What is the meaning of Nahum 1:1?

This is the burden against Nineveh

– “Burden” signals a weighty, urgent message from the LORD (cf. Isaiah 13:1; Malachi 1:1).

– Nineveh, the proud capital of Assyria, had once repented under Jonah, but returned to violence and idolatry (Jonah 3:5–10; Nahum 3:1).

– God’s justice is certain: “The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Nahum 1:3).

– Judah needed reassurance that the same God who rescued them from Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:35–36) would again confront Assyria’s cruelty.

---

the book of the vision

– The message is not rumor or opinion; it is a vision God showed and commanded to be written (Habakkuk 2:2; Revelation 1:11).

– Recording the vision preserves its authority for every generation, proving that God’s words never fail (Isaiah 55:10-11; 2 Peter 1:19).

– Written prophecy invites careful study so faith can rest on Scripture, not speculation (Acts 17:11).

---

of Nahum the Elkoshite

– Identifying the messenger grounds the prophecy in history; real people speak for a real God (Jeremiah 1:1-2; Luke 3:2).

– “Elkoshite” ties Nahum to a specific community, reminding readers that God raises voices from ordinary places for extraordinary purposes (Amos 7:14-15).

– Nahum’s focus is both solemn and hopeful: “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him” (Nahum 1:7).

---

summary

Nahum 1:1 introduces a divinely inspired, written vision delivered by the prophet Nahum, carrying a heavy declaration of judgment upon Nineveh. This opening assures believers that God sees wickedness, speaks with authority, and faithfully defends His people, anchoring our confidence in His unchanging Word.