Nahum 2:8
6 The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses.
7 It is decreed that the city be exiled and carried away; her maidservants moan like doves, and beat upon their breasts.
Nineveh has been like a pool of water throughout her days, but now it is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back.
9 “Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!” There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing.
10 She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale!
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
- Nineveh has been like a pool of water throughout her days, but now it is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back.
- KJV
- But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.
- WEB
- But Nineveh has been from of old like a pool of water, yet they flee away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one looks back.
- ASV
- But Nineveh hath been from of old like a pool of water: yet they flee away. Stand, stand, [they cry]; but none looketh back.
- DARBY
- Nineveh hath been like a pool of water, since the day she existed, yet they flee away. Stand! Stand! But none looketh back.
- BLB
- And Nineveh [was] like a pool of water, from the days of her, and they flee: “Stand, stand,” and no one is turning back.
- ÅB
- Og Ninive er som en dam full av vann[^3] like fra de dager det ble til. Men nå flykter de. Stans, stans! Men ingen vender seg om.
- OTB
- Selv om Ninive var som en vannpytt i sine dager,
Nå flykter de;
“Stopp, stopp,”
Men ingen vender tilbake. - B1930
- Og Ninive er som en dam full av vann like fra de dager det blev til. Men nu flyr de. Stans, stans! Men ingen vender sig om. / < en folkerik stad.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Revelation 17:1
Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.
Read in contextIsaiah 47:13
You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you— your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate.
Read in contextJeremiah 46:5
Why am I seeing this? They are terrified, they are retreating; their warriors are defeated, they flee in haste without looking back; terror is on every side!” declares the LORD.
Read in contextNahum 3:17
Your guards are like the swarming locust, and your scribes like clouds of locusts that settle on the walls on a cold day. When the sun rises, they fly away, and no one knows where.
Read in contextJeremiah 50:16
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and the one who wields the sickle at harvest time. In the face of the oppressor’s sword, each will turn to his own people, each will flee to his own land.
Read in contextJeremiah 51:30
The warriors of Babylon have stopped fighting; they sit in their strongholds. Their strength is exhausted; they have become like women. Babylon’s homes have been set ablaze, the bars of her gates are broken.
Read in contextJeremiah 51:13
You who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come; the thread of your life is cut.
Read in contextIsaiah 48:20
Leave Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! Declare it with a shout of joy, proclaim it, let it go out to the ends of the earth, saying, “The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!”
Read in context