Nahum 2:13
What does Nahum 2:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Nahum 2:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nahum 2:13 means
The oracle ends with God’s own voice: “Behold, I am against thee,” says Jehovah of hosts. That sentence seals Nineveh’s fate. God will burn its chariots, the sword will consume its “young lions” (its warriors and princes), and its predation will cease—no more prey taken from the earth. Even the voice of its messengers—those who carried threats and demands—will be silenced. The instruments of war, the human agents of power, the very communications of empire—all are targeted by the Lord. This is retributive justice and deliverance for the oppressed in one act. When God sets Himself against a kingdom built on violence, every pillar of that order crumbles beyond recovery.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions; and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions; and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949See, I am against you, says the Lord of armies, and I will have your war-carriages burned in the smoke, and your young lions will be food for the sword: you will no longer get your food by force on the earth, and the voice of your she-lions will be stopped for ever.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Lo, I <FI>am<Fi> against thee, An affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts, And I have burned in smoke its chariot, And thy young lions consume doth a sword, And I have cut off from the land thy prey, And not heard any more is the voice of thy messengers!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Behold I come against thee, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will burn thy chariots even to smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey out of the land, and the voice of thy messengers shall be heard no more.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts: and I will burn her chariots into smoke; and the sword shall devour thy young lions, and I will cut off thy prey from the earth; and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.
Context
This final verse crowns the lion taunt of verses 11–12 with the explicit verdict of Jehovah of hosts. It explains why the den is empty and the prey cut off: God Himself stands in opposition. As the chapter closes, the images of burning chariots, slain “young lions,” and silenced messengers gather the whole narrative—siege, breach, plunder—under God’s sovereign judgment, preparing for chapter 3’s further indictments.
v.12The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his caves with prey, and his dens with ravin.
v.13This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Nahum 3:12
All thy fortresses shall be like fig-trees with the first-ripe figs: if they be shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater.
- Isaiah 49:24
Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captives be delivered?
- Nahum 3:1
Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and rapine; the prey departeth not.
- Isaiah 37:36
And the angel of Jehovah went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.
- 2 Kings 18:17
And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rab-saris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great army unto Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field.
- Jeremiah 50:31
Behold, I am against thee, O thou proud one, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts; for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Nahum 2
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Nahum 2.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About God as Refuge
The Bible uses the powerful imagery of refuge to describe God as our ultimate protector and safe haven in times of trouble.
Topic
Bible Verses About the Goodness of God
God’s goodness is a foundational truth of faith, revealing His benevolent nature and faithful provision for all creation.
Topic
Bible Verses About the Wrath of God
God's wrath is a profound aspect of His holiness and justice, revealed against sin and rebellion throughout scripture.