Nahum 2 9

Nahum 2:9 kjv

Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.

Nahum 2:9 nkjv

Take spoil of silver! Take spoil of gold! There is no end of treasure, Or wealth of every desirable prize.

Nahum 2:9 niv

Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold! The supply is endless, the wealth from all its treasures!

Nahum 2:9 esv

Plunder the silver, plunder the gold! There is no end of the treasure or of the wealth of all precious things.

Nahum 2:9 nlt

Loot the silver!
Plunder the gold!
There's no end to Nineveh's treasures ?
its vast, uncounted wealth.

Nahum 2 verses

Nahum 2 9 Meaning

Nahum 2:9 declares a divinely ordained command for Nineveh's conquerors to plunder its vast treasures. It vividly portrays the immense and seemingly endless wealth accumulated by the Assyrian empire – gold, silver, and countless desirable articles – highlighting that this abundance, gathered through conquest and oppression, would now be justly confiscated. The verse emphasizes the absolute completeness of the coming destruction and the subsequent seizure of Nineveh's ill-gotten gains, demonstrating God's sovereign power to redistribute the riches of wicked nations.

Nahum 2 9 Context

Nahum 2:9 is situated within the prophetic oracle against Nineveh, the formidable capital of the Assyrian Empire. Chapter 2 vividly describes the detailed assault and subsequent downfall of Nineveh, depicting its warriors in disarray, its defenses breached, and its populace overwhelmed by panic and slaughter. Verse 9 serves as a triumphant proclamation of the outcome of this divine judgment, emphasizing the immense spoils that will be seized from the defeated city. Historically, Assyria was a cruel and oppressive empire, having previously conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and subjugated Judah, boasting of its accumulated wealth derived from extensive conquests and plunder. The prophecy in Nahum, likely delivered around the late 7th century BC, comforted the people of Judah by assuring them that the God of Israel would justly repay their oppressor, leading to the historical fall of Nineveh to the Babylonians and Medes in 612 BC.

Nahum 2 9 Word analysis

• Plunder (בֹּ֥זוּ - bōzū): This is an imperative verb, "plunder ye!" or "take spoil!". It's a forceful command, implying active seizure of spoils. In a broader Biblical context, divine judgment often involves the reversal of fortunes where the oppressor becomes the plundered, reflecting God's justice. This act of plundering is not chaotic theft, but an outworking of God's righteous decree against a nation that itself gained wealth through plundering.
• silver! (כֶּ֫סֶף - kesep): A highly valuable commodity in the ancient Near East, used for currency, trade, and luxury items.
• Plunder (בֹּזּ֕וּ - bōzū): The repetition of the imperative "plunder" highlights the vastness and the accessibility of the wealth. It is a dual command, reinforcing the intensity and magnitude of the spoil. This repetition is a literary device to create emphasis.
• gold! (זָהָ֣ב - zāhāv): Even more precious than silver, symbolizing ultimate wealth and status. Its pairing with "silver" covers the full spectrum of valuable metals.
• For (כִּ֣י - kî): This conjunction introduces the reason or justification for the preceding imperative command. It explains why the plundering should occur so extensively.
• there is no end (אֵ֥ין קֵצֶה֙ - ʾēn qēṣeh): Emphasizes the immeasurable quantity of wealth. It conveys the concept of boundless abundance, indicating Nineveh's staggering riches accumulated over centuries of imperial conquest and exploitation.
• of the treasure (תְּכוּלָ֔ה - təkûlâ): This rare Hebrew word refers to "provision," "supply," or "store," specifically accumulated wealth or provisions. It denotes reserves that have been stockpiled.
• or of the wealth (וְכָב֔וֹד - vĕkāvôd): Literally "and glory" or "and splendor." While kāvôd often refers to honor or divine glory, it is also used for substantial riches, costly possessions, and splendid array, especially as the outcome of power or status (e.g., Ps 49:16). Here, it implies the material grandeur and valuable possessions that made up Nineveh's "glory."
• from all desirable articles (מִכֹּ֥ל כְּלִ֥י חֶמְדָּֽה - mikkōl kĕlî ḥemdâ): This phrase further specifies the nature of the wealth.
  • all (mikkōl): Indicates comprehensiveness, nothing of value would be left out.
  • articles (kĕlî): Refers to vessels, instruments, or implements; here it means valuable objects or crafted items.
  • desirable (ḥemdâ): Denotes that which is coveted, precious, or delightful. It highlights the high value and appeal of the objects. It implicitly critiques Nineveh's focus on collecting what was merely desirable to man, rather than that which honored God.

Words-group analysis:

• "Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!": This exclamatory, repeated command emphasizes the urgency and thoroughness of the anticipated looting. It also signifies a divine endorsement of this act as an instrument of judgment against an empire whose wealth was likely gained through violence and oppression.
• "For there is no end of the treasure, or of the wealth from all desirable articles.": This explains the prior command, asserting the sheer immensity of Nineveh's accumulated riches. It underscores the justification for the total confiscation – there is so much, and it is all 'desirable', making the city an irresistible target for plunder and underscoring its materialism. The language reflects Nineveh's arrogant trust in its vast resources.

Nahum 2 9 Bonus section

• The overwhelming abundance of Nineveh's wealth, implied by "no end," contrasts sharply with Israel's instruction against hoarding wealth, and points to Assyria's excessive pride and covetousness as a contributor to its downfall.
• The "desirable articles" (kelî ḥemdâ) likely included sacred vessels and artifacts plundered from other nations, potentially including those from Israel and Judah, making their recovery or re-appropriation a further act of justice.
• This passage demonstrates the theological principle of lex talionis (law of retaliation) in a national context: Assyria plundered others, and so it would be plundered.
• The judgment of Nineveh serves as a prefigurement of the ultimate downfall of all oppressive worldly systems and their material power, as seen in the New Testament descriptions of "Babylon the Great."

Nahum 2 9 Commentary

Nahum 2:9 functions as a powerful declaration of God's just recompense against the wicked empire of Assyria, epitomized by its capital, Nineveh. The imperative "Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!" is not an arbitrary command but a divine decree, signifying the total reversal of fortunes. Nineveh, which had for centuries plundered other nations, amassing an unprecedented quantity of "treasure" and "desirable articles" through brutal conquest, would now itself be utterly plundered. The emphasis on the endlessness of this wealth serves to highlight Nineveh's opulent materialism and pride, illustrating that all its material security, garnered through human strength and aggression, would be no defense against the judgment of the Almighty. This prophecy would have been a source of great comfort and vindication for Judah, reassuring them of God's sovereignty over history and His unwavering commitment to justice.