English Standard Version
Nahum 2:3
3The 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Shields flash red in the sunlight! See the scarlet uniforms of the valiant troops! Watch as their glittering chariots move into position, with a forest of spears waving above them.
Context of Nahum 2:3
1The scatterer has come up against you. Man the ramparts; watch the road; dress for battle; collect all your strength. 2For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have plundered them and ruined their branches. 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. 4The chariots race madly through the streets; they rush to and fro through the squares; they gleam like torches; they dart like lightning. 5He remembers his officers; they stumble as they go, they hasten to the wall; the siege tower is set up.
Read all of Nahum 2Nahum 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, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he who is splendid in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save."
- Zechariah 1:8"I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.
- Zechariah 6:2The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses,
- Revelation 6:4And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.
- Revelation 12:3And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.
- Isaiah 14:8The cypresses rejoice at you, 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, for the glorious trees are ruined! Wail, oaks of Bashan, for the thick forest has been felled!
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
In the dictionaries
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
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Commentaries