The Meaning of Nahum 2:1 Explained

Nahum 2:1

KJV: He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.

YLT: Come up hath a scatterer to thy face, Keep the bulwark, watch the way, Strengthen the loins, strengthen power mightily.

Darby: He that dasheth in pieces is come up against thy face: keep the fortress, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.

ASV: He that dasheth in pieces is come up against thee: keep the fortress, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that dasheth in pieces  is come up  before thy face:  keep  the munition,  watch  the way,  make [thy] loins  strong,  fortify  [thy] power  mightily. 

What does Nahum 2:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Nahum turned from addressing the people of Judah to the people of Nineveh. He used the Hebrew prophetic perfect tense, which predicts future events as though they were past, to heighten belief in their certainty. One who would scatter would come up against Nineveh. "Scatterer" is a common figure for a victorious king (cf. Psalm 68:1; Isaiah 24:1; Jeremiah 52:8). Consequently the Ninevites should man their fortress, watch the road for the coming invader, and strengthen themselves. These measures would prove futile because the Lord would destroy the city. Nahum was speaking ironically. This section has been called "a taunt song." [1]
"Sennacherib had spent no less than six years building his armory, which occupied a terraced area of forty acres. It was enlarged further by Esarhaddon and contained all the weaponry required for the extension and maintenance of the Assyrian empire: bows, arrows, quivers, chariots, wagons, armor, horses, mules, and equipment (cf. Ezekiel 23:24; Ezekiel 39:9). The royal "road" had been enlarged by Sennacherib to a breadth of seventy-eight feet, facilitating the movement of troops." [2]
Even though the Ninevites did all these things they could not escape overthrow. The invader proved to be Cyaxeres the Mede and Nabopolassar the Babylonian. [3] However, the "scatterer" behind them was Yahweh.

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 2:1 mean?

Has come up He who scatters before your face Man the fort Watch the road Strengthen [your] flanks Fortify [your] power mightily
עָלָ֥ה מֵפִ֛יץ עַל־ פָּנַ֖יִךְ נָצ֣וֹר מְצֻרָ֑ה צַפֵּה־ דֶ֙רֶךְ֙ חַזֵּ֣ק מָתְנַ֔יִם אַמֵּ֥ץ כֹּ֖חַ מְאֹֽד

עָלָ֥ה  Has  come  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
מֵפִ֛יץ  He  who  scatters 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: פּוּץ 
Sense: to scatter, be dispersed, be scattered.
עַל־  before 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
פָּנַ֖יִךְ  your  face 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person feminine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
נָצ֣וֹר  Man 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: נְצוּרִים 
Sense: to guard, watch, watch over, keep.
מְצֻרָ֑ה  the  fort 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְצוּרָה 
Sense: siege-works, stronghold, rampart.
צַפֵּה־  Watch 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: צָפָה  
Sense: to look out or about, spy, keep watch, observe, watch.
דֶ֙רֶךְ֙  the  road 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
חַזֵּ֣ק  Strengthen 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
מָתְנַ֔יִם  [your]  flanks 
Parse: Noun, md
Root: מָתְנַיִם  
Sense: loins, hips.
אַמֵּ֥ץ  Fortify 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: אָמֵץ  
Sense: to be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, hard.
כֹּ֖חַ  [your]  power 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּחַ 
Sense: strength, power, might.
מְאֹֽד  mightily 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.