The Meaning of Nahum 2:3 Explained

Nahum 2:3

KJV: 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.

YLT: The 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.

Darby: The 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.

ASV: The 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.

Discover Nahum 2:3

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Nahum 2:3?

MEANING: What does Nahum 2:3 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Nahum 2:3 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Nahum 2:3?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Nahum 2:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Nahum again focused on the destroyer (scatterer) of Nineveh (cf. Nahum 2:1). He described the siege and capture of Nineveh. The shields and uniforms of the soldiers who invaded Nineveh would be red. This was, really, a favorite color of the Median and Babylonian armies (cf. Ezekiel 23:14). [1] However, they may have been red with blood and or from the copper that they used to cover both shields and uniforms. [2] Nahum saw the invading chariots flashing with steel. Scythed chariots were in use at this time in the ancient Near East, chariots with steel blades protruding from them and their wheels. [1] Spears made out of cypress (pine) were long and straight, and Nineveh"s invaders would brandish them showing their readiness for battle. [4]

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 2:3 mean?

The shields of his mighty men [are] made red the men [are] valiant in scarlet with flaming torches the chariots [come] in the day of his preparation and the spears are brandished
מָגֵ֨ן גִּבֹּרֵ֜יהוּ מְאָדָּ֗ם אַנְשֵׁי־ חַ֙יִל֙ מְתֻלָּעִ֔ים בְּאֵשׁ־ פְּלָד֥וֹת הָרֶ֖כֶב בְּי֣וֹם הֲכִינ֑וֹ וְהַבְּרֹשִׁ֖ים הָרְעָֽלוּ

מָגֵ֨ן  The  shields 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: מָגֵן 
Sense: shield, buckler.
גִּבֹּרֵ֜יהוּ  of  his  mighty  men 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
מְאָדָּ֗ם  [are]  made  red 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אָדֵם  
Sense: to be red, red.
אַנְשֵׁי־  the  men  [are] 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
חַ֙יִל֙  valiant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חַיִל 
Sense: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army.
מְתֻלָּעִ֔ים  in  scarlet 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Participle, masculine plural
Root: תָּלַע  
Sense: (Pual) to clad in scarlet, be wearing scarlet.
בְּאֵשׁ־  with  flaming 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
פְּלָד֥וֹת  torches 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: פְּלָדֹת  
Sense: iron, steel.
הָרֶ֖כֶב  the  chariots  [come] 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֶכֶב  
Sense: a team, chariot, chariotry, mill-stone, riders.
בְּי֣וֹם  in  the  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הֲכִינ֑וֹ  of  his  preparation 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
וְהַבְּרֹשִׁ֖ים  and  the  spears 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: בְּרֹושׁ  
Sense: cypress, fir, juniper, pine.
הָרְעָֽלוּ  are  brandished 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: רָעַל  
Sense: to quiver, shake, reel.

What are the major concepts related to Nahum 2:3?

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Similar Scriptures for Nahum 2:3

Ezekiel 23:14-15 [3]
Revelation 6:4 [2]
Revelation 12:3 [2]
Zechariah 6:2 [2]
Zechariah 11:2 [2]
Zechariah 1:8 [2]
Isaiah 63:1-3 [2]
Isaiah 14:8 [2]