Nahum 2:1
What does Nahum 2:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Nahum 2:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nahum 2:1 means
Nahum announces that a destroyer has risen against Nineveh. The prophet ironically urges the city to brace itself—guard the fortress, watch the roads, strengthen its loins, and muster all its might. These commands expose the city’s dread and the futility of self-reliance when God has determined judgment. The language pictures an implacable invader and a besieged capital scrambling to defend itself. Nineveh, once the terror of nations, now hears the alarm sounded against it. The verse does not praise courage; it underscores inevitability. Human vigilance cannot overturn a decree from heaven. The destroyer comes not merely by chance but as the rod of God’s justice against long-standing cruelty.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000He that dasheth in pieces is come up against thee: keep the fortress, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901He that dasheth in pieces is come up against thee: keep the fortress, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949A crusher has come up before your face: keep a good look-out, let the way be watched, make yourself strong, let your power be greatly increased.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Come up hath a scatterer to thy face, Keep the bulwark, watch the way, Strengthen the loins, strengthen power mightily.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He is come up that shall destroy before thy face, that shall keep the siege: watch the way, fortify thy loins, strengthen thy power exceedingly.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He that dasheth in pieces is come up against thy face: keep the fortress, watch the way, make [thy] loins strong, fortify [thy] power mightily.
Context
This opening verse shifts the reader from the general announcement of judgment in chapter 1 to the concrete scene of battle. It frames the entire chapter as a siege narrative: Nineveh will be attacked and urged to desperate defense. The next verse immediately supplies the theological reason for this invasion—Jehovah is restoring Jacob and Israel. From here, the chapter moves into vivid war scenes, alternating between the attackers’ ferocity and Nineveh’s frantic, failing attempts to hold out.
v.1This passage
v.2For Jehovah restoreth the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel; for the emptiers have emptied them out, and destroyed their vine-branches.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Chronicles 25:8
But if thou wilt go, do valiantly, be strong for the battle: God will cast thee down before the enemy; for God hath power to help, and to cast down.
- Jeremiah 46:3
Prepare ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.
- Jeremiah 51:11
Make sharp the arrows; hold firm the shields: Jehovah hath stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes; because his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it: for it is the vengeance of Jehovah, the vengeance of his temple.
- Nahum 3:14
Draw thee water for the siege; strengthen thy fortresses; go into the clay, and tread the mortar; make strong the brickkiln.
- Jeremiah 50:23
How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!
- Isaiah 14:6
that smote the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, that ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained.
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