The Meaning of Nahum 2:10 Explained

Nahum 2:10

KJV: She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.

YLT: She is empty, yea, emptiness and waste, And the heart hath melted, And the knees have smitten together, And great pain is in all loins, And the faces of all of them have gathered paleness.

Darby: She is empty, and void, and waste; and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and writhing pain is in all loins, and all their faces grow pale.

ASV: She is empty, and void, and waste; and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and anguish is in all loins, and the faces of them all are waxed pale.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

She is empty,  and void,  and waste:  and the heart  melteth,  and the knees  smite together,  and much pain  [is] in all loins,  and the faces  of them all gather  blackness. 

What does Nahum 2:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The invaders would empty Nineveh of her treasures, and it would become a desolate wasteland. The Hebrew words in the first part of this verse sound like water flowing out of a bottle when read aloud, a literary device called onomatopoeia. Even the sound of the description of Nineveh"s fall reinforced the prophecy. Hearts would melt and knees knock when people would observe its overthrow. Anguish would grip the whole body of observers and their faces would go pale. If Nineveh could fall, would anything be secure?

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 2:10 mean?

She is empty and desolate and waste and the heart melts and shake the knees and [Much] pain [is] in every side and faces all their are drained of color
בּוּקָ֥ה וּמְבוּקָ֖ה ! וּמְבֻלָּקָ֑ה וְלֵ֨ב נָמֵ֜ס וּפִ֣ק בִּרְכַּ֗יִם וְחַלְחָלָה֙ בְּכָל־ מָתְנַ֔יִם וּפְנֵ֥י כֻלָּ֖ם קִבְּצ֥וּ פָארֽוּר

בּוּקָ֥ה  She  is  empty 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: בּוּקָה  
Sense: emptiness.
וּמְבוּקָ֖ה  and  desolate 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְבוּקָה  
Sense: emptiness, void.
! וּמְבֻלָּקָ֑ה  and  waste 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Pual, Participle, feminine singular
Root: בָּלַק 
Sense: to waste, lay waste, devastate.
וְלֵ֨ב  and  the  heart 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
נָמֵ֜ס  melts 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מָסַס  
Sense: to dissolve, melt.
וּפִ֣ק  and  shake 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פִּק  
Sense: tottering, staggering, stagger, stumble.
בִּרְכַּ֗יִם  the  knees 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: בֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: knee.
וְחַלְחָלָה֙  and  [Much]  pain  [is] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חַלְחָלָה  
Sense: pain, trembling, terror, writhing, anguish.
בְּכָל־  in  every 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מָתְנַ֔יִם  side 
Parse: Noun, md
Root: מָתְנַיִם  
Sense: loins, hips.
וּפְנֵ֥י  and  faces 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
כֻלָּ֖ם  all  their 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
קִבְּצ֥וּ  are  drained 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: קָבַץ  
Sense: to gather, assemble.
פָארֽוּר  of  color 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: פָּארוּר  
Sense: glow, heat.