good, a reliable place of safety in times of trouble, and someone who personally knows those who trust in him. The verse emphasizes God’s protective and caring nature toward people who rely on him, even when facing hardship.

Nahum, a prophet, is speaking to the people of Judah during a time when the powerful Assyrian empire threatened them. This verse stands out in a book mostly about judgment against Nineveh, offering comfort to those who remain faithful. It reassures the listeners that, despite chaos and danger, God is attentive to those who put their trust in him.

The Hebrew behind Nahum 1:7

  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, highlighting a close and covenant relationship rather than a distant deity.
  • good (טוֹב, tov): This word means more than just morally good; it carries the sense of kindness, generosity, and reliability, showing God’s character as trustworthy and benevolent.
  • strong hold (מָעוֹז, ma'oz): This word refers to a fortress or a place of refuge, picturing God as a secure shelter where people can find safety when trouble comes.
  • knoweth (יָדַע, yada‘): In Hebrew, this word often means more than simple awareness; it suggests a deep, personal recognition or relationship. Here, it shows that God is not just aware of those who trust him, but is personally involved with them.
  • trust (חָסָה, chasah): This word means to seek refuge or take shelter, often used for someone fleeing to safety. It highlights an active choice to rely on God for protection.

Why Nahum 1:7 matters

  • Nahum 1:7 clarifies that God’s goodness and protection are not general promises for everyone, but are specifically directed toward those who trust in him.
  • The verse balances the book’s strong messages of judgment with a reminder of God’s care for the faithful, offering hope in the midst of warnings.
  • The language of refuge and personal knowledge emphasizes that faith in God is not just about belief, but about a relationship marked by trust and God’s attentive care.

Where else these words appear

“hold” Hebrew H4581 · used in 35 verses

  • Judges 6:26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.
  • Psalms 108:8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
  • Jeremiah 16:19 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.

“trust” Hebrew H2620 · used in 36 verses

  • Deuteronomy 32:37 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,
  • Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
  • Psalms 71:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

“trouble” Hebrew H6869 · used in 72 verses

  • Genesis 35:3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
  • Psalms 31:7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;
  • Proverbs 25:19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.