New Living Translation
Nahum 2:12
12The lion tore up meat for his cubs and strangled prey for his mate. He filled his den with prey, his caverns with his plunder.
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
10Soon the city is plundered, empty, and ruined. Hearts melt and knees shake. The people stand aghast, their faces pale and trembling. 11Where now is that great Nineveh, that den filled with young lions? It was a place where people—like lions and their cubs— walked freely and without fear. The lion tore up meat for his cubs and strangled prey for his mate. He filled his den with prey, his caverns with his plunder. 13“I am your enemy!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Your chariots will soon go up in smoke. Your young men will be killed in battle. Never again will you plunder conquered nations. The voices of your proud messengers will be heard no more.”
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 17:12They are like hungry lions, eager to tear me apart— like young lions hiding in ambush.
- Isaiah 10:6I am sending Assyria against a godless nation, against a people with whom I am angry. Assyria will plunder them, trampling them like dirt beneath its feet.
- Jeremiah 51:34“King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has eaten and crushed us and drained us of strength. He has swallowed us like a great monster and filled his belly with our riches. He has thrown us out of our own country.
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries