Nahum 1:10 — Word Study
WLCכִּ֚י עַד־ סִירִ֣ים סְבֻכִ֔ים וּכְסָבְאָ֖ם סְבוּאִ֑ים אֻ֨כְּל֔וּ כְּקַ֥שׁ יָבֵ֖שׁ מָלֵֽא׃
BSAforkîy tillʻad potçîyr to interweaveçâbak liquorçôbeʼ to imbibeçâbâʼ to eatʼâkal■ stubbleqash [dry straw, worthless] dryyâbêsh [without moisture, barren] fullmâlêʼ
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| כִּ֚י | for | Particle |
| עַד־ | to | Preposition |
| סִירִ֣ים | thorns | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| סְבֻכִ֔ים | interwoven | Verb, Qal, participle (passive) masculine plural |
| וּכְסָבְאָ֖ם | and like drink their | Conjunction, preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| סְבוּאִ֑ים | drunkards | Verb, Qal, participle (passive) masculine plural |
| אֻ֨כְּל֔וּ | they will be consumed | Verb, Pual, perfect third person common plural |
| כְּקַ֥שׁ | like stubble | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יָבֵ֖שׁ | dry | Adj |
| מָלֵֽא׃ | full | Adj |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | For they will be entangled as with thorns and consumed like the drink of a drunkard— like stubble that is fully dry. |
| KJV | For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry. |
| ASV | For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly as dry stubble. |
| YLT | For while princes [are] perplexed, And with their drink are drunken, They have been consumed as stubble fully dried. |
| WEB | For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly like dry stubble. |
| BBE | For though they are like twisted thorns, and are overcome as with drink, they will come to destruction like stems of grass fully dry. |
Where they part company is סְבֻכִ֔ים — see How Translations Differ.
The structure presents one main idea with two similes illustrating the nature of their entanglement and consumption.
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Nahum 1:10
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Prophecy Against Ninevehgenerated
Nahum 1:10 describes the fate of Nineveh, using vivid imagery to convey their destruction. The prophet Nahum emphasizes that their downfall will be as entangled as thorns and as consuming as the drink of a drunkard. This verse follows a declaration that the Lord will bring an end to their affliction, reinforcing the certainty of their demise as seen in the surrounding verses.
The Key Word — סְבֻכִ֔ים, se.vu.Khimgenerated
The word סְבֻכִ֔ים (se.vu.Khim) is a passive participle derived from the verb סָבַךְ (cabak), meaning to interweave or entwine. It suggests a close and tangled condition, particularly in the context of thorns. The parsing indicates that it is masculine plural, emphasizing multiple entities caught in this entanglement.
In this verse, סְבֻכִ֔ים illustrates the hopelessness of Nineveh's situation, as they are likened to thorns that are intertwined, suggesting both danger and difficulty. The imagery evokes a sense of being trapped, further enhancing the theme of their inevitable destruction.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb in the verse is אֻ֨כְּל֔וּ, they will be consumed, which governs the imagery that follows. The structure includes two similes: one comparing the subjects to thorns and the other to the drink of a drunkard, illustrating their fate through vivid comparisons.
The sentence's flow emphasizes the destructive nature of their end, with the main action of consumption leading into the descriptive comparisons that enhance the visual imagery of their downfall.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates סְבֻכִ֔ים with the Greek word περιπλεκομένη, which carries a similar meaning of being entangled or intertwined. This choice reinforces the idea of being caught in a trap, aligning with the destructive imagery of the original Hebrew.
This translation choice indicates a consistent interpretation of the entangled state, emphasizing the hopelessness of the situation faced by Nineveh.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Nahum 1:10 warns of Nineveh's destruction, comparing their fate to being caught in thorns and consumed like the drink of a drunkard. This imagery highlights their total ruin, showing that they will be as dry and worthless as stubble.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The thorns symbolize entrapment and danger, illustrating how Nineveh will be caught in their own schemes.
This comparison emphasizes the idea of complete consumption and destruction, as a drunkard is overwhelmed by their drink.
It suggests a state of barrenness and worthlessness, indicating that Nineveh will be completely devoid of life and vitality.
It serves as a vivid illustration of the certainty of Nineveh's downfall, reinforcing the message that their evil will not stand against the Lord's judgment.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does it mean to be entangled in our lives, and how can we avoid such situations?
- How can the imagery of being consumed help us reflect on our own actions and their consequences?
- In what ways does the comparison to stubble challenge our understanding of worth and value?
- How can we apply the lessons from Nineveh's fate to our own lives and communities today?
The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
For they will be entangled as with thorns and consumed like the drink of a drunkard— like stubble that is fully dry.
For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly like dry stubble.
For they will be entangled as with thorns and consumed like the drink of a drunkard—like stubble that is fully dry.
Surely they will be totally consumed like entangled thorn bushes, like the drink of drunkards, like very dry stubble.
Tyndale line
For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly as dry stubble.
For though they be like tangled thorns, told be drenched as it were in their drink, they shall be devoured utterly as dry stubble.
For while they are folded together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
For he shall come as vnto thornes folden one in another, and as vnto drunkards in their drunkennesse: they shall be deuoured as stubble fully dryed.
Strictly literal
Though they be tangled together [as] thorns, and be as drenched from their drink, they shall be devoured as dry stubble, completely.
For while princes [are] perplexed, And with their drink are drunken, They have been consumed as stubble fully dried.
For while princes [are] perplexed, || And with their drink are drunken, || They have been consumed as stubble fully dried.
For they, like thorns interwoven, and as men made drunken in their drinking bout, shall be entirely consumed as dry stubble.
For they will become tangled up like thornbushes; they will be saturated in their own drink; they will be completely devoured by fire like dry stubble.
From the Latin
For as thorns embrace one another: so while they are feasting and drinking together, they shall be consumed as stubble that is fully dry.
Simplified
They entangle themselves like people caught in thorn bushes; they are like drunks full of drink. They will be completely burned up like dry straw.
For though they are like twisted thorns, and are overcome as with drink, they will come to destruction like stems of grass fully dry.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with nine out of ten words matched. However, the Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, indicating partial damage, yet the core message remains intact, emphasizing the fate described.
כִּ֚י עַד־ סִירִ֣ים סְבֻכִ֔ים וּכְסָבְאָ֖ם סְבוּאִ֑ים אֻ֨כְּל֔וּ כְּקַ֥שׁ יָבֵ֖שׁ מָלֵֽא׃
9 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[כי] [עד] סירים סבכים [וכסבא׳ם] סבואים אכלו [כקש] [יבש] [מלא]
2 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 6 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Nahum 1:10
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'
כִּי conj. that, for, when
that
Of time, when, of the past
elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
Because, since
base
כִּי אם־
each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
that if
for if
(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
limiting the prec. clause, except
the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
after an oath, surely
base
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that
. . Of time, when, of the past
. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
. Because, since
H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if
. for if
. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except
. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
. after an oath, surely
H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
3588 kiy kee
a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional
prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent
or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative
conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by
other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,
where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,
even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +
nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,
therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,
whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
כִּי (ki) — for.
1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since
1a) that
1a1) yea, indeed
1b) when (of time)
1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)
1c) because, since (causal connection)
1d) but (after negative)
1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if
1f) but rather, but
1g) except that
1h) only, nevertheless
1i) surely
1j) that is
1k) but if
1l) for though
1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.
1) except if
1a) but if
1b) even though
כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.
1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since
1a) that
1a1) yea, indeed
1b) when (of time)
1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)
1c) because, since (causal connection)
1d) but (after negative)
Conj — ParticleHTc
for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.
In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…
עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while
prep.
of space
Of time
Of degree
conj.
until
While
Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)
עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus
of space
Of time
Of degree
base
H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space
. Of time
. Of degree
. conj. . until
. While
. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)
. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space
. Of time
. Of degree
5704 `ad ad
properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or
conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,
or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,
while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,
at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),
(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,
till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.
see HEBREW for 05703
עַד (ad) — till.
prep
1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as
1a) of space
1a1) as far as, up to, even to
1b) in combination
1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)
1c) of time
1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end
1d) of degree
1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like
conj
2) until, while, to the point that, so that even
Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)
Prep — PrepositionHR
סִיר (sir) has meanings related to both cooking and nature, referring to a 'pot' or 'caldron' as well as a 'thorn' or 'hook.' It is derived from a root meaning to boil up, indicating its connection to cooking utensils. The word appears in contexts like Jeremiah 52:18, where it is used in reference to a pot.
סִיר n.m. et f. pot
base
[סִיר] n.[m.] thorn, hook
base
H5518a סִיר pot H5518b סִיר thorn, hook
5518 ciyr seer
or (feminine) ciyrah {see-raw'}; or cirah (Jeremiah 52:18)
{see-raw'}; from a primitive root meaning to boil up; a pot;
also a thorn (as springing up rapidly); by implication, a
hook:--caldron, fishhook, pan, ((wash-))pot, thorn.
סִיר (sir) — pot.
1) pot
1a) pot (household utensil)
1b) pot (of temple)
סִיר (sir) — thorn.
1) thorn, hook, brier
1a) thorns
1b) hooks
N-fp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
and Thistles. There appear to be eighteen or twenty Hebrew words which point to different kinds of prickly or thorny shrubs. These words are variously rendered in the Authorized Version By "thorns," "briers," "thistles," etc. Palestine abounded in a great variety of such plants. ("Travellers call the holy land ’a land of thorns.’ Giant thistles, growing to the height of a man on horseback, frequently spread over regions once rich and fruitful, as they do on the pampas of South America; and many of the most interesting historic spats and ruins are rendered almost inaccessible by thickets of fiercely-armed buckthorns. Entire fields are covered with the troublesome creeping stems of the spinous ononis , while the bare hillsides are studded with the dangerous capsules of the puliuris and tribulus . Roses of the most prickly kinds abound on the lower slopes of Hermon; while the sub-tropical…
See THISTLES.
סָבַךְ (cabak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to interweave or entwine. It describes the action of wrapping or folding together, particularly in the context of thorns being entangled. The entries consistently emphasize this idea of interweaving, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[סָבַךְ] vb. interweave
Qal interwoven (entangled) thorns
Pu. are interwoven
base
H5440 סָבַךְ
5440 cabak saw-bak'
a primitive root; to entwine:--fold together, wrap.
סָבַךְ (sa.vakh) — to interweave.
1) to interweave
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to interweave
1a2) interwoven (participle)
1b) (Pual) to be interwoven
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine pluralHVqsmpa
סֹ֫בֶא (cobe') refers to drink or liquor, particularly wine. It is derived from a root meaning to drink and encompasses both the act of drinking and the substance consumed. The entries consistently highlight its association with alcoholic beverages.
[סֹ֫בֶא] n.m. drink, liquor
base
H5435 סֹ֫בֶא drink, liquor
5435 cobe' so'-beh
from 5433; potation, concretely (wine), or abstractly
(carousal):--drink, drunken, wine.
see HEBREW for 05433
סֹ֫בֶא (so.ve) — liquor.
drink, liquor, wine
Conj | Prep | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3mp
סָבָא (sa.va) means to drink heavily or imbibe. It can refer to becoming tipsy or being a drunkard, with a specific mention of drunkards in Ezekiel 23:42. The entries suggest a focus on the act of drinking to satiety, though there is some uncertainty about the plural form referring to wine-bibbers.
ref
H5433a סָבָא imbibe, drink largely H5433b סָבָא Qr = drunkards, wine-bibbers(?)
5433 caba' saw-baw'
a primitive root; to quaff to satiety, i.e. become
tipsy:--drunkard, fill self, Sabean, (wine-)bibber.
סָבָא (sa.va) — to imbibe.
1) to drink heavily or largely, imbibe
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to imbibe
סָבָא (sa.va) — be drunk.
wine-bibber, drunkard (participle) (subst)
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine pluralHVqsmpa
אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.
אָכַל 806 vb. eat
Qal
eat, human subject
of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
fig. of fire, devour, consume
of sword, devour, slay
in genl., devour, consume, destroy
fig. of oppression, devour the poor
Niph.
be eaten by man
be devoured by fire, consumed
be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
Pu. be consumed
Hiph.
cause to eat, feed with
cause to devoure, obj. sword
base
H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject
. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
. fig. of fire, devour, consume
. of sword, devour, slay
. in genl., devour, consume, destroy
. fig. of oppression, devour the poor
. . be eaten by man
. be devoured by fire, consumed
. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
. be consumed
. . cause to eat, feed with
. cause to devoure, obj. sword
398 'akal aw-kal'
a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at
all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),
feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)
meat, X quite.
אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.
1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to eat (human subject)
1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)
1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)
1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)
1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)
1a6) to devour (of oppression)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be eaten (by men)
1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)
1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to cause to eat, feed with
1c2) to cause to devour
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to feed
1d2) to cause to eat
1e) (Piel)
1e1) consume
Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
V-Q-Perf-3cp — Verb · Pual · perfect third person common pluralHVPp3cp
קַשׁ (qash) refers to stubble or chaff, typically associated with dry straw. The entries indicate that it is derived from another Hebrew word, but they do not provide further details on its usage in specific verses.
קַשׁ n.m. stubble, chaff
base
H7179 קַשׁ stubble, chaff
7179 qash kash
from 7197; straw (as dry):--stubble.
see HEBREW for 07197
קַשׁ (qash) — stubble.
stubble, chaff
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
stub'-'-l (qash (Ex 5:12, etc.); kalame (The Wisdom of Solomon 3:7; 1Co 3:12)): These Hebrew and Greek forms are used of the stalks of wheat, etc., left knee-high in the field by the reapers. tebhen (Job 21:18), is a mixture of chopped straw and chaff produced in threshing, which is winnowed out by the fan (compare Jer 23:28; Isa 5:24; Mt 3:12). When tebhen was withheld from them the Israelites had to utilize qash for the manufacture of their bricks (Ex 5:12).
יָבֵשׁ (yabesh) means 'dry' or 'dried.' It is derived from the root word for 'dry' (H3001) and can function as both an adjective and a verb. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to dryness without significant disagreement.
יָבֵשׁ adj.verb. or pt. dry, dried
base
H3002 יָבֵשׁ dry, dried
3002 yabesh yaw-bashe'
from 3001; dry:--dried (away), dry.
see HEBREW for 03001
יָבֵשׁ (ya.vesh) — dry.
1) dry
2) dried
Adj — AdjHAamsa
מָלֵא (male') means 'full' and can refer to fullness in both literal and figurative senses. It encompasses concepts of filling and completeness, and can also be used adverbially. The word is derived from a root meaning to fill, and it appears in contexts related to abundance or multitude.
H4392 מָלֵא full
4392 male' maw-lay'
from 4390; full (literally or figuratively) or filling
(literally); also (concretely) fulness; adverbially,
fully:--X she that was with child, fill(-ed, -ed with),
full(-ly), multitude, as is worth.
see HEBREW for 04390
מָלֵא (ma.le) — full.
1) full, fulness, that which fills
1a) fully (adv)
Adj — AdjHAamsa