Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
Nahum 1:7 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 7. 7The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Turns from cosmic judgment to confess the LORD's goodness, refuge in trouble, and knowledge of those who seek him.
The LORD's zeal and the LORD's patience are one confession
This verse is one part of that explanation in Nahum 1:2-8. The complete section carries the connected meaning and how it should shape life.
Read It With
- Nahum 1:2-8
Read Nahum 1:7 with 1:2-8. Turns from cosmic judgment to confess the LORD's goodness, refuge in trouble, and knowledge of those who seek him. The complete unit establishes this movement: The poem holds together the LORD's zealous opposition to enemies, restraint in anger, irresistible power over creation, goodness toward those who seek refuge, and decisive judgment against the enemy's place.
Read Nahum 1:2–8 together
Why these verses belong together: Jealousy, patience, creation-scale power, refuge, and judgment form one carefully shaped theophanic poem.
Verse 2. 2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
Verse 3. 3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Verse 4. 4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
Verse 5. 5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
Verse 6. 6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
Verse 7. 7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
Verse 8. 8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
Follow the Context
- Verse 2 repeats jealousy, vengeance, and wrath against adversaries.
- Verse 3 immediately joins slowness to anger with great power and refusal to clear guilt automatically.
- Verses 3-6 picture the LORD advancing through storm, sea, river, mountain, earth, fire, and shattered rock.
- Verse 7 turns to the LORD's goodness, stronghold, and knowledge of those who seek refuge.
- Verse 8 returns with a contrast: an overwhelming flood brings an end to the enemy's place and darkness pursues enemies.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“he knoweth them”
In plain language: The verb can include recognizing and caring for those who seek refuge.
Turns from cosmic judgment to confess the LORD's goodness, refuge in trouble, and knowledge of those who seek him. The judge of oppressive evil is also the stronghold of distressed people.
Why it matters: The wording carries interpretive or ethical risk that requires the full unit and its stated limits.
How certain? probableWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
Nahum 1:7 does not guarantee that trust prevents all suffering or make every self-identified group God's protected side.
What Remains True
The judge of oppressive evil is also the stronghold of distressed people.
How It Can Shape Life
- Make refuge concrete by protecting vulnerable people without promising immunity from every hardship.
Teach It Back
Explain Nahum 1:7's contribution to Nahum 1:2-8: Turns from cosmic judgment to confess the LORD's goodness, refuge in trouble, and knowledge of those who seek him. Include what the surrounding verses add, the stated uncertainty, and what this verse does not authorize.
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Continue in Context
Read the complete section for the connected explanation and how it should shape life. This verse is a doorway into that passage, not a saying that stands alone.
Read Nahum 1:2-8 — The LORD Judges Evil and Knows Those Who Seek RefugeSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? probable
Where care is needed
Ancient witnesses and interpreters differ over the fortress line, but goodness, distress, and protective knowledge remain central.
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: Nahum 1:2-8, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗hebrew text and morphology
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible: Nahum
Open Scriptures
Open Scriptures, release 2.2
Supports: Masoretic Hebrew words, morphology, clause relationships, repeated roots, names, and the base wording behind translation discussion.
Exact location: Open Scriptures MorphHB v.2.2, commit 6a5db284c715c18b239422e57bb89684e6a19f00, wlc/Nah.xml, 1:2-8
Open source ↗translation and translator notes
NET Bible: Nahum with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2006
Supports: Verse-level translation, syntax, text-critical, poetic, historical, and uncertainty notes.
Exact location: NET Bible Nahum PDF, printed pp. 1751-1754, translation and notes on 1:2-8
Open source ↗