Nahum 2:7
What does Nahum 2:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Nahum 2:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nahum 2:7 means
A solemn decree seals Nineveh’s fate: she is exposed to shame and led away. The city, personified as a queen or lady, is stripped of dignity. Her attendants lament like doves and beat their breasts in grief. The certainty of “it is decreed” reminds the reader that this is more than fortune turning; it is divine judgment executed. The imagery of unveiling and captivity speaks of public disgrace after long arrogance. Even the servants, once proud in the courts of power, can only mourn. Oppression that paraded as glory is brought low. The verse blends pathos and justice—tears flow, but they do so because the Lord has ended a cruel reign.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And it is decreed: she is uncovered, she is carried away; and her handmaids moan as with the voice of doves, beating upon their breasts.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And it is decreed: she is uncovered, she is carried away; and her handmaids moan as with the voice of doves, beating upon their breasts.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the queen is uncovered, she is taken away and her servant-girls are weeping like the sound of doves, hammering on their breasts.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And it is established--she hath removed, She hath been brought up, And her handmaids are leading as the voice of doves, Tabering on their hearts.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the soldier is led away captive: and her bondwomen were led away mourning as doves, murmuring in their hearts.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And it is decreed: she shall be uncovered, she shall be led away, and her maids shall moan as with the voice of doves, drumming upon their breasts.
Context
Following the structural collapse in verse 6, the narrative moves to personal and civic humiliation. The picture of a carried-off lady with mourning handmaids personalizes the city’s downfall. Next (verse 8) the focus widens to the populace fleeing, then (verse 9) to the looting of Nineveh’s wealth. The sequence moves from decree to lament, then to dispersion and spoil, portraying complete reversal of former pride.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 38:14
Like a swallowora crane, so did I chatter; I did moan as a dove; mine eyes fail with looking upward: O Lord, I am oppressed, be thou my surety.
- Luke 23:48
And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts.
- Isaiah 59:11
We roar all like bears, and moan sore like doves: we look for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
- Luke 23:27
And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him.
- Isaiah 32:12
They shall smite upon the breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.
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