King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
But Nineveh [is] of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, [shall they cry]; but none shall look back.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Ninveh is like a pool whose water ebbs away. "Stop! Stop!" But none of it goes back.
Berean Standard Bible:
Nineveh has been like a pool of water throughout her days, but now it is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back.
American Standard Version:
But Nineveh hath been from of old like a pool of water: yet they flee away. Stand, stand, they cry; but none looketh back.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
But Nineveh{H5210} is of old{H3117} like a pool{H1295} of water{H4325}: yet they shall flee away{H5127}. Stand{H5975}, stand{H5975}, shall they cry; but none shall look back{H6437}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 10:11
- Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,
Revelation 17:15
- And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Isaiah 48:20
- Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it [even] to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.
Revelation 17:1
- ¶ And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Jeremiah 51:30
- The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have remained in [their] holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken.
Isaiah 47:13
- Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from [these things] that shall come upon thee.
Isaiah 13:14
- And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.
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Commentary for Nahum 2:8
Nahum 2:8 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 imminent fall and destruction of Nineveh, the capital of the ancient Assyrian Empire. Nineveh was a city renowned for its wealth, power, and size, often compared to a vast pool of water for its seemingly endless resources and stability.
The verse captures the sudden and dramatic reversal of Nineveh's fortunes. The phrase "of old like a pool of water" reflects the city's longstanding prosperity and tranquility. However, the prophecy declares that its inhabitants will flee in the face of an impending attack, a stark contrast to their previous sense of security. The desperate cries to "stand, stand" suggest a call to defend the city or to hold their ground against the assault, indicating the urgency and chaos of the moment. The final portion, "but none shall look back," implies a complete and irreversible rout; the defenders will not even glance backward, perhaps in fear or in recognition of the futility of resistance.
This verse speaks to the themes of divine judgment and the impermanence of earthly power. It serves as a warning that even the mightiest of cities and empires are subject to the sovereignty of God and can fall spectacularly if they stray from His will. Historically, Nineveh did fall to a coalition of Babylonians and Medes in 612 BCE, an event that marked the end of the Assyrian Empire and fulfilled Nahum's prophecy. The verse encapsulates the biblical motif that pride and moral corruption will eventually lead to downfall, a lesson that resonates beyond the historical context to offer a moral commentary on the nature of power and human hubris.
*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: H5210
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נִינְוֵה
Transliteration: Nîynᵉvêh
Pronunciation: nee-nev-ay'
Description: of foreign origin; Nineveh, the capital of Assyria; Nineveh. - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H1295
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּרֵכָה
Transliteration: bᵉrêkâh
Pronunciation: ber-ay-kaw'
Description: from בָרַךְ; a reservoir (at which camels kneel as a resting-place); (fish-) pool. - Strong's Number: H4325
There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַיִם
Transliteration: mayim
Pronunciation: mah'-yim
Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). - Strong's Number: H5127
There are 143 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נוּס
Transliteration: nûwç
Pronunciation: noos
Description: a primitive root; to flit, i.e. vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver); [idiom] abate, away, be displayed, (make to) flee (away, -ing), put to flight, [idiom] hide, lift up a standard. - Strong's Number: H5975
There are 495 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָמַד
Transliteration: ʻâmad
Pronunciation: aw-mad'
Description: a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive); abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry. - Strong's Number: H6437
There are 128 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנָה
Transliteration: pânâh
Pronunciation: paw-naw'
Description: a primitive root; to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. appear, look, etc.; appear, at (even-) tide, behold, cast out, come on, [idiom] corner, dawning, empty, go away, lie, look, mark, pass away, prepare, regard, (have) respect (to), (re-) turn (aside, away, back, face, self), [idiom] right (early).