Nahum 3:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Nineveh, once the pride of the wise, appeared beautiful and deserving of admiration. However, upon her downfall, she became repulsive to those who once viewed her favorably, who ultimately recognized her emptiness, relying heavily on sorcery and wicked deception. This fate shall serve as a metaphor so that anytime a city or nation is mentioned as ruined, it will be compared to the pitiable Nineveh. As previously noted, the Sovereign of all opposed the Jewish synagogue and, in response to its wickedness toward Christ, imposed a just punishment, rendering it exposed and disgraceful, stripped of her esteemed garments. This was prefigured by the prophet Hosea, who declared, "I will take back my grain at its time, and my wine at its time, and I will remove my garments and coverings, so that she does not hide her footstool; and now I will unveil her impurities before her lusts, and no one will cleanse them from my grasp” (Hosea 2:9-10). Conversely, the Church of the Gentiles shall rejoice, declaring, "Let my soul exult in the Lord: He has clothed me with the robe of salvation and the garment of joy" (Isaiah 61:10); yet this other one stands naked, disgraceful, and ugly, lacking the embellishments of divine grace, having transformed into a parable and become repulsive, afflicted by various forms of worldly defilement.

This is illustrated through the metaphor of the adulterous woman, who, once unveiled, is brought before the public and humiliated before all. The prophetic declarations in the book of Ezekiel detail this extensively in a figurative manner concerning Jerusalem. However, more accurately and usefully, we may apply these words to the world, for which the true healer descended from heaven. "Behold, I am upon thee," says the Lord Almighty; due to My omnipotence, I can heal all afflictions, and what seems impossible to others is achievable for Me. I will unveil your hidden aspects before your face, that is, My virtues, commandments, and words, which you have disregarded. I will allow you to witness them, even though you do not deserve to. For I required that My words be consistently in your sight, that they be bound upon your heart like a bandage (Deuteronomy 6:8). Yet you have scorned the will of your Commander and have turned your back on them, so much so that not only have you failed to obey them, but you have shown little desire to acknowledge My commands. Or perhaps I have made you aware of your faults, which you once, in your ignorance and vehement passion, mistook for virtues. After this, I will also expose your nakedness to the nations whom you have betrayed through your transgressions, so they may not be drawn in by affection for you; rather, when they see the filth and corruption within you, which once attracted them, they may cease their unfaithfulness with you. I will also reveal to the greater kingdoms your shame, of which you yourself are culpable. I will unleash an abomination upon you according to your defilement, so that you will be regarded as unclean as you truly are, and you will no longer deceive many who, before, were joined to you and became one body with you (1 Cor. 6). I will establish you as an example, that the fear of such punishment may dissuade others from committing similar wrongs.