The Meaning of Nahum 2:13 Explained

Nahum 2:13

KJV: Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.

YLT: Lo, I am against thee, An affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts, And I have burned in smoke its chariot, And thy young lions consume doth a sword, And I have cut off from the land thy prey, And not heard any more is the voice of thy messengers!

Darby: Behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts: and I will burn her chariots into smoke; and the sword shall devour thy young lions, and I will cut off thy prey from the earth; and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.

ASV: Behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions; and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Behold, I [am] against thee, saith  the LORD  of hosts,  and I will burn  her chariots  in the smoke,  and the sword  shall devour  thy young lions:  and I will cut off  thy prey  from the earth,  and the voice  of thy messengers  shall no more be heard. 

What does Nahum 2:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Nahum closed this message with a word from Yahweh in which the Lord verbalized His antagonism toward Nineveh. What a terrible fate it is to have almighty Yahweh say, "I am against you!" (cf. Nahum 3:5; Jeremiah 21:13; Jeremiah 50:31; Jeremiah 51:25; Ezekiel 5:8; Ezekiel 13:8; Ezekiel 26:3; Ezekiel 28:22; Ezekiel 39:1; Romans 8:31). He promised to destroy Nineveh"s instruments of warfare. Invading armies would slay her young men. She would no longer devour other peoples like a lion does its prey. And messengers would no longer leave Nineveh with threats and to demand submission and taxes (cf. 2 Kings 18:17-25; 2 Kings 19:22; Isaiah 37:4; Isaiah 37:6).

Context Summary

Nahum 2:1-13 - A Cruel City To Be Overthrown
This is a prophetic foreview of the overthrow of Nineveh by the Medo-Babylonians. God had used her for the chastisement of His people; now, in turn, she must be cast away for her sins. The attacking soldiers wore crimson tunics, and the chariot wheels were armed with scythes, that flashed as they revolved. The streets might be filled with chariots mustering for defence, but all must be in vain since the scaling-ladders were already against the walls, and the gates of the rivers would soon be opened. Huzzab was Nineveh's queen, and represents the condition of the city, going into captivity as a slave, with bare face and legs. Note the comparison of Nineveh to a den of lions filled with bones. Fire and sword completed her ruin. This is the lot of the enemies of God's people. See Isaiah 54:16-17. But if God is true to His threatenings, how much more is He true to His promises! [source]

Chapter Summary: Nahum 2

1  The fearful and victorious armies of God against Nineveh

What do the individual words in Nahum 2:13 mean?

Behold I [am] against you says Yahweh of hosts and I will burn in smoke your chariots and your young lions shall devour the sword and I will cut off from the earth your prey and no shall be heard More the voice of your messengers -
הִנְנִ֣י אֵלַ֗יִךְ נְאֻם֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת וְהִבְעַרְתִּ֤י בֶֽעָשָׁן֙ רִכְבָּ֔הּ וּכְפִירַ֖יִךְ תֹּ֣אכַל חָ֑רֶב וְהִכְרַתִּ֤י מֵאֶ֙רֶץ֙ טַרְפֵּ֔ךְ וְלֹֽא־ יִשָּׁמַ֥ע ע֖וֹד ק֥וֹל מַלְאָכֵֽכֵה ס

הִנְנִ֣י  Behold  I  [am] 
Parse: Interjection, first person common singular
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
אֵלַ֗יִךְ  against  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
נְאֻם֙  says 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צְבָא֔וֹת  of  hosts 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
וְהִבְעַרְתִּ֤י  and  I  will  burn 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּעַר 
Sense: to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled.
בֶֽעָשָׁן֙  in  smoke 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׁן  
Sense: smoke.
רִכְבָּ֔הּ  your  chariots 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: רֶכֶב  
Sense: a team, chariot, chariotry, mill-stone, riders.
וּכְפִירַ֖יִךְ  and  your  young  lions 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person feminine singular
Root: כְּפִיר 
Sense: young lion.
תֹּ֣אכַל  shall  devour 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
חָ֑רֶב  the  sword 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
וְהִכְרַתִּ֤י  and  I  will  cut  off 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: כָּרַת  
Sense: to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant.
מֵאֶ֙רֶץ֙  from  the  earth 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
טַרְפֵּ֔ךְ  your  prey 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person feminine singular
Root: טֶרֶף  
Sense: prey, food, leaf.
וְלֹֽא־  and  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִשָּׁמַ֥ע  shall  be  heard 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
ע֖וֹד  More 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
ק֥וֹל  the  voice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
מַלְאָכֵֽכֵה  of  your  messengers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person feminine singular
Root: מַלְאָךְ  
Sense: messenger, representative.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation