King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.
Complete Jewish Bible:
[The king of Ninveh] assigns his officers; they stumble as they march; they hurry to its wall and set up shields to protect the battering ram.
Berean Standard Bible:
He summons his nobles; they stumble as they advance. They race to its wall; the protective shield is set in place.
American Standard Version:
He remembereth his nobles: they stumble in their march; they make haste to the wall thereof, and the mantelet is prepared.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
He shall recount{H2142} his worthies{H117}: they shall stumble{H3782} in their walk{H1979}; they shall make haste{H4116} to the wall{H2346} thereof, and the defence{H5526} shall be prepared{H3559}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Jeremiah 46:12
- ¶ The nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry hath filled the land: for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, [and] they are fallen both together.
Nahum 3:18
- Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell [in the dust]: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth [them].
Jeremiah 51:27
- Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers.
Jeremiah 51:28
- Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion.
Nahum 3:3
- The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and [there is] a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and [there is] none end of [their] corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:
Jeremiah 50:29
- Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 5:27
- None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:
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Commentary for Nahum 2:5
Nahum 2:5 is a verse from the Book of Nahum, which is part of the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament. The book is a prophecy concerning the destruction of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh, the capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. This empire was known for its ruthless military campaigns and the brutal treatment of those it conquered, including the northern kingdom of Israel.
The verse itself speaks to the chaos and desperation that would characterize the fall of Nineveh. In the face of an impending attack, the leaders or "worthies" of the city are depicted as scrambling to organize a defense. The phrase "they shall stumble in their walk" suggests disarray and confusion among these leaders, indicating that their efforts to mount an effective defense will be hindered by their own disorganization. The urgency of the situation is conveyed by the phrase "they shall make haste to the wall thereof," implying a frantic rush to the city's fortifications. Finally, "the defence shall be prepared" could be interpreted as a last-ditch effort to fortify the city, but given the context of the surrounding verses, it is likely ironic, indicating that despite their preparations, the city's defenses will ultimately prove futile against the divine judgment pronounced by Nahum.
The historical context of this verse is significant. Nineveh, once a powerful and seemingly invincible city, fell to a coalition of Babylonians, Medes, and others in 612 BCE, an event that marked the end of the Assyrian Empire. Nahum's prophecy, therefore, serves as a reminder of the impermanence of earthly power and the consequences of arrogance and cruelty. It also reflects the hope of the Israelites, who had suffered greatly under Assyrian rule, that justice would ultimately prevail. The themes of divine retribution, the fall of the oppressor, and the restoration of justice are central to the message of the Book of Nahum.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H2142
There are 223 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָכַר
Transliteration: zâkar
Pronunciation: zaw-kar'
Description: a primitive root; also as denominative from זָכָר; properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male; [idiom] burn (incense), [idiom] earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount, record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, [idiom] still, think on, [idiom] well. - Strong's Number: H117
There are 53 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַדִּיר
Transliteration: ʼaddîyr
Pronunciation: ad-deer'
Description: from אָדַר; wide or (generally) large; figuratively, powerful; excellent, famous, gallant, glorious, goodly, lordly, mighty(-ier one), noble, principal, worthy. - Strong's Number: H3782
There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּשַׁל
Transliteration: kâshal
Pronunciation: kaw-shal'
Description: a primitive root; to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication, to falter, stumble, faint or fall; bereave (from the margin), cast down, be decayed, (cause to) fail, (cause, make to) fall (down, -ing), feeble, be (the) ruin(-ed, of), (be) overthrown, (cause to) stumble, [idiom] utterly, be weak. - Strong's Number: H1979
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הֲלִיכָה
Transliteration: hălîykâh
Pronunciation: hal-ee-kaw'
Description: feminine of הָלִיךְ; a walking; by implication, a procession or march, a caravan; company, going, walk, way. - Strong's Number: H4116
There are 60 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָהַר
Transliteration: mâhar
Pronunciation: maw-har'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e. (by implication); to hurry (in a good or a bad sense); often used (with another verb) adverbially, promptly; be carried headlong, fearful, (cause to make, in, make) haste(-n, -ily), (be) hasty, (fetch, make ready) [idiom] quickly, rash, [idiom] shortly, (be so) [idiom] soon, make speed, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] straightway, [idiom] suddenly, swift. - Strong's Number: H2346
There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חוֹמָה
Transliteration: chôwmâh
Pronunciation: kho-maw'
Description: feminine active participle of an unused root apparently meaning to join; a wall of protection; wall, walled. - Strong's Number: H5526
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָכַךְ
Transliteration: çâkak
Pronunciation: saw-kak'
Description: or שָׂכַךְ; (Exodus 33:22), a primitive root; properly, to entwine as ascreen; by implication, to fence in, cover over, (figuratively) protect; cover, defence, defend, hedge in, join together, set, shut up. - Strong's Number: H3559
There are 210 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כּוּן
Transliteration: kûwn
Pronunciation: koon
Description: a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous); certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet, ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self), provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright, fast, forth), be stable, (e-) stablish, stand, tarry, [idiom] very deed.