She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain [is] in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.
She is empty {H950}, and void {H4003}, and waste {H1110}: and the heart {H3820} melteth {H4549}, and the knees {H1290} smite together {H6375}, and much pain {H2479} is in all loins {H4975}, and the faces {H6440} of them all gather {H6908} blackness {H6289}.
She is void, vacant; she is made bare. Hearts are melting, knees are knocking; every stomach is churning, every face is drained of color.
She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale!
She is empty, and void, and waste; and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and anguish is in all loins, and the faces of them all are waxed pale.
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Psalms 22:14
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. -
Joel 2:6
Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. -
Daniel 5:6
Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. -
Isaiah 13:7
Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: -
Isaiah 13:8
And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces [shall be as] flames. -
Jeremiah 30:6
Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? -
Zephaniah 2:13
And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, [and] dry like a wilderness.
Commentary on Nahum 2:10 (KJV)
This verse vividly portrays the devastating aftermath of the judgment pronounced upon Nineveh, the powerful capital of the Assyrian empire. It describes the city and its inhabitants succumbing to complete ruin and terror.
Context
The book of Nahum is a prophecy specifically directed against Nineveh, predicting its total destruction as divine judgment for its cruelty, idolatry, and oppression. Chapter 2 details the siege and fall of the city. Verse 10 comes after the description of the invading army and the city's defenses failing, focusing on the resulting desolation and the abject fear of the Ninevites. This prophecy was fulfilled in 612 BC when Nineveh was destroyed by the Babylonians and Medes.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew words translated "empty, and void, and waste" (בּוּקָה֙ וּמְבוּקָ֔ה וּמְבֻלָּקָ֖ה - bûqâh ûmbûqâh ûmbûllâqâh) are highly emphatic, possibly onomatopoeic, conveying the sense of utter devastation and plundering. The physical descriptions of fear – "heart melteth," "knees smite together," "pain in all loins," and faces gathering "blackness" (likely indicating pallor, shock, or despair) – are common biblical metaphors for intense terror and anguish in the face of overwhelming dread.
Related Scriptures
The fall of Nineveh is a central theme throughout Nahum, culminating in its complete ruin as described here and in later verses like Nahum 3:7. The principle of divine judgment against the wicked is foundational to the prophecy (see Nahum 1:2-3). Similar descriptions of widespread fear and collapse in the face of God's wrath or invasion can be found in other prophetic books, such as in the judgment pronounced upon Babylon (Isaiah 13:6-8).
Practical Application
This verse serves as a stark reminder that earthly power and might, when built on wickedness and oppression, are temporary and ultimately subject to God's sovereign judgment. It highlights the terrifying reality of facing God's wrath for those who oppose Him and His righteousness. For believers, it underscores the justice of God and the certainty that all evil will ultimately be held accountable, while offering comfort that they need not fear such judgment, having refuge in Christ. It also reminds us of the fleeting nature of material security and the importance of building our lives on an eternal foundation.