Nahum 3:9

Cush and Egypt were her boundless strength; Put and Libya were her allies.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The prophet Nahum delivers a declaration of judgment against Nineveh, speaking to Judah or the nations immediately after comparing Nineveh to Thebes' former reliance on the Nile.

The words — כּוּשׁ (kush) names the southern territory of Cush, and the phrase וְאֵין קֵצֶה (ve'ein ketseh) literally renders "and there was no end," describing the extent of that regional support.

The thread — Genesis 10:6 lists Cush and Egypt (Mizraim) as descendants of Ham, while Ezekiel 30:5 groups Cush, Put, and Libya with Egypt in a prophecy of their collective military downfall.

Why it lands — The text states that Nineveh's military security depended on a vast network of foreign allies, yet the surrounding context declares that network will be completely dismantled. It requires the reader to acknowledge that geopolitical alliances cannot secure a city against divine judgment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כּ֥וּשׁkushCush עָצְמָ֛ה'a.tze.Ma/h[was] strength/ its וּמִצְרַ֖יִםu./mitz.Ra.yimand/ Egypt וְאֵ֣יןve./'Einand/ there not קֵ֑צֶהKe.tzeh[was] an end פּ֣וּטputPut וְלוּבִ֔יםve./lu.Vimand/ [the] Libyans הָי֖וּha.Yuthey were בְּעֶזְרָתֵֽךְ׃be./'ez.ra.Te/kh<in>/ help/ your

King James Version

Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 27:10 Men of Persia, Lydia, and Put served as warriors in your army. They hung their shields and helmets on your walls; they gave you splendor.
Ezekiel 30:5 Cush, Put, and Lud, and all the various peoples, as well as Libya and the men of the covenant land, will fall with Egypt by the sword.
Genesis 10:6 The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
2 Chronicles 12:3 with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and countless troops who came with him out of Egypt—Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites.
Isaiah 20:5 Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed.
Jeremiah 46:9 Advance, O horses! Race furiously, O chariots! Let the warriors come forth—Cush and Put carrying their shields, men of Lydia drawing the bow.
Ezekiel 38:5 Persia, Cush, and Put will accompany them, all with shields and helmets,
1 Chronicles 1:8 The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.