Nahum 2 · Verse 8

Nahum 2:8

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.
Nahum 2:8, King James Version

Nahum 2:8 in other translations

BSBNineveh has been like a pool of water throughout her days, but now it is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back.
WEBBut Nineveh has been from of old like a pool of water, yet they flee away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one looks back.
ASVBut Nineveh hath been from of old like a pool of water: yet they flee away. Stand, stand, they cry; but none looketh back.
YLTAnd Nineveh is as a pool of waters, From of old it is --and they are fleeing! ‘Stand ye, stand;' and none is turning!
DARBYNineveh hath been like a pool of water, since the day she existed, yet they flee away....Stand! Stand! But none looketh back.
BBEBut Nineveh is like a pool of water whose waters are flowing away; Keep your place, they say; but no one is turning back.
WebsterBut 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?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. But--rather, "Though" [G. V. Smith]. of old--rather, "from the days that she hath been"; from the earliest period of her existence. Alluding to Nineveh's antiquity (Ge 10:11). "Though Nineveh has been of old defended by water surrounding her, yet her inhabitants shall flee away." Grotius, less probably (compare Na 3:8-12), interprets, the "waters" of her numerous population (Is 8:7; Jr 51:13; Re 17:15). Stand, stand, shall they cry--that is, the few patriotic citizens shall cry to their fleeing countrymen; "but none looketh back," much less stops in flight, so panic-stricken are they.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water - מימי mimey, from days. Bp. Newcome translates the line thus: "And the waters of Nineveh are a pool of waters." There may be reference here to the fact given in the preceding note, the overflowing of the river by which the city was primarily destroyed. Stand, stand - Consternation shall be at its utmost height, the people shall flee in all directions; and though quarter is offered, and they are assured of safety it they remain, yet not one looketh back.

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 2:8 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.

וְנִינְוֵ֥הve.ni.ne.Vehand NinevehH5210
כִבְרֵֽכַת\־khiv.re.khat-[was] like a pool ofH1295
מַ֖יִםMa.yimwaterH4325
מִ֣ימֵיMi.meifrom [the] days ofH3117
הִ֑יאHi'itH1931
וְהֵ֣מָּהve.He.mahand theyH1992
נָסִ֔יםna.Sim[are] fleeingH5127
עִמְד֥וּ'im.DustopH5975
עֲמֹ֖דוּ'a.Mo.dustopH5975
וְאֵ֥יןve.'Einand there notH369
מַפְנֶֽה\׃maf.Neh[is one who] turns backH6437

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

Cross references for Nahum 2:8

  • Revelation 17:1

    And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

  • Isaiah 47:13

    Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.

  • Jeremiah 46:5

    Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the Lord.

  • Nahum 3:17

    Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.

  • Jeremiah 50:16

    Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.

  • Jeremiah 51:30

    The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken.

  • Jeremiah 51:13

    O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.

  • Isaiah 48:20

    Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob.

  • Genesis 10:11

    Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,

  • Revelation 17:15

    And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

  • Isaiah 13:14

    And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
of old. or, from the days that she hath been.
Ge 10:11
like.
Jer 51:13; Re 17:1,15
Stand.
3:17; Isa 13:14; 47:13; 48:20; Jer 50:16; 51:30
look back. or, cause them to turn.

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

Context

  • Nahum 2:7

    And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.

  • Nahum 2:8

    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.

  • Nahum 2:9

    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.

Read all of Nahum 2

Nahum 2:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y fué Nínive de tiempo antiguo como estanque de aguas; mas ellos huyen: Parad, parad; y ninguno mira.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
C’est arrêté: elle sera mise à nu, elle sera emmenée, et ses servantes gémiront comme la voix des colombes, en se frappant la poitrine.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Ninive war ja von jeher wie ein Wasserteich; und doch fliehen sie! Stehet, stehet! aber keiner sieht sich um.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et Ninive quasi piscina aquarum aquæ ejus; ipsi vero fugerunt. State, state! et non est qui revertatur.