Lexical Summary Nineveh: Nineveh Original Word: נִינְוֵה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Nineveh Of foreign origin; Nineveh, the capital of Assyria -- Nineveh. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign or Definition capital of Assyr. NASB Translation Nineveh (17). Brown-Driver-Briggs נִינְוֵה proper name, of a location Nineveh, capital of Assyria (Assyrian Ninâ, Ninua, Ninû, compare SchrCOT Glossary DlPar 260); — Genesis 10:11,12 (J), 2 Kings 19:36 = Isaiah 37:37; Nahum 1:1; Nahum 2:9; Nahum 3:7; Zephaniah 2:13; Jonah 1:2; Jonah 3:3a; Jonah 3:4,5,6,7, called הָעִיר הַגְּדוֺלָה Jonah 3:3a 3b Jonah 4:11 (compare 3a Jonah 3:4f.); ᵐ5 Νινευη, ᵐ5L Νινευι. Site on east bank of Tigris marked by mounds Neby Yunus and Kuyundjik, opposite Mosul. compare LayardNineveh and its Remains, 1848; Monuments of Nineveh 1849 f. Billerbeck u. JeremiasBAS iii. 1 (1895), 107 ff. ניס see נוס Qal 1. near the end. Topical Lexicon Location and Early Foundation Nineveh stood on the east bank of the Tigris River opposite modern-day Mosul in northern Iraq. First mentioned in the Table of Nations, “From that land he went out to Assyria, where he built Nineveh” (Genesis 10:11), the city traces its origins to the post-Flood dispersion and rapidly became the nucleus of Assyrian power. Genesis 10:11–12 connects it with other settlements that later formed the metropolis’ suburbs, showing that even in the patriarchal era Nineveh was recognized as “the great city.” Capital of the Assyrian Empire Under kings such as Ashurnasirpal II, Shalmaneser III, Sargon II, Sennacherib, and Ashurbanipal, Nineveh grew into an immense complex of palaces, temples, and fortifications sprawling across a walled area of roughly seven and a half miles. Massive ramparts and the famous double-wall system exemplified its confidence in human strength. When Sennacherib’s campaign against Judah failed, Scripture records, “Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there” (2 Kings 19:36; cf. Isaiah 37:37). These verses fix the city as the Assyrian monarch’s seat and highlight the contrast between earthly might and divine sovereignty. Nineveh and Jonah: Mercy Extended to the Nations The book of Jonah features Nineveh eleven times, underscoring its pivotal role in redemptive history. God commanded, “Arise! Go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me” (Jonah 1:2). Jonah’s reluctant obedience finally issued in a citywide awakening: “The people of Nineveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them” (Jonah 3:5). From the king’s throne to commoner and livestock, the Assyrians responded with repentance, revealing that God’s compassion is not limited by ethnicity or national borders. The narrative climaxes with God’s rhetorical question, “Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot distinguish between their right and their left, as well as many animals?” (Jonah 4:11). Thus Nineveh becomes a living parable of divine mercy and missionary responsibility. Later Apostasy and Prophetic Doom A century after Jonah, Nineveh reverted to violence, idolatry, and oppression. Nahum opens, “This is the burden against Nineveh” (Nahum 1:1), announcing irreversible judgment. Images of flood (Nahum 2:8), shame (Nahum 3:5–7), and desolation converge in the decree, “Nineveh is devastated! Who will mourn for her?” (Nahum 3:7). Zephaniah echoes the sentence: “He will make Nineveh desolate, a parched land like the desert” (Zephaniah 2:13). Archaeology confirms that in 612 B.C. an alliance of Medes and Babylonians breached the walls, fulfilling the prophetic word in striking detail. Fulfillment and Historical Corroboration Ancient writers such as Xenophon (who marched unaware over its ruins two centuries later) and later excavations under Austen Henry Layard attest to the city’s sudden disappearance and long obscurity, precisely as predicted. Layer upon layer of burnt debris, collapsed walls, and unburied reliefs testify to the catastrophic end Nahum foresaw. Theological Themes and Ministry Significance 1. God’s universal sovereignty: From Genesis to the Prophets, Nineveh illustrates that the Lord “rules over the kingdoms of men” and overthrows or preserves at His pleasure. Practical Application Believers are summoned to proclaim truth even to hostile cultures, trusting that “salvation belongs to the LORD” (Jonah 2:9). God’s patience toward Nineveh encourages prayer for contemporary cities steeped in violence and unbelief. Simultaneously, Nahum warns against presuming upon past revivals; ongoing repentance and obedience must characterize both individuals and nations. Key References Genesis 10:11–12; 2 Kings 19:36; Isaiah 37:37; Jonah 1:2; Jonah 3:4–10; Jonah 4:11; Nahum 1:1; Nahum 2:8; Nahum 3:7; Zephaniah 2:13 Forms and Transliterations בְּנִֽינְוֵ֔ה בְּנִֽינְוֵֽה׃ בנינוה בנינוה׃ וְנִֽינְוֵ֖ה וְנִֽינְוֵ֗ה וְנִינְוֵ֥ה ונינוה נִ֣ינְוֵ֔ה נִֽינְוֵ֑ה נִֽינְוֵ֔ה נִֽינְוֵ֖ה נִֽינְוֵ֛ה נִֽינְוֵה֙ נִֽינְוֶ֖ה נִינְוֵ֖ה נינוה bə·nî·nə·wêh beNineVeh bənînəwêh nî·nə·weh nî·nə·wêh nineVeh nînəweh nînəwêh ninVeh venineVeh wə·nî·nə·wêh wənînəwêhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 10:11 HEB: וַיִּ֙בֶן֙ אֶת־ נִ֣ינְוֵ֔ה וְאֶת־ רְחֹבֹ֥ת NAS: and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir KJV: and builded Nineveh, and the city INT: Assyria and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and the city Genesis 10:12 2 Kings 19:36 Isaiah 37:37 Jonah 1:2 Jonah 3:2 Jonah 3:3 Jonah 3:3 Jonah 3:4 Jonah 3:5 Jonah 3:6 Jonah 3:7 Jonah 4:11 Nahum 1:1 Nahum 2:8 Nahum 3:7 Zephaniah 2:13 17 Occurrences |
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