


Nahum 2:12
Bible Versions
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.
The lion would tear up food for his cubs and strangle prey for his lionesses; he used to fill his caves with prey, his lairs with torn flesh.
The lion mauled enough for its cubs and strangled prey for the lioness. It filled its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey.
The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his caves with prey, and his dens with ravin.
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Jeremiah 51:34
Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out. -
Psalms 17:12
Like as a lion [that] is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. -
Isaiah 10:6
I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. -
Isaiah 10:14
And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs [that are] left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
Context
The Book of Nahum is a powerful prophetic oracle primarily directed against Nineveh, the formidable capital of the Assyrian Empire. Known for its ruthless military might and oppressive conquests, Assyria had been a terror to surrounding nations, including Judah. Chapter 2 of Nahum vividly describes the impending siege and catastrophic downfall of Nineveh. Verse 12 is part of a broader metaphorical depiction (Nahum 2:11-13) that likens Nineveh to a predatory lion's den, emphasizing its history of violence, plunder, and insatiable appetite for domination before its prophesied destruction.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
Practical Application
Nahum 2:12 offers powerful insights that transcend its historical context: