Nahum 2:10 (KJV)

What does Nahum 2:10 mean?

Nahum 2:10 describes the complete ruin and terror that will come upon Nineveh: the city is left empty, devastated, and desolate, while its people are overcome with fear, weakness, and deep distress. The verse paints a vivid picture of total collapse, both in the city’s condition and in the emotional state of its inhabitants.

The prophet Nahum is speaking about the coming destruction of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as a warning and prophecy from God. The verse uses strong language to show how thorough and overwhelming the downfall will be: not only will the city itself be laid waste, but the people will be so frightened that their hearts fail, their knees shake, their bodies are wracked with pain, and their faces turn pale or dark with fear.

The Hebrew behind Nahum 2:10

• "empty" (בּוּקָה, buqah), "void" (וּמְבוּקָה, umevuqah), and "waste" (וּמְבֻלָּקָה, umevullaqah): These three words pile up to stress the total emptiness and destruction. The repetition and variety underline that nothing is left—no people, no goods, no hope.
• "the heart melteth" (וּמָס, umas, from מָס, mas): The Hebrew word often means to dissolve or lose courage, showing that the people’s inner strength has completely failed.
• "faces...gather blackness" (פְּנֵי כֻלָּם קִבְּצוּ פָארוּר, penei kullam qibbetzu pa'ur): The phrase can mean faces turning pale or dark with fear or shock, suggesting the visible effects of terror and despair.

Why Nahum 2:10 matters

• Nahum 2:10 makes clear the totality of Nineveh’s judgment: not just military defeat, but utter collapse of spirit and society.
• The verse emphasizes that the destruction is not only physical but also deeply emotional and psychological, affecting every part of the people’s being.
• This vivid description connects to the larger theme of Nahum, showing that even the mightiest empires can fall completely when judgment comes.