Look at your troops—they are like your women!This phrase is a taunt directed at Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, highlighting the perceived weakness and vulnerability of its soldiers. In the ancient Near Eastern context, military strength was often associated with masculinity, and to compare troops to women was to suggest they lacked the courage and strength expected of warriors. This reflects the cultural norms of the time, where women were typically not involved in combat. The phrase underscores the impending defeat and humiliation of Assyria, a nation known for its military prowess and brutality. This imagery is consistent with other biblical passages that use similar language to describe the downfall of a once-mighty power (e.g.,
Isaiah 19:16).
The gates of your land are wide open to your enemies;
The gates of a city were crucial for its defense, often heavily fortified and guarded. In ancient warfare, capturing the gates meant gaining access to the city. The imagery of gates being "wide open" suggests a complete lack of defense and an inevitable invasion. Historically, Nineveh was a heavily fortified city, but this prophecy foretells its vulnerability and the ease with which its enemies would penetrate its defenses. This aligns with historical accounts of Nineveh's fall in 612 BC, when a coalition of Babylonians, Medes, and others breached its defenses.
fire consumes their bars.
Fire consuming the bars of the gates symbolizes total destruction and the inability to protect against the invading forces. In ancient times, fire was a common method used to weaken and destroy wooden gates and fortifications. This imagery not only signifies the physical destruction of Nineveh's defenses but also serves as a metaphor for divine judgment. Fire is often used in the Bible as a symbol of God's wrath and purification (e.g.,Isaiah 66:15-16). The destruction of Nineveh can be seen as a fulfillment of God's judgment against a nation that had long been an oppressor of Israel and other nations.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
NinevehThe capital of the Assyrian Empire, known for its power and cruelty. Nahum prophesies its downfall.
2.
Assyrian TroopsRepresented as weak and ineffective, likened to women in the context of ancient warfare.
3.
Enemies of NinevehThe forces that will invade and conquer Nineveh, fulfilling Nahum's prophecy.
4.
Gates of the LandSymbolic of the city's defenses, which are described as being wide open to invaders.
5.
FireRepresents destruction and judgment, consuming the city's defenses.
Teaching Points
The Illusion of StrengthEarthly power and military might are ultimately futile against God's judgment.
Divine Judgment is InevitableGod's justice will prevail, and no human defense can withstand His decrees.
Vulnerability of the ProudPride and self-reliance lead to vulnerability and downfall.
The Role of Women in Ancient WarfareUnderstanding cultural context: In ancient times, women were not typically warriors, highlighting the perceived weakness of Nineveh's defenses.
Spiritual PreparednessJust as Nineveh's gates were open to enemies, we must guard our spiritual lives against sin and temptation.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Nahum 3:13?
2.How does Nahum 3:13 illustrate God's judgment on Nineveh's defenses and leadership?
3.What lessons can we learn about relying on worldly strength from Nahum 3:13?
4.How does Nahum 3:13 connect with God's sovereignty seen in other Scriptures?
5.How can Nahum 3:13 encourage us to trust in God's protection today?
6.In what ways does Nahum 3:13 challenge our understanding of true security?
7.What does Nahum 3:13 reveal about the strength and vulnerability of Nineveh's defenses?
8.How does Nahum 3:13 reflect God's judgment on nations that oppose His will?
9.Why does Nahum describe Nineveh's warriors as women in Nahum 3:13?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Nahum 3?
11.What was Nehemiah's role in rebuilding Jerusalem's walls?
12.What is Ai's significance in the Bible?
13.Isaiah 47:14 - Where is the historical or scientific evidence of people burning up like stubble as a direct fulfillment of this prophecy?
14.Psalm 107:33-34 - Is there archaeological or geological proof that fertile lands were turned into deserts or rivers dried up purely as an act of divine judgment?What Does Nahum 3:13 Mean
Look at your troops—• The prophet calls Nineveh to pause and examine her military strength. God Himself issues the command, underscoring that He sees through every defense (Psalm 33:16–17).
• Assyria’s vast armies had terrified nations (2 Kings 19:17). Yet before the LORD, sheer numbers mean nothing; victory belongs to Him (Proverbs 21:31).
• The summons to “look” exposes how fragile man-centered security is, echoing Gideon’s shrinking force inJudges 7:2–7 and the boastful census of1 Chronicles 21:1–14.
they are like your women!• In ancient warfare, men fought; women typically did not. Calling soldiers “like your women” highlights utter collapse of courage (Jeremiah 50:37; 51:30;Isaiah 19:16).
• The taunt is not demeaning God-given womanhood; it indicts men who should stand but instead panic. When hearts melt, the strongest army becomes powerless (Joshua 2:11).
• God had foretold such dread: “The hearts of the mighty men of Nineveh shall faint” (Nahum 2:10). Now the moment arrives—Assyria’s famed warriors are reduced to trembling spectators.
The gates of your land are wide open to your enemies;• City gates symbolized strength, authority, and control (Deuteronomy 16:18). Wide-open gates picture total vulnerability.
• Earlier, Nahum announced, “The river gates are thrown open” (Nahum 2:6), likely referring to floodwaters undermining the walls—now the breach stands unchecked.
• God turns fortifications into doorways for judgment, just as He did to Babylon (Jeremiah 51:58) and Samaria (Micah 1:6). When He decides, no barrier can resist (Revelation 3:7).
fire consumes their bars.• Bars—massive wooden beams reinforced with metal—sealed ancient gates (Nehemiah 3:3). Fire erases that last line of resistance.
• Throughout Scripture, fire signifies both divine wrath and total destruction (Amos 1:10; 1:14; 2:5). What is left unburned soon collapses (Ezekiel 28:18).
• Assyria once burned cities like Lachish (2 Kings 19:11–12). Now the same fate boomerangs on her, fulfillingGalatians 6:7—“For whatever a man sows, he will reap.”
summaryNahum 3:13 declares God’s final verdict on arrogant Nineveh. He strips her vaunted army of courage, flings open her gates, and devours her defenses with fire. The verse underscores that human power cannot stand against the LORD of Hosts. Trusting in Him—not in troops, walls, or strategies—is the only sure refuge for any people.
(13)
Thy people . . . are women, not in their notoriously effeminate and luxurious habits (see Layard, p. 360), but with reference to their panic-stricken condition at the time of the catastrophe. They are fearful as women (comp.
Jeremiah 50:37;
Jeremiah 51:30), because they find avenues laid open to the enemy, and the remaining defences consuming in the flames.
Verse 13. - The reason why the fortresses are so readily taken is now given.
Are women. The Assyrians were essentially a brave nation, but they should be now no more able to resist the enemy than if they were women (comp.
Isaiah 19:16;
Jeremiah 1:37; 51:30).
The gates of thy land. The various approaches and passes which lead into Assyria (comp.
Jeremiah 15:7;
Micah 5:6). So Strabo (11:12. 13) speaks of certain mountain passes as "the Caspian gates" and Xenophon ('Anab.' 1:4. 4) mentions "the gates of Cilicia and Syria." The famous defile that led into Greece was called Thermopylae The fire shall devour thy bars. Hitzig, Keil, and others take the "bars" metaphorically, meaning the forts and castles which defend the passes; but the literal sense is the most natural, as in the parallel passage,
Jeremiah 51:30 (see note on Amos 1:5). It was the Assyrians' custom to set fire to the gates of any city that they attacked (see Bonomi, 'Nineveh and its Palaces,' pp. 178, 185, 192). "It is incontestable," says Bonomi, in another place, "that, during the excavations, a considerable quantity of charcoal, and even pieces of wood either half burnt or in a perfect state of preservation, were found in many places. The lining of the chambers also bears certain marks of the action of fire. All these things can be explained only by supposing the fall of a burning roof, which calcined the slabs of gypsum, and converted them into dust .... It must have been a violent and prolonged fire to be able to calcine not only a few places, but every part of these slabs, which were ten feet high and several inches thick. So complete a decomposition can be attributed but to intense heat" (ibid., p. 213).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Behold,הִנֵּ֨ה(hin·nêh)Interjection
Strong's 2009:Lo! behold!your troopsעַמֵּ֤ךְ(‘am·mêḵ)Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5971:A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flockare like your women;נָשִׁים֙(nā·šîm)Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802:Woman, wife, femalethe gatesשַׁעֲרֵ֣י(ša·‘ă·rê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8179:An opening, door, gateof your landאַרְצֵ֑ךְ(’ar·ṣêḵ)Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 776:Earth, landare wide openפָּת֥וֹחַ(pā·ṯō·w·aḥ)Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 6605:To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carveto your enemies;לְאֹ֣יְבַ֔יִךְ(lə·’ō·yə·ḇa·yiḵ)Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 341:Hating, an adversaryfireאֵ֖שׁ(’êš)Noun - common singular
Strong's 784:A fireconsumesאָכְלָ֥ה(’ā·ḵə·lāh)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 398:To eattheir bars.בְּרִיחָֽיִך׃(bə·rî·ḥā·yiḵ)Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 1280:A bolt
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OT Prophets: Nahum 3:13 Behold your troops in your midst (Nah. Na) 
