Nahum 2:10 kjv
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.
Nahum 2:10 nkjv
She is empty, desolate, and waste! The heart melts, and the knees shake; Much pain is in every side, And all their faces are drained of color.
Nahum 2:10 niv
She is pillaged, plundered, stripped! Hearts melt, knees give way, bodies tremble, every face grows pale.
Nahum 2:10 esv
Desolate! Desolation and ruin! Hearts melt and knees tremble; anguish is in all loins; all faces grow pale!
Nahum 2:10 nlt
Soon the city is plundered, empty, and ruined.
Hearts melt and knees shake.
The people stand aghast,
their faces pale and trembling.
Nahum 2 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 24:1 | Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty... | Global desolation, echoing "empty, void, waste." |
| Jer 4:23 | I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void... | "Tohu va bohu" imagery for chaos and emptiness. |
| Isa 34:11 | ...he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. | Divine judgment bringing chaos and desolation. |
| Jer 2:15 | The young lions roared against him...they made his land waste. | Emptiness due to enemy invasion and destruction. |
| Isa 13:7 | Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every heart melt. | Similar imagery of hearts melting during judgment. |
| Isa 13:8 | They will be afraid; pangs and sorrows will take hold of them... | Fear and pain described during a city's fall. |
| Eze 7:17 | All hands will be feeble, and all knees will melt with water. | Physical manifestation of terror and weakness. |
| Joel 2:6 | Before them the people are in anguish; all faces are drained of color. | Similar description of facial expression due to terror. |
| Ps 38:8 | I am feeble and sorely broken... | Physical and emotional anguish. |
| Jer 30:6 | Ask now, and see if a male can give birth! Why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor... | Pain in loins as a metaphor for extreme anguish and fear. |
| Lam 5:10 | Our skin has become black as an oven, because of the scorching heats of famine. | Faces darkening due to hardship/suffering. |
| Job 30:30 | My skin is black upon me, and my bones burn with fever. | Physical appearance under duress, potentially reflecting internal turmoil. |
| Nah 1:15 | Behold upon the mountains the feet of him who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah... | Nineveh's fall brings comfort to Judah, a reversal of power. |
| Nah 3:7 | And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste... | Foreshadows Nineveh's complete and public ruin. |
| Zeph 2:13 | And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria...and make Nineveh a desolation... | Direct prophecy of Nineveh's desolation. |
| Jer 51:41 | How Babylon has become a horror among the nations! | God's judgment on proud, oppressive nations. |
| Isa 14:12 | How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground... | Prophecy against Babylon, illustrating the fall of proud powers. |
| Mal 4:1 | For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly, will be stubble... | Universal judgment on the proud and wicked. |
| Rev 18:19 | And they threw dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate. | Imagery of the swift and total destruction of a proud city (Babylon, representing world system). |
| Deut 32:35 | Vengeance is Mine, and recompense... | God's promise to repay oppressors, fulfilled in Nahum. |
| Rom 12:19 | Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. | New Testament affirmation of divine justice and vengeance. |
Nahum 2 verses
Nahum 2 10 Meaning
Nahum 2:10 powerfully portrays the utter and devastating destruction of Nineveh and the resultant profound terror of its inhabitants. The city, once formidable, is stripped bare and emptied, symbolizing a complete collapse of its power and structure. Concurrently, the people of Nineveh are gripped by paralyzing fear, manifesting in their physical and emotional deterioration, indicating the severity of divine judgment unleashed upon them.
Nahum 2 10 Context
Nahum 2:10 is set within the vivid prophetic declaration of Nineveh's downfall. The preceding verses (2:1-9) describe the fierce siege and subsequent plundering of the city, likening it to a "lion's den" that is now breached and despoiled. The prophet details the rush of chariots, the gleam of weapons, and the desperate efforts of Nineveh's defenders turning to flight, marking the climax of God's judgment on the oppressive Assyrian capital. Historically, Nineveh, the formidable capital of the Assyrian Empire, was known for its cruelty and idolatry. It had subjected the northern kingdom of Israel and posed a constant threat to Judah. The destruction of Nineveh in 612 BC by a coalition of Babylonian and Median forces serves as the historical fulfillment of this prophecy, providing immense vindication and relief to God's people who had suffered under Assyrian might. This verse highlights the profound reversal of fortunes: from unbridled power to complete collapse and terror.
Nahum 2 10 Word analysis
- She is empty, and void, and waste: This triple description emphasizes total destruction.
- empty (בּוּקָה, _buqa_): Signifies desolation, being poured out or emptied.
- void (וּמְבוּקָה, _umevuqa_): An intensified form of 'empty,' further stressing utter vacancy and ruin.
- waste (וּמְבֻלָּקָה, _umebullaqa_): Conveys plundering, devastation, and the removal of all substance. The progression underscores a systematic, total obliteration, echoing the primal chaos of "tohu va bohu" (Gen 1:2) but here as a result of divine judgment on a flourishing city.
- and the heart melteth: (וַיִּמַּס לֵב, _vayimas lev_) - Denotes the loss of courage, resolve, and spirit. It signifies an emotional collapse in the face of overwhelming fear and despair, rendering one utterly powerless.
- and the knees smite together: (וְקִדָּחוּ בִרְכַּיִם, _veqiddaḥu birkayim_) - A classic biblical idiom for intense terror and weakness. It depicts uncontrollable trembling, rendering one unable to stand, flee, or resist, symbolizing utter helplessness.
- and much pain is in all loins: (וְחַלְחָלָה בְּכָל מָתְנַיִם, _veḥalḥālāh bechol motnayim_) - 'Loins' refer to the core strength and reproductive center of the body. 'Pain' or 'writhing' here describes intense, convulsive anguish, often associated with childbirth pain, signifying a profound, agonizing distress that impacts the very core of one's being and ability to function.
- and the faces of them all gather blackness: (וּפְנֵי כֻלָּם קִבְּצוּ פָּארוּר, _ufney khullam qibbeṣu pā’rur_) - 'Gather blackness' can imply paleness from terror, blood draining from the face, or a ghastly, dark appearance reflecting internal suffering. It vividly portrays the outward manifestation of internal agony, dread, and horror, distorting their appearance as fear overwhelms them.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "She is empty, and void, and waste": This powerful triplet emphasizes a complete, irrecoverable desolation of Nineveh, shifting from prosperity to absolute ruin. It represents divine reversal.
- "and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness": This series of physical and emotional reactions provides a comprehensive portrait of profound, incapacitating terror. It shows how the city's destruction translates into the personal psychological and physical collapse of its inhabitants, depicting a complete loss of vitality and hope.
Nahum 2 10 Bonus section
The destruction of Nineveh, depicted so powerfully in Nahum, served not only as a divine punishment for Assyria's wickedness and oppression but also as a profound comfort and vindication for Judah, who had long suffered under Assyrian dominance. The prophecy reverses the earlier "lion's den" imagery applied to Nineveh (Nah 2:11), showcasing how the hunter becomes the hunted, stripped of its strength and courage. This prophetic fulfillment underscores the unwavering nature of God's word and His ultimate control over human empires, confirming His active role in the affairs of history to deliver His people and execute righteous judgment. The detailed description of terror emphasizes that the fear inflicted by Nineveh upon other nations now became its own portion, fulfilling a principle of poetic justice under divine law.
Nahum 2 10 Commentary
Nahum 2:10 is a chilling culmination of God’s prophetic judgment against Nineveh, the epicenter of Assyrian power and cruelty. It highlights the twofold nature of divine reckoning: the absolute desolation of the city itself and the terrifying, paralyzing fear that grips its inhabitants. The triple declaration of "empty, void, and waste" underscores a complete obliteration, moving beyond mere defeat to an irreversible state of nothingness, reminiscent of primordial chaos but here brought about by righteous wrath. The subsequent imagery of physical collapse—melting hearts, shaking knees, agonizing pain in the loins, and darkened faces—vividly portrays the psychological and physiological toll of sheer terror. This state of utter despair for Nineveh directly contrasts their former arrogant might, demonstrating that no human power, however formidable, can stand against the decree of the Almighty God. It serves as a stark reminder of God’s sovereignty, his justice for the oppressed, and the ultimate accountability of nations before Him.