Nahum is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Nahum was a prophet of God whose ministry is preserved in the Old Testament book that bears his name. The source note identifies him as a prophet who foretold the destruction of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. This places his prophetic work in direct relation to one of the most powerful and feared nations of the ancient world, and to its chief city, which God had determined to judge.
The Scripture reference in the King James Bible introduces him in Nahum 1:1: “The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.” This single verse supplies everything the biblical text explicitly states about him. His prophecy is called a “burden,” a word used for a weighty oracle of judgment, and it is described as “the vision of Nahum.” The message he received concerned Nineveh, and it came to him as a revelation from God rather than as his own invention.
The only identifying detail given about Nahum himself is that he was “the Elkoshite,” a designation pointing to Elkosh, his place of origin. Scripture does not record his family, his tribe, his occupation, or the circumstances of his call. He appears in the text simply as a man who received and delivered God’s word concerning Nineveh. His name occurs only once in the King James Bible, in this opening verse, and the rest of the book consists of the oracle itself rather than further information about the prophet. What Scripture says of him, then, is brief but weighty: he was a man entrusted with a divine vision, and he was faithful to record and proclaim it.
The Name
The name Nahum is a Hebrew name, and its meaning is well established. It is related to the Hebrew root *nacham*, which carries the sense of comfort, consolation, or compassion. The name is commonly understood to mean “comfort” or “consolation,” and it is closely related to the name Nehemiah, which means “the LORD comforts.” This meaning is not a matter of speculation but is broadly recognized in the study of biblical names. It is worth noting that the meaning stands in striking contrast to the content of his book, which announces judgment upon Nineveh; the comfort the name suggests belongs to God’s people, who were oppressed by Assyria, rather than to the city destined for destruction.
A Closing Thought
Nahum’s name means “comfort,” yet his message was an oracle of judgment against a violent empire. The two are not in conflict. For those who had suffered under Assyrian cruelty, the announcement that God would finally deal with Nineveh was itself a comfort. Nahum reminds us that God is not indifferent to oppression and that His justice, however long delayed, is certain. We may not know much about this prophet’s life, but we know he delivered a hard word faithfully. There is quiet encouragement in that: God’s comfort often reaches His people precisely through the assurance that He will set things right.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Nahum 1:1 — The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.