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Nahum

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Biblical prophet known for foretelling the destruction of Nineveh, symbolizing divine judgment and poetic prophecy in religious verse.

Detailed Definition
Nahum’s poetic oracle celebrated Assyria’s fall as divine justice for cruelty. In poetry, Nahum embodies the catharsis of judgment on oppressors, the certainty of moral reckoning, and the lyrical power of vengeance as divine restoration.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Nahum 1:3, “the Lord is slow to anger” inspires meditative poetry on divine justice; Victorian verse depicts Nineveh’s fall as consequence of imperial cruelty; Contemporary poems contrast Nahum’s wrath with Jonah’s mercy to explore divine complexity; In laments over fallen cities, Nahum’s vivid imagery evokes inevitable judgment; Some liturgical works cite Nahum to affirm that oppressors will not prevail; Educational poems use Nahum to teach prophetic oracles against nations.
Additional Notes
Nahum, a prophet who foretold Nineveh’s fall, wrote a poetic book of judgment marked by vivid imagery and rhythmic intensity; unlike Jonah, who sought Nineveh’s repentance, Nahum celebrates its destruction; his work exemplifies prophetic poetry as both theological and aesthetic expression.
Also Known As
Nahum the Prophet Nahum of Elkosh
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