Nahum 3:15 (KJV)

What does Nahum 3:15 mean?

Nahum 3:15 warns that Nineveh will be destroyed by fire and sword, and that even if the people multiply like cankerworms or locusts, it will not save them from being consumed. The verse uses vivid images of unstoppable destruction to show that no amount of preparation or numbers can prevent Nineveh’s downfall.

The prophet Nahum is speaking to the city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, predicting its coming judgment. The verse uses the imagery of fire (a common symbol for total destruction) and the sword (representing violent defeat), then compares Nineveh’s people to cankerworms and locusts—creatures known for their swarming numbers—suggesting that even great numbers or efforts to multiply will be useless in the face of God’s judgment.

The Hebrew behind Nahum 3:15

• fire (אֵשׁ, 'esh): This word means literal fire, often used in the Hebrew Bible to symbolize complete destruction or divine judgment. Here, it emphasizes the thoroughness of what Nineveh will face.
• devour (אָכַל, 'akal): This verb means to eat or consume. The verse uses it twice, showing that the destruction will be as total as something being eaten up with nothing left behind.
• cankerworm (יֶלֶק, yeleq): This is a type of locust or caterpillar that devours crops. The comparison suggests that even if Nineveh multiplies like these swarming insects, it will still be consumed.
• many (כָּבֵד, kaved): This word means to be heavy or numerous. The verse repeats it to stress that multiplying in numbers, like cankerworms or locusts, will not help Nineveh escape destruction.

Why Nahum 3:15 matters

• Nahum 3:15 makes clear that no human effort—no matter how many people or how much preparation—can stop the judgment that is coming to Nineveh.
• The verse connects to the wider context of Nahum, where the prophet repeatedly uses images of nature and destruction to show the certainty and completeness of Nineveh’s fall.
• The use of cankerworms and locusts, both known for overwhelming numbers, highlights the futility of relying on strength in numbers when facing divine judgment.