Nahum 2:4 — Word Study
WLCבַּֽחוּצוֹת֙ יִתְהוֹלְל֣וּ הָרֶ֔כֶב יִֽשְׁתַּקְשְׁק֖וּן בָּרְחֹב֑וֹת מַרְאֵיהֶן֙ כַּלַּפִּידִ֔ם כַּבְּרָקִ֖ים יְרוֹצֵֽצוּ׃
BSAshieldmâgên mighty mangibbôwr to reddenʼâdam manʼîysh Helechchayil to clothe in scarlettâlaʻ△ fireʼêsh ironpᵉlâdâh△ chariotrekeb dayyôwm to establishkûwn cypressbᵉrôwsh to quiverrâʻal△
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בַּֽחוּצוֹת֙ | in the streets | Preposition, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| יִתְהוֹלְל֣וּ | they drive madly | Verb, Hithpael, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| הָרֶ֔כֶב | the chariotry | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יִֽשְׁתַּקְשְׁק֖וּן | they rush around ! | Verb hithpael imperfect third person masculine plural, suffix |
| בָּרְחֹב֑וֹת | in the open places | Preposition, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| מַרְאֵיהֶן֙ | appearance their | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| כַּלַּפִּידִ֔ם | [are] like torches | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| כַּבְּרָקִ֖ים | like lightning flashes | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| יְרוֹצֵֽצוּ׃ | they run around | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person masculine plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The chariots dash through the streets; they rush around the plazas, appearing like torches, darting about like lightning. |
| KJV | 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. |
| ASV | The chariots rage in the streets; they rush to and fro in the broad ways: the appearance of them is like torches; they run like the lightnings. |
| YLT | In out-places shine do the chariots, They go to and fro in broad places, Their appearances [are] like torches, As lightnings they run. |
| WEB | The chariots rage in the streets. They rush back and forth in the wide ways. Their appearance is like torches. They run like the lightnings. |
| BBE | The war-carriages are rushing through the streets, pushing against one another in the wide ways, looking like burning lights, running like thunder-flames. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of יִתְהוֹלְל֣וּ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause with several descriptive phrases that enhance the imagery of chaos and speed.
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Nahum 2:4
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Siege of Ninevehgenerated
Nahum 2:4 describes the frantic movement of chariots in the streets and plazas during a siege, illustrating the chaos of battle. The imagery emphasizes the urgency and turmoil of the moment, as the chariots appear like torches and dart around like lightning, highlighting the intensity of the conflict.
The Key Word — יִתְהוֹלְל֣וּ, yit.ho.Lugenerated
The verb יִתְהוֹלְל֣וּ (yit.ho.Lu) is in the Hithpael form, indicating a reflexive or intensive action. It conveys a sense of madness or wildness, suggesting that the chariots are not just moving but are doing so in a frenzied manner, akin to celebrating or boasting in a chaotic way.
This word is derived from the root הָלַל (halal), which encompasses meanings related to shining, boasting, and acting foolishly. In this context, it vividly captures the reckless abandon of the chariots as they rush through the streets.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the term they drive madly captures the intensity of the action.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb יִתְהוֹלְל֣וּ (they drive madly) governs the sentence, with several phrases describing the action and setting. The structure emphasizes the chaotic movement of the chariots through the streets and plazas.
The sentence begins with a prepositional phrase indicating location, followed by the subject (the chariots) and a series of actions that create a vivid picture of the scene.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates the Hebrew word for chariots as ἄνδρας (andras), meaning men, which shifts the focus from the vehicles to the warriors themselves. This choice highlights the human element in the chaotic scene.
The Greek rendering of the action suggests a broader interpretation, emphasizing the collective frenzy of the warriors rather than the chariots alone.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Nahum 2:4 describes how chariots rush through the streets and plazas during a siege, creating a scene of chaos and urgency. They appear like torches and dart around like flashes of lightning, illustrating the frantic energy of battle.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It suggests that the chariots are moving in a frantic and chaotic manner, reflecting the intensity of the battle.
These images convey speed and brightness, emphasizing the urgency and chaos of the scene.
It implies that the chariots are not just moving but doing so wildly, as if in a celebratory or reckless manner.
This verse highlights the impending doom of Nineveh, illustrating the chaos that accompanies its siege and downfall.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What emotions does the imagery of rushing chariots evoke in you?
- How can the chaotic scene described in this verse relate to moments of urgency in your own life?
- What does the comparison to torches and lightning reveal about the nature of conflict?
- In what ways can you see the themes of chaos and urgency reflected in modern events?
The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The chariots dash through the streets; they rush around the plazas, appearing like torches, darting about like lightning.
The chariots rage in the streets. They rush back and forth in the wide ways. Their appearance is like torches. They run like the lightnings.
The chariots dash through the streets; they rush around the plazas, appearing like torches, darting about like lightning.
The chariots race madly through the streets, they rush back and forth in the broad plazas; they look like lightning bolts, they dash here and there like flashes of lightning.
Tyndale line
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.
The chariots rage in the streets; they rush to and fro in the broad ways: the appearance of them is like torches; they run like the lightnings.
The chariots rage in the streets, they justle one against another in the broad ways: the appearance of them is like torches, they run like the lightnings.
The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall jostle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.
The charets shall rage in the streetes: they shall runne to and from in the hie wayes: they shall seeme like lampes: they shall shoote like the lightning.
Strictly literal
The chariots rush madly in the streets, they justle one against another in the broad ways: the appearance of them is like torches, they run like lightnings.
In out-places shine do the chariots, They go to and fro in broad places, Their appearances [are] like torches, As lightnings they run.
In out-places the chariots shine, || They go to and fro in broad places, || Their appearances [are] like torches, || As lightnings they run.
(2:5) In the streets the chariots rush madly along, they rattle through the public places: their appearance is like torches, they run along like the lightnings.
The chariots speed through the streets; they rush back and forth in the wide streets. They look like torches, and they run like lightning.
From the Latin
They are in confusion in the ways, the chariots jostle one against another in the streets: their looks are like torches, like lightning running to and fro.
Simplified
Chariots race madly through the streets, rushing back and forth across the town squares. Bright as torches, they dash like lightning flashes.
The war-carriages are rushing through the streets, pushing against one another in the wide ways, looking like burning lights, running like thunder-flames.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text provides a clear account of the verse, while the Septuagint aligns closely with it, matching nine out of nine words. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration but agree in essence with the Masoretic Text regarding the depiction of chaos and movement.
בַּֽחוּצוֹת֙ יִתְהוֹלְל֣וּ הָרֶ֔כֶב יִֽשְׁתַּקְשְׁק֖וּן בָּרְחֹב֑וֹת מַרְאֵיהֶן֙ כַּלַּפִּידִ֔ם כַּבְּרָקִ֖ים יְרוֹצֵֽצוּ׃
9 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[מגן] גברי׳הו מאדם אנשי [חיל] [מתלעים] [באש] [פלדות] [הרכב] [ביום] הכינ׳ו [והברשים] [הרעלו]
2 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 9 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Nahum 2:4
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
חוּץ (chuwts) refers to the concept of being outside or outward, often associated with streets or highways. It is derived from a root meaning to sever, indicating separation by a wall. The term covers various contexts, including outdoors and fields.
חוּץ n.[m.] the outside, sts., esp. in pl., spec. a street
base
H2351 חוּץ
2351 chuwts khoots
or (shortened) chuts {khoots}; (both forms feminine in the
plural) from an unused root meaning to sever; properly,
separate by a wall, i.e. outside, outdoors:--abroad, field,
forth, highway, more, out(-side, -ward), street, without.
חוּץ (chuts) — outside.
outside, outward, street, the outside
HRd/Ncfpa — Preposition · noun common feminine plural absoluteHRd/Ncfpa
In the towns and cities of Palestine, are supposed to have been comparatively narrow and ill graded, on account of the unevenness of their sites, and the little use of wheel-carriages. They were wider, however, than in many modern cities, Lu 14:21, and terminated in large public areas around the gates, Ne 8:1. Josephus says that those of Jerusalem were paved. They were named, like our own streets, Ac 9:11, and often resembled the bazaars of modern eastern cities, the shops of the same kind being in the same street and giving it its name, as the bakers’ street, Ne 3:31,32; Jer 37:21, and the valley of the cheesemongers.…
The Hebrew word הָלַל (halal) is a primitive root that encompasses meanings related to shining, boasting, and foolishness. It can signify to praise or celebrate, often in a clamorously foolish manner, and includes the idea of making a boast or being made a fool of. The entries indicate a range of uses, from expressing God's favor to acting madly.
[הָלַל] vb. shine
Qal when it, viz. his lamp, shone upon my head, fig. of God’s favour.
Hiph. flash forth light
base
[הָלַל] vb. be boastful, Pi. praise
Qal be boastful
Pi.
praise man or woman
usually praise י׳
appar. boast, make one’s boast
Pu. be praised
Hithpa. glory, boast, make one’s boast
Po‛el make into a fool, make a fool of
Po‛al of laughter I said, It is mad (folly)
Hithpo. act madly, or like a madman
base
H1984a הָלַל shine H1984b הָלַל be boastful, Pi. praise H1984c הָלַל be boastful, Pi. praise .be boastful
. . praise man or woman
. usually praise י׳
. appar. boast, make one’s boast
. be praised
. glory, boast, make one’s boast
.make into a fool, make a fool of
.of laughter I said, It is mad (folly)
. act madly, or like a madman
1984 halal haw-lal'
a primitive root; to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of
color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to
be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate;
also to stultify:--(make) boast (self), celebrate, commend,
(deal, make), fool(- ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make,
feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy
of) praise, rage, renowned, shine.
הָלַל (ha.lal) — to shine.
1) to shine
1a) (Qal) to shine (fig. of God's favour)
1b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light
הָלַל (ha.lal) — to boast: praise.
: praise
1) to praise, boast, be boastful
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be boastful
1a2) boastful ones, boasters (participle)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to praise
1b2) to boast, make a boast
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise
1d) (Hithpael) to boast, glory, make one's boast
הָלַל (ha.lal) — to be foolish.
1) (Poel) to make a fool of, make into a fool
1f) (Hithpoel) to act madly, act like a madman
הָלַל (ha.lal) — to boast: boast.
: boast
1) to praise, boast, be boastful
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be boastful
1a2) boastful ones, boasters (participle)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to praise
1b2) to boast, make a boast
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise
HVti3mp — Verb · Hithpael · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVti3mp
רֶ֫כֶב (rekeb) refers to a chariot or vehicle, and can also denote a team of horses, cavalry, or riders. It is associated with the upper millstone, implying a connection to movement or transport. The term encompasses various meanings, including chariotry, individual chariots, and groups of horsemen.
רֶ֫כֶב 120 n.m. chariotry, chariot, mill-stone; appar. also riders
base
H7393 רֶ֫כֶב chariotry, chariot, mill-stone; appar. also riders
7393 rekeb reh'-keb
from 7392; a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension,
cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the upper
millstone:--chariot, (upper) millstone, multitude (from the
margin), wagon.
see HEBREW for 07392
רֶ֫כֶב (re.khev) — chariot.
: chariot
1) a team, chariot, chariotry, mill-stone, riders
1a) chariotry, chariots
1b) chariot (single)
1c) upper millstone (as riding on lower millstone)
1d) riders, troop (of riders), horsemen, pair of horsemen, men riding, ass-riders, camel-riders
Also means: re.khev (רֶ֫כֶב ": millstone" H7393H)
רֶ֫כֶב (re.khev) — chariot: millstone.
: millstone
1) a team, chariot, chariotry, mill-stone, riders
1a) chariotry, chariots
1b) chariot (single)
1c) upper millstone (as riding on lower millstone)
1d) riders, troop (of riders), horsemen, pair of horsemen, men riding, ass-riders, camel-riders
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
שָׁקַק (sha.qaq) is a Hebrew verb meaning to run, rush, or move eagerly. It conveys a sense of urgency and can imply a greedy or intense desire. The entries describe its usage in various forms, including Qal and Hithpalpel, indicating actions like running about or rushing back and forth.
[שָׁקַק] vb. run, run about, rush
Qal rush at, upon
Hithpalp. of chariots, they rush to and fro.
base
H8264 [שָׁקַק] run, run about, rush
8264 shaqaq shaw-kak'
a primitive root; to course (like a beast of prey); by
implication, to seek greedily:--have appetite, justle one
against another, long, range, run (to and fro).
שָׁקַק (sha.qaq) — to rush.
1) to run, run about, rush, run to and fro, be eager or greedy or thirsty
1a) (Qal) roving, ranging, longing, rush out upon (participle)
1b) (Hithpalpel) to rush to and fro, rush back and forth
HVti3mp/Sn — Verb hithpael imperfect third person masculine plural · suffixHVti3mp/Sn
רְחוֹב (re.chov) refers to a broad open place or plaza, often translated as street. It is derived from the root meaning width and encompasses areas like avenues or public spaces. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to open areas, with no significant disagreement noted among the lexicons.
רְחוֹב n.f. broad open place, plaza
base
H7339 רְחוֹב broad open place, plaza
7339 rchob rekh-obe'
or rchowb {rekh-obe'}; from 7337; a width, i.e. (concretely)
avenue or area:--broad place (way), street. See also 1050.
see HEBREW for 07337
see HEBREW for 01050
רְחוֹב (re.chov) — street/plaza.
broad or open place or plaza
HRd/Ncfpa — Preposition · noun common feminine plural absoluteHRd/Ncfpa
מַרְאֶה (mar'eh) refers to sight, appearance, or vision, encompassing both physical and supernatural aspects of what is seen. It can denote a phenomenon, spectacle, or the power of seeing. The word is derived from a root meaning to see, and it covers a range of meanings related to visual perception.
מַרְאֶה 102 n.m. sight, appearance, vision
sight, phenomenon, spectacle
appearance
appearance, sight, vision
in gen. what is seen
specif. a (supernat.) vision
sight, vision = power of seeing (and enjoying), late
base
H4758 מַרְאֶה sight, appearance, vision . . sight, phenomenon, spectacle
. appearance
. appearance, sight, vision
. in gen. what is seen
. specif. a (supernat.) vision
. sight, vision = power of seeing (and enjoying), late
4758 mar'eh mar-eh'
from 7200; a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance
(the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if
handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a
vision:--X apparently, appearance(-reth), X as soon as
beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to
look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight,
visage, vision.
see HEBREW for 07200
מַרְאֶה (mar.eh) — appearance.
1) sight, appearance, vision
1a) sight, phenomenon, spectacle, appearance, vision
1b) what is seen
1c) a vision (supernatural)
1d) sight, vision (power of seeing)
HNcmsc/Sp3fp — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3fp
לַפִּיד (lappiyd) means 'torch' and is derived from a root that likely means 'to shine.' It refers to a source of light such as a flambeau, lamp, or flame. The entries consistently define it as a torch without significant disagreement.
לַפִּיד n.m. torch
base
H3940 לַפִּיד torch
3940 lappiyd lap-peed'
or lappid {lap-peed'}; from an unused root probably meaning
to shine; a flambeau, lamp or flame:--(fire-)brand, (burning)
lamp, lightning, torch.
לַפִּיד (lap.pid) — torch.
torch
HRd/Ncmpa — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHRd/Ncmpa
Torches
On the night of his betrayal, when our Lord was in the garden of Gethsemane, Judas, “having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons” (John 18:1-3). Although it was the time of full moon, yet in the valley of the Kidron “there fell great, deep shadows from the declivity of the mountain and projecting rocks; there were there caverns and grottos, into which a fugitive might retreat; finally, there were probably a garden-house and tower, into whose gloom it might be necessary for a searcher to throw light around.” Lange’s Commentary. (Nahum 2:3, “torches,” Revised Version, “steel,” probably should be “scythes” for war-chariots.)
בָּרַק (baraq) refers to lightning and its associated phenomena, such as flashes of light or gleams. It can also describe a bright or glittering object, like a sword or an arrowhead. The entries consistently emphasize its connection to the natural phenomenon of lightning, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
בָּרַק vb. flash, of lightning
base
בָּרָק n.m. lightning
lit. mostly pl. = lightnings, lightning flashes
fig. (always sing.) of flashing arrow-head
base
H1300a בָּרַק flash of lightning H1300b בָּרָק lightning
1300 baraq baw-rawk'
from 1299; lightning; by analogy, a gleam; concretely, a
flashing sword:--bright, glitter(-ing sword), lightning.
see HEBREW for 01299
בָּרַק (ba.raq) — to use lightning.
to flash (with lightning)
בָּרָק (ba.raq) — lightning.
1) lightning
1a) lightnings, lightning flashes
1b) of flashing arrow-head (fig.)
HRd/Ncmpa — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHRd/Ncmpa
רוּץ (ruts) means to run, encompassing various nuances such as running swiftly or causing someone to run away. It is a primitive root that can imply actions like breaking down or dividing quickly. The word appears in different forms, including participles for runners or messengers. There is some overlap in definitions across lexicons, but they consistently focus on the core idea of running.
רוּץ vb. run
Qal
run
pl. the runners (prop. out-runners)
runner = (royal messenger, post, late)
Pō‛lēl they run swiftly, dart
Hiph. cause to run
base
H7323 רוּץ run
7323 ruwts roots
a primitive root; to run (for whatever reason, especially to
rush):--break down, divide speedily, footman, guard, bring
hastily, (make) run (away, through), post.
רוּץ (ruts) — to run: run.
: run/runner/messenger
1) to run
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to run
1a2) runners (participle as subst)
1b) (Polel) to run swiftly, dart
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to bring or move quickly, hurry
1c2) to drive away from, cause to run away
רוּץ (ruts) — to run: guard.
: guard
1) to run
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to run
1a2) runners (participle as subst)
1b) (Polel) to run swiftly, dart
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to bring or move quickly, hurry
1c2) to drive away from, cause to run away
רוּץ (ruts) — to run: pieces.
: pieces
1) to run
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to run
1a2) runners (participle as subst)
1b) (Polel) to run swiftly, dart
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to bring or move quickly, hurry
1c2) to drive away from, cause to run away
HVpi3mp — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVpi3mp