Nahum 2:8

New American Standard Bible (1995)

Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days, Now they are fleeing; "Stop, stop," But no one turns back.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Nineveh has been like a pool of waterfrom her first days,but they are fleeing.“Stop! Stop!” they cry,but no one turns back.

Hebrew Names Version
But Nineveh has been from of old like a pool of water, yet they flee away. "Stop! Stop!" they cry, but no one looks back.

King James Version (1611)
But Nineueh is of olde like a poole of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand shall they cry: but none shal looke backe.

King James Version
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.

English Standard Version
Nineveh is like a pool whose waters run away. "Halt! Halt!" they cry, but none turns back.

New American Standard Bible
Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days, Yet they are fleeing; "Stop, stop," But no one turns back.

New Century Version
Nineveh is like a pool, and now its water is draining away. "Stop! Stop!" the people yell, but no one turns back.

Amplified Bible
Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days, Now her inhabitants are fleeing; "Stop! Stop!" [a few cry,] But no one turns back.

Geneva Bible (1587)
But Nineueh is of olde like a poole of water: yet they shall flee away. Stande, stande, shall they crie: but none shall looke backe.

Legacy Standard Bible
Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days,Now they are fleeing;"Stand! Stand!"But no one turns back.

Berean Standard Bible
Nineveh 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.

Contemporary English Version
Nineveh is like a pond with leaking water. Shouts of "Stop! Don't go!" can be heard everywhere. But everyone is leaving.

Complete Jewish Bible
Its mistress is stripped and carried away; her handmaids moan, they sound like doves, as they beat their breasts.

Darby Translation
Nineveh hath been like a pool of water, since the day she existed, yet they flee away. … Stand! Stand! But none looketh back.

Easy-to-Read Version
Nineveh is like a pool whose water is draining away. People yell, "Stop! Stop running away!" But it does not do any good.

George Lamsa Translation
And Nineveh is like a lake, and she is situated by the waters; her warriors flee away. Make a stand, make a stand, their officers cry; but none turns back.

Good News Translation
Like water from a broken dam the people rush from Nineveh! "Stop! Stop!" the cry rings out— but no one turns back.

Lexham English Bible
Nineveh is like a pool of water without its water. As they flee, she cries, "Stop! Stop!" But there is no one who turns back.

Literal Translation
And Nineveh is like a pool of water from her days; yet they are fleeing. They cry , Stand! Stand! But no one turns himself.

American Standard Version
But Nineveh hath been from of old like a pool of water: yet they flee away. Stand, stand, they cry; but none looketh back.

Bible in Basic English
But Nineveh is like a pool of water whose waters are flowing away; Keep your place, they say; but no one is turning back.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the queen is uncovered, she is carried away, and her handmaids moan as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Yea many a day Niniue was as a ponde full of water, yet [now] they flee, Stand ye, stande ye, and no man loketh backe.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And as for Nineve, her waters shall be as a pool of water: and they fled, and staid not, and there was none to look back.

English Revised Version
But Nineveh hath been from of old like a pool of water: yet they flee away; Stand, stand, they cry; but none looketh back.

World English Bible
But Nineveh has been from of old like a pool of water, yet they flee away. "Stop! Stop!" they cry, but no one looks back.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Nynyue, as a cisterne of watris the watris therof; forsothe thei fledden; stonde ye, stonde ye, and there is not that schal turne ayen.

Update Bible Version
But Nineveh has been from of old like a pool of water: yet they flee away. Stand, stand, [they cry]; but none looks back.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

New English Translation
Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days, but now her people are running away; she cries out: "Stop! Stop!"— but no one turns back.

New King James Version
Though Nineveh of old was like a pool of water, Now they flee away. "Halt! Halt!" they cry; But no one turns back.

New Living Translation
Nineveh is like a leaking water reservoir! The people are slipping away. "Stop, stop!" someone shouts, but no one even looks back.

New Life Bible
Nineveh is like a pool, where water runs away. "Stop! Stop!" they cry. But no one turns back.

New Revised Standard
Nineveh is like a pool whose waters run away. "Halt! Halt!"— but no one turns back.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Yet, as for Nineveh, like a reservoir of waters, are her waters, - but, those men, are in flight! Stand! stand but no one is turning.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And as for Ninive, her waters are like a great pool: but the men flee away. They cry: Stand, stand, but there is none that will return back.

Revised Standard Version
Nin'eveh is like a pool whose waters run away. "Halt! Halt!" they cry; but none turns back.

Young's Literal Translation
And Nineveh [is] as a pool of waters, From of old it [is] -- and they are fleeing! `Stand ye, stand;' and none is turning!

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Niniue is like a pole full of water, but then shal they be fayne to fle. Stonde, stode, (shal they crie) & there shal not one turne backe.

Contextual Overview

¹ The one who scatters has come up against you. Man the fortress, watch the road; Strengthen your back, summon all your strength. ² For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob Like the splendor of Israel, Even though devastators have devastated them And destroyed their vine branches. ³ The shields of his mighty men are colored red, The warriors are dressed in scarlet, The chariots are enveloped in flashing steel When he is prepared to march, And the cypress spears are brandished. ⁴ The chariots race madly in the streets, They rush wildly in the squares, Their appearance is like torches, They dash to and fro like lightning flashes. ⁵ He remembers his nobles; They stumble in their march, They hurry to her wall, And the mantelet is set up. ⁶ The gates of the rivers are opened And the palace is dissolved. ⁷ It is fixed: She is stripped, she is carried away, And her handmaids are moaning like the sound of doves, Beating on their breasts. ⁸ Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days, Now they are fleeing; "Stop, stop," But no one turns back.⁹ Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold! For there is no limit to the treasure— Wealth from every kind of desirable object. ¹⁰ She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and waste! Hearts are melting and knees knocking! Also anguish is in the whole body And all their faces are grown pale!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

of old: or, from the days that she hath been, Genesis 10:11

like: Jeremiah 51:13, Revelation 17:1, Revelation 17:15

Stand: Nahum 3:17, Isaiah 13:14, Isaiah 47:13, Isaiah 48:20, Jeremiah 50:16, Jeremiah 51:30

look back: or, cause them to turn

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 19:36 - Nineveh Jeremiah 46:5 - fled apace Jeremiah 50:36 - her mighty Ezekiel 31:15 - I caused a Nahum 1:8 - the place

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.

Genesis 2:9
Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 3:24
So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

Genesis 4:16
Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Genesis 13:10
Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar.

2 Kings 19:12
'Did the gods of those nations which my fathers destroyed deliver them, even Gozan and Haran and Rezeph and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar?

Isaiah 51:3
Indeed, the LORD will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places. And her wilderness He will make like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in her, Thanksgiving and sound of a melody.

Ezekiel 27:23
"Haran, Canneh, Eden, the traders of Sheba, Asshur and Chilmad traded with you.

Ezekiel 28:13
"You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the day that you were created They were prepared.

Ezekiel 31:16
"I made the nations quake at the sound of its fall when I made it go down to Sheol with those who go down to the pit; and all the well-watered trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, were comforted in the earth beneath.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But Nineveh [is] of old like a pool of water,.... This was a very ancient city, built by Nimrod, as some say; or rather by Ashur, as appears from Genesis 10:10 and it was like fish pool, full of people, as it was in the times of Jonah, who for their number may be compared both to water and to fish; and likewise full of wealth and riches, which for their instability may be signified by water also; and moreover, like a pool of standing water, had never been liable to any commotions and disturbances, but had remained from the beginning in a tranquil and prosperous state; besides, some regard may be had in a literal sense to its situation, being watered by the river Tigris, and which was for its profit and defence: so some copies of the Septuagint read the words,

"Nineveh is like a pool of water, the waters are her walls:''

and the Syriac version is,

"Nineveh is as a lake of water, and is among the waters;''

see Nahum 1:6:

yet they shall flee away; the waters out of the pool, the sluices being opened, or the banks broken down; or the people out of the city, breaches being made in its walls, or its gates opened, and the enemy entering; when everyone would flee for his life, and make his escape in the best manner he could:

stand, stand, [shall they cry]; either the generals and officers of the king of Assyria's army, to the soldiers running away; or the more courageous inhabitants of the city, to those that were timorous and seized with a panic, fleeing in the utmost consternation; or the enemy, as Kimchi, who shall call to them to stop, promising to spare their lives upon a surrender of them to them:

but none shall look back; and stand to hear what is said unto them, but make the best of their way, and flee with all their might and main.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water - that is, of many peoples Revelation 17:1, gathered from all quarters and settled there, her multitudes being like the countless drops, full, untroubled, with no ebb or flow, fenced in, “from the days that she hath been,” yet even therefore stagnant and corrupted (see Jeremiah 48:11), not “a fountain of living waters,” during 600 years of unbroken empire; even lately it had been assailed in vain ; now its hour was come, the sluices were broken; the waters poured out. It was full not of citizens only, but of other nations poured into it. An old historian says , “The chief and most powerful of those whom Ninus settled there, were the Assyrians, but also, of other nations, whoever willed.” Thus, the pool was filled; but at the rebuke of the Lord they flee. “Stand, stand,” the prophet speaks in the name of the widowed city; “shut the gates, go up on the walls, resist the enemy, gather yourselves together, form a band to withstand,” “but none shalt look back” to the mother-city which calls them; all is forgotten, except their fear; parents, wives, children, the wealth which is plundered, home, worldly repute. So will men leave all things, for the life of this world. “All that a man hath, will he give for his life” Job 2:4. Why not for the life to come?

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

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.