Nahum 2:3
in Nahum 2The shields of his mighty men are red; the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariots flash like fire on the day they are prepared, and the spears of cypress have been brandished.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots flash with steel in the day of his preparation, and the cypress spears are brandished.
KJV
The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
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This verse in Nahum 2
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Army is arrayed against army; the armies, thus far, of God against the army of His enemy; all without is order; all within, confusion. The assailing army, from its compactness and unity, is spoken of, both as many and one. The might is of many; the order and singleness of purpose is as of one. The shield, collectively, not shields. “His mighty men;” He, who was last spoken of, was Almighty God, as He says in Isaiah; “I have commanded My consecrated ones; I have also called My mighty ones, them that rejoice in My highness” Isa 13:
This site's exposition
The shield of his mighty men is made red
on Nahum 2:3-5
The assault is painted in color and speed: shields red, valiant men in scarlet, chariots with flaming torches raging in the streets and justling in the broad ways, running like the lightnings. The commentators weigh the red, dyed shields or bronze catching sun or blood anticipated, and the readings stand named; the scarlet matches what the monuments show of the Medes and Babylonians who took the city. The recounted worthies stumbling in their walk carry the defense's panic inside the attack's momentum, one poem holding both armies.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Verse 3 and following) The shield of the strong is ablaze, the men of the army in scarlet; the fiery chariots are on the day of its preparation; and the drivers are asleep, they are disturbed on the journey, the chariots collide in the streets. Their appearance is like torches, like lightning running to and fro. They will remember their mighty men, they will rush on their way, they will quickly climb its walls, and the shelter will be prepared.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The shield of his mighty men is made red,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
English Version supposes a transposition of the Hebrew letters. It is better to translate the Hebrew as it is, "the chariots (shall be furnished) with fire-flashing scythes" (literally, "with the fire," or glitter, of iron weapons).
The shield of his mighty men is made red - These things may refer to the war-like preparations made by the Ninevites: they had red shields, and scarlet or purple clothing; their chariots were finely decorated, and proceeded with amazing rapidity. The fir trees shall be terribly shaken - This may refer to the darts, arrows, and javelins, flung with destructive power.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מָגֵ֨ן | magen | [the] shield of | H4043 → | |
| גִּבֹּרֵ֜יהוּ | giboreihu | warriors his | H1368 → | |
| מְאָדָּ֗ם | meadam | [is] dyed red | H119 → | |
| אַנְשֵׁי־ | ʾanshei- | men of | H582 → | |
| חַ֙יִל֙ | chayil | strength | H2428 → | |
| מְתֻלָּעִ֔ים | metulaim | [are] clothed in scarlet | H8529 → | |
| בְּאֵשׁ־ | beesh- | [are] in fire of | H784 → | 378 times |
| פְּלָד֥וֹת | peladot | iron<s> | H6393 → | |
| הָרֶ֖כֶב | harekhev | the chariotry | H7393 → | 119 times |
| בְּי֣וֹם | beyom | on [the] day | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| הֲכִינ֑וֹ | hakhino | prepares he | H3559 → | |
| וְהַבְּרֹשִׁ֖ים | vehaberoshim | and the cypresses | H1265 → | |
| הָרְעָֽלוּ׃ | harealu | they have been made to quiver | H7477 → |
מָגֵ֨ן[the] shield of
magenH4043 →
גִּבֹּרֵ֜יהוּwarriors his
giboreihuH1368 →
מְאָדָּ֗ם[is] dyed red
meadamH119 →
אַנְשֵׁי־men of
ʾanshei-H582 →
חַ֙יִל֙strength
chayilH2428 →
מְתֻלָּעִ֔ים[are] clothed in scarlet
metulaimH8529 →
בְּאֵשׁ־[are] in fire of
beesh-H784 →378 times
פְּלָד֥וֹתiron<s>
peladotH6393 →
הָרֶ֖כֶבthe chariotry
harekhevH7393 →119 times
בְּי֣וֹםon [the] day
beyomH3117 →2304 times
הֲכִינ֑וֹprepares he
hakhinoH3559 →
וְהַבְּרֹשִׁ֖יםand the cypresses
vehaberoshimH1265 →
הָרְעָֽלוּ׃they have been made to quiver
harealuH7477 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 12:3Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads.
it leads to
- Revelation 17:12
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings, along with the beast.
- Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
- Daniel 7:24
And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings.
- Daniel 7:20
I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn whose appearance was more imposing than the others,…
- Revelation 17:16
And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
- Revelation 17:12
Through
Revelation 6:4Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a…
it leads to
- Zechariah 6:2
The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses,
- Matthew 10:34
Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
- Zechariah 6:2
Through
Isaiah 14:8Even the cypresses and cedars of Lebanon exult over you: “Since you have been laid low, no woodcutter comes against us.”
it leads to
- Ezekiel 31:16
I made the nations quake at the sound of its downfall, when I cast it down to Sheol with those who descend to the Pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and…
- Ezekiel 31:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Nahum
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Carl Friedrich Keil, The Twelve Minor Prophets; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Nahum; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).