Nahum 2:3

Nahum 2:3 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)The shields of the soldiers are red; the warriors are clad in scarlet. The metal on the chariots flashes on the day they are made ready; the spears of juniper are brandished.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The shield of his mighty men is red; his soldiers are clothed in scarlet. The chariots come with flashing metal on the day he musters them; the cypress spears are brandished.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The shields of his mighty men are made red, The valiant men are in scarlet. The chariots come with flaming torches In the day of his preparation, And the spears are brandished.

Context of Nahum 2:3

1The one who scatters has come up against you [Nineveh]. Man the fortress and ramparts, watch the road; Strengthen your back [prepare for battle], summon all your strength. 2For the Lord will restore the splendor and majesty of Jacob Like the splendor of [ancient and united] Israel, Even though destroyers have destroyed them And ruined their vine branches. The shields of his soldiers [of Media and Babylon] are colored red; The warriors are dressed in scarlet. The chariots blaze with fire of [flashing] steel When he is prepared to march, And the cypress spears are brandished [for battle]. 4The chariots race madly in the streets; They rush wildly in the broad plazas. Their appearance is like torches; They rush in various directions like forked lightning. 5He remembers and summons his nobles; They stumble in their march [terrified because of the attack]. They hurry to the city wall, And the mantelet is prepared and firmly set up.

Nahum 2:3 word by word

מָגֵ֨ן גִּבֹּרֵ֜יהוּ מְאָדָּ֗ם אַנְשֵׁי־חַ֙יִל֙ מְתֻלָּעִ֔ים בְּאֵשׁ־פְּלָד֥וֹת הָרֶ֖כֶב בְּי֣וֹם הֲכִינ֑וֹ וְהַבְּרֹשִׁ֖ים הָרְעָֽלוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The shieldמָגֵןmâgên meginnâh · shieldH4043
• of his mighty menגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368
• is made redאָדֹם'âdam · to reddenH119
• the valiantחַ֫יִלchayil · armyH2428
• menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• in scarletתָּלַעtâla‛ · to clothe in scarletH8529
• the chariotsרֶ֫כֶבrekeb · chariotH7393
• with flamingאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
• torchesפְּלָדָהpelâdâh · ironH6393
• in the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of his preparationכּוּןkûn · to establish: prepareH3559
• and the fir treesבְּרוֹשׁberôsh · cypressH1265
• shall be terribly shakenרָעַלrâ‛al · to quiverH7477

Cross-references for Nahum 2:3

• Isaiah 63:1Who is this who comes from Edom, With crimson-stained garments from Bozrah [in Edom], This One (the Messiah) who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His might? “It is I, [the One] who speaks in righteousness [proclaiming vindication], mighty to save.”
• Zechariah 1:8In the night I saw [a vision] and behold, a Man was riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees that were in the ravine; and behind Him were horses: red, sorrel (reddish-brown), and white.
• Zechariah 6:2The first chariot had red horses (war, bloodshed), the second chariot had black horses (famine, death),
• Revelation 6:4And another, a fiery red horse [of bloodshed], came out; and its rider was empowered to take peace from the earth, so that men would slaughter one another; and a great sword [of war and violent death] was given to him.
• Revelation 12:3Then another sign [of warning] was seen in heaven: behold, a great fiery red dragon (Satan) with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven royal crowns (diadems).
• Isaiah 14:8Even the cypress trees rejoice over you [kings of Babylon], even the cedars of Lebanon, saying, ‘Since you were laid low, no woodcutter comes up against us.’
• Zechariah 11:2Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, Because the magnificent trees have been destroyed; Wail, O oaks of Bashan, For the inaccessible forest [on the steep mountainside] has come down.

Commentaries on Nahum 2:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3The shield of his mighty men is made red - These things may refer to the war-like preparations made by the Ninevites: they had red shields, and scarlet or purple clothing; their chariots were finely decorated, and proceeded with amazing rapidity. The fir trees shall be terribly shaken - This may refer to the darts, arrows, and javelins, flung with destructive power.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Army is arrayed against army; the armies, thus far, of God against the army of His enemy; all without is order; all within, confusion. The assailing army, from its compactness and unity, is spoken of, both as many and one. The might is of many; the order and singleness of purpose is as of one. The shield, collectively, not shields. “His mighty men;” He, who was last spoken of, was Almighty God, as He says in Isaiah; “I have commanded My consecrated ones…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. his mighty men--the Medo-Babylonian general's mighty men attacking Nineveh. made red--The ancients dyed their bull's-hide shields red, partly to strike terror into the enemy, chiefly lest the blood from wounds which they might receive should be perceived and give confidence to the foe [Calvin]. G. V. Smith conjectures that the reference is to the red reflection of the sun's rays from shields of bronze or copper, such as are found among the Assyrian…Read the comment

Topics related to Nahum 2:3

• Armies
• Chariot
• Colors
• Shield
• Soldiers

In the dictionaries

• Apparel
• Colour
• Devour
• Empty
• Fir
• Hole
• Justle
• Mightily
• Rage
• Raven

Commentaries on Nahum 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings