God’s Word Translation
Nahum 2:12
12The lion tore its prey to pieces to feed its cubs. It strangled ⌞the prey⌟ for its mates. It used to fill its caves with torn carcasses and its dens with torn flesh.
Nahum 2:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.
- New International Version (NIV)The lion killed enough for his cubs and strangled the prey for his mate, filling his lairs with the kill and his dens with the prey.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The lion tore enough for his cubs and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his caves with prey and his dens with torn flesh.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The lion tore in pieces enough for his cubs, Killed for his lionesses, Filled his caves with prey, And his dens with flesh.
Context of Nahum 2:12
10Nineveh is destroyed, deserted, demolished. Hearts are melting. Knees are knocking. Every stomach becomes upset. Every face turns pale. 11Where is the lions’ den, that feeding place for young lions? Where are the lion, the lioness, and the lion cub who moved about with no one to terrify them? The lion tore its prey to pieces to feed its cubs. It strangled ⌞the prey⌟ for its mates. It used to fill its caves with torn carcasses and its dens with torn flesh. 13“I am against you, Nineveh,” declares the Lord of Armies. “I will send your chariots up in smoke, and a sword will kill your young lions. I will remove your prey from the earth, and no one will ever hear the voice of your messengers again.”
Read all of Nahum 2Nahum 2:12 word by word
אַרְיֵ֤ה טֹרֵף֙ בְּדֵ֣י גֹֽרוֹתָ֔יו וּמְחַנֵּ֖ק לְלִבְאֹתָ֑יו וַיְמַלֵּא־טֶ֣רֶף חֹרָ֔יו וּמְעֹֽנֹתָ֖יו טְרֵפָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The lionאֲרִי'ărîy 'aryêh · lionH738
- did tear in piecesטָרַףţâraph · to tearH2963
- enoughדַּיday · sufficiencyH1767
- for his whelpsגּוֹרgôr gôrâh · whelpH1484
- and strangledחָנַקchânaq · to strangleH2614
- for his lionessesלְבִיlâbîy' lebîyâ' lebâ'îym lebâ'ôth · lionH3833
- and filledמָלֵאmâlê' mâlâ' · to fillH4390
- his holesחֹרchôr chôr · holeH2356
- with preyטֶ֫רֶףţereph · preyH2964
- and his densמְעֹנָהme‛ônâh me‛ônâh · habitationH4585
- with ravinטְרֵפָהţerêphâh · torn animalH2966
Cross-references for Nahum 2:12
- Psalms 17:12Each one of them is like a lion eager to tear ⌞its prey⌟ apart and like a young lion crouching in hiding places.
- Isaiah 10:6I send them against a godless nation. In my fury I order them against the people to take their belongings, loot them, and trample on them like mud in the streets.
- Jeremiah 51:34King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has devoured us. He has thrown us into confusion. He has turned us into empty jars. He has swallowed us like a monster. He has filled his belly with our delicacies. Then he spit us out.
Commentaries on Nahum 2:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12The lion did tear - This verse gives us a striking picture of the manner in which the Assyrian conquests and depredations were carried on. How many people were spoiled to enrich his whelps - his sons, princes, and nobles! How many women were stripped and slain, whose spoils went to decorate his lionesses - his queen, concubines, and mistresses. And they had even more than they could assume; their holes and dens - treasure-houses, palaces, and wardrobes…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-13Verses 11-13 The kings of Assyria had long been terrible and cruel to their neighbours, but the Lord would destroy their power. Many plead as an excuse for rapine and fraud, that they have families to provide for; but what is thus obtained will never do them any good. Those that fear the Lord, and get honestly what they have, shall not want for themselves and theirs. It is just with God to deprive those of children, or of comfort in them, who take sinful…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-13After describing Nineveh’s fall (Nahum 2:1–10), Nahum includes the first of three taunt songs (see also 3:8–13, 14–19). Taunt songs were a common form of poetry in the ancient Near East. In this song, Nahum uses sharp humor to compare Nineveh to a lion’s den. Sennacherib and other Assyrian kings often compared themselves to lions. They even decorated their palaces with images of lions and scenes of royal lion hunts. However, because God had become…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. prey ... ravin--different kinds of prey. Compare Is 3:1, "the stay and the staff."Read the comment
Topics related to Nahum 2:12
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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