The Meaning of Nahum 2:8 Explained

Nahum 2:8

KJV: But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.

YLT: And Nineveh is as a pool of waters, From of old it is -- and they are fleeing! 'Stand ye, stand;' and none is turning!

Darby: Nineveh hath been like a pool of water, since the day she existed, yet they flee away. ... Stand! Stand! But none looketh back.

ASV: But Nineveh hath been from of old like a pool of water: yet they flee away. Stand, stand, they cry ; but none looketh back.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But Nineveh  [is] of old  like a pool  of water:  yet they shall flee away.  Stand,  stand,  [shall they cry]; but none shall look back. 

What does Nahum 2:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Nineveh had been as placid as the waters around the city for most of her history. This is the first explicit reference to Nineveh since Nahum 1:1, yet because of Nahum 1:1 we know that the prophet"s revelations of destruction dealt with Nineveh. Nahum now saw it inundated with water and enemy soldiers and its inhabitants fleeing in panic, like water gushing from a broken dam. Someone might call to them to stop, perhaps to defend the city, but no one would turn back.

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 2:8 mean?

And Though Nineveh like a pool of water of old was and they flee away Halt Halt [they cry] but no one turns back
וְנִינְוֵ֥ה כִבְרֵֽכַת־ מַ֖יִם מִ֣ימֵי הִ֑יא וְהֵ֣מָּה נָסִ֔ים עִמְד֥וּ עֲמֹ֖דוּ וְאֵ֥ין מַפְנֶֽה

וְנִינְוֵ֥ה  And  Though  Nineveh 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: נִינְוֵה  
Sense: capital of the ancient kingdom of Assyria; located on the east bank of the Tigris river, 550 miles (880 km) from its mouth and 250 miles (400 km) north of Babylon.
כִבְרֵֽכַת־  like  a  pool 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בְּרֵכָה  
Sense: pool, pond.
מַ֖יִם  of  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
מִ֣ימֵי  of  old 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וְהֵ֣מָּה  and  they 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
נָסִ֔ים  flee  away 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: נוּס  
Sense: to flee, escape.
עִמְד֥וּ  Halt 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
עֲמֹ֖דוּ  Halt  [they  cry] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
וְאֵ֥ין  but  no  one 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
מַפְנֶֽה  turns  back 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: פֹּונֶה 
Sense: to turn.