What does Nahum 2:5 mean?
"He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared." - Nahum 2:5
Nahum 2:5 (KJV) - "He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared."
The book of Nahum is a prophetic book in the Hebrew Bible, it is often considered a part of the "Twelve Minor Prophets." The book of Nahum contains a collection of oracles and prophecies against the city of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. The passage Nahum 2:5 provides a vivid and powerful description of the downfall and destruction of Nineveh.
The verse begins with the phrase "He shall recount his worthies." This phrase refers to the leader or ruler of Nineveh who is recounting his mighty warriors and leaders. The proud and boastful leader is recalling his trusted and esteemed advisors as well as his renowned and brave warriors. This serves as a reminder of the power and strength that Nineveh once possessed. However, the following lines in the verse indicate that this strength and power will soon falter and crumble.
The phrase "they shall stumble in their walk" suggests that despite their formidable reputation, Nineveh's warriors will falter and fail. Their confident and assured strides will turn into stumbling and faltering steps. This imagery highlights the impending downfall and defeat of Nineveh. The once powerful and influential warriors will lose their strength and confidence, ultimately leading to their defeat.
The next part of the verse describes the panic and chaos that will ensue in Nineveh as the enemies approach. The warriors will "make haste to the wall thereof" in a desperate attempt to defend the city. This frantic and hurried movement portrays the impending doom and destruction that will befall Nineveh. The once proud and secure city will be thrown into disarray and panic as the enemies close in.
The final line of the verse, "and the defence shall be prepared," serves as a grim conclusion to the depiction of Nineveh's downfall. Despite their frantic attempts to defend the city, the efforts will be in vain. The once formidable defenses of Nineveh will be insufficient to protect the city from its impending destruction. This line serves as a powerful reminder of the inevitable defeat and downfall of Nineveh.
Symbolism plays a significant role in this verse. The "worthies" and "defence" represent the power and security that Nineveh once held. The mention of stumbling in their walk and making haste to the wall signifies the decline and impending destruction of this power. The verse serves as a powerful warning against pride, arrogance, and the fleeting nature of earthly strength and power.
The broader context of the book of Nahum includes the portrayal of God's judgment and wrath upon Nineveh. The city of Nineveh is depicted as a place of wickedness, violence, and oppression. The prophetic warnings and oracles in the book of Nahum serve as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the certainty of divine judgment. The verse Nahum 2:5 is a part of this larger narrative, emphasizing the inevitable downfall and destruction of Nineveh as a result of its sinful ways.
Overall, Nahum 2:5 (KJV) conveys a powerful and vivid image of the downfall and destruction of Nineveh. The verse serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of earthly power and the consequences of sin. It also emphasizes the inevitability of divine judgment and the ultimate triumph of God's justice. In this broader context, the verse Nahum 2:5 (KJV) serves as a warning against pride and arrogance, and a call to turn towards righteousness and repentance.
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Nahum 2:5 Artwork
Nahum 2:5 - "He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared."
"He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared." - Nahum 2:5
Nahum 2:4
Nahum 1:5 - "The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein."
Nahum 2:6 - "The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved."
Nahum 3:2 - "The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots."
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 2:9 - "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."
Nahum 2:12 - "The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin."
Nahum 1:2 - "God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies."
Nahum 3:5 - "Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame."
"The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved." - Nahum 2:6
Nahum 2:10 - "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."
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 2:7 - "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 2:11 - "Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid?"
"The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots." - Nahum 3:2
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."
Nahum 2:1 - "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."
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 rage in the streets, They jostle one another in the broad roads; They seem like torches, They run like lightning.
"The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein." - Nahum 1:5
"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 2:2
"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." - Nahum 2:9
"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
"The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin." - Nahum 2:12
"God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies." - Nahum 1:2
"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." - Nahum 2:10
"Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame." - Nahum 3:5
"Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid?" - Nahum 2:11