Nahum 2 · Verse 3

Nahum 2:3

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.
Nahum 2:3, King James Version

Nahum 2:3 in other translations

BSBThe 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.
WEBThe 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 pine spears are brandished.
ASVThe 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.
YLTThe shield of his mighty ones is become red, Men of might are in scarlet, With fiery torches is the chariot in a day of his preparation, And the firs have been caused to tremble.
DARBYThe shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots glitter with the sheen of steel, in the day of his preparation, and the spears are brandished.
BBEThe body-covers of his fighting men have been made red, the men of war are clothed in bright red: the war-carriages are like flames of fire in the day when he gets ready, the horses are shaking.
WebsterThe 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.

What does Nahum 2:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. his mighty men--the Medo-Babylonian general's mighty men attacking Nineveh. made red--The ancients dyed their bull's-hide shields red, partly to strike terror into the enemy, chiefly lest the blood from wounds which they might receive should be perceived and give confidence to the foe [Calvin]. G. V. Smith conjectures that the reference is to the red reflection of the sun's rays from shields of bronze or copper, such as are found among the Assyrian remains. in scarlet--or crimson military tunics (compare Mt 27:28). Xenophon mentions that the Medes were fond of this color. The Lydians and Tyrians extracted the dye from a particular worm. chariots ... with flaming torches--that is, the chariots shall be like flaming torches, their wheels in lightning-like rapidity of rotation flashing light and striking sparks from the stones over which they pass (compare Is 5:28). 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). Iron scythes were fixed at right angles to the axles and turned down, or parallel to it, inserted into the felly of the wheel. The Medes, perhaps, had such chariots, though no traces of them are found in Assyrian remains. On account of the latter fact, it may be better to translate, "the chariots (shall come) with the glitter of steel weapons" [Maurer and G. V. Smith]. in the day of his preparation--Jehovah's (Is 13:3). Or, "Medo-Babylonian commander's day of preparation for the attack" (Na 2:1). "He" confirms this, and "his" in this verse. the fir trees--their fir-tree lances. terribly shaken--branded so as to strike terror. Or, "shall be tremulous with being brandished" [Maurer].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Nahum 2:1-10

Nineveh shall not put aside this judgment; there is no counsel or strength against the Lord. God looks upon proud cities, and brings them down. Particular account is given of the terrors wherein the invading enemy shall appear against Nineveh. The empire of Assyria is represented as a queen, about to be led captive to Babylon. Guilt in the conscience fills men with terror in an evil day; and what will treasures or…

Read the full comment on Nahum 2:1-10 →

Nahum 2:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מָגֵ֨ןma.Gen[the] shield ofH4043
גִּבֹּרֵ֜יהוּgi.bo.Rei.huwarriors hisH1368
מְאָדָּ֗םme.'a.Dam[is] dyed redH119
אַנְשֵׁי\־'an.shei-men ofH582
חַ֙יִל֙cha.yilstrengthH2428
מְתֻלָּעִ֔יםme.tu.la.'Im[are] clothed in scarletH8529
בְּאֵשׁ\־be.'esh-[are] in fire ofH784
פְּלָד֥וֹתpe.la.Dotiron<s>H6393
הָרֶ֖כֶבha.Re.khevthe chariotryH7393
בְּי֣וֹםbe.Yomon [the] dayH3117
הֲכִינ֑וֹha.khi.Noprepares heH3559
וְהַבְּרֹשִׁ֖יםve.ha.be.ro.Shimand the cypressesH1265
הָרְעָֽלוּ\׃ha.re.'A.luthey have been made to quiverH7477

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Nahum 2:3

  • Ezekiel 23:14-15

    And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion, Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them princes to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity:

  • Isaiah 63:1-3

    Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

  • Zechariah 1:8

    I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.

  • Zechariah 11:2

    Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.

  • Zechariah 6:2

    In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;

  • Revelation 12:3

    And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

  • Revelation 6:4

    And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

  • Isaiah 14:8

    Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
made.
Isa 63:1-3; Zec 1:8; 6:2; Re 6:4; 12:3
in scarlet. or, dyed scarlet. flaming. or, fiery. the firtree.
Isa 14:8; Zec 11:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Nahum 2:2

    For the Lord hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.

  • Nahum 2:3

    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.

  • Nahum 2:4

    The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.

Read all of Nahum 2

Nahum 2:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El escudo de sus valientes será bermejo, los varones de su ejército vestidos de grana: el carro como fuego de hachas; el día que se aparejará, temblarán las hayas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car l’ Éternel a ramené la gloire de Jacob comme la gloire d’Israël; car ceux qui dépouillent les ont dépouillés et ont gâté leurs sarments.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Schilde seiner Helden sind gerötet, die tapferen Männer sind in Karmesin gekleidet, die Wagen glänzen von Stahl am Tage seines Rüstens, und die Lanzen werden geschwungen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Clypeus fortium ejus ignitus, viri exercitus in coccineis; igneæ habenæ currus in die præparationis ejus, et agitatores consopiti sunt.