Nahum 2:3

Judgment

¹ One who scatters advances against you, O Nineveh. Guard the fortress! Watch the road! Brace yourselves! Summon all your strength!

² For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and ruined the branches of their vine.

The shields of his mighty men are red; the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariots flash like fire on the day they are prepared, and the spears of cypress have been brandished.

⁴ The chariots dash through the streets; they rush around the plazas, appearing like torches, darting about like lightning.

⁵ He summons his nobles; they stumble as they advance. They race to its wall; the protective shield is set in place.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: The shields of his mighty men are red; the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariots flash like fire on the day they are prepared, and the spears of cypress have been brandished.
KJV: The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
WEB: The shield of his mighty men is made red. The valiant men are in scarlet. The chariots flash with steel in the day of his preparation, and the pine spears are brandished.
ASV: The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots flash with steel in the day of his preparation, and the cypress [spears] are brandished.
DARBY: The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots [glitter] with the sheen of steel, in the day of his preparation, and the spears are brandished.
BLB: The shields of his mighty men are red; the men of valor are clothed in scarlet; with fire of burning steel the chariots [come] on the day of his preparing, and the cypresses quiver.

ÅB: Hans kjempers skjold er rødfargede, stridsmennene er kledd i skarlagen, vognene i flammende stål på den dag han stiller dem opp, og spydene svinges.
OTB: Skjoldene til hans krigere er skarlagenrøde,
Soldatene er kledd i purpur,
Vognene skinner med blinkende metall
Når han forbereder seg til å rykke frem,
Og spyd av einer blir svingt.
B1930: Hans kjempers skjold er rødfarvede, stridsmennene er klædd i skarlagen, vognene i luende stål på den dag han stiller dem op, og spydene svinges.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Ezekiel 23:14–15
But Oholibah carried her prostitution even further. She saw the men portrayed on the wall, images of the Chaldeans, engraved in vermilion,
Read in context
Isaiah 63:1–3
Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.”
Read in context
Zechariah 1:8
I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.
Read in context
Zechariah 11:2
Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen; the majestic trees are ruined! Wail, O oaks of Bashan, for the dense forest has been cut down!
Read in context
Zechariah 6:2
The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses,
Read in context
Revelation 12:3
Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads.
Read in context
Revelation 6:4
Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword.
Read in context
Isaiah 14:8
Even the cypresses and cedars of Lebanon exult over you: “Since you have been laid low, no woodcutter comes against us.”
Read in context