Bible Strands
Nahum 2:9
“Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!” There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Nahum addresses the invading army at the moment Nineveh’s defenses collapse and its citizens flee. The prophet issues a command to the conquerors to loot the abandoned city before it is completely emptied.
The words — The imperative בֹּזּוּ (Bo.zu) commands “plunder,” directed at כֶ֖סֶף (Khe.sef) “silver” and זָהָ֑ב (za.Hav) “gold.” The phrase וְאֵין קֵצֶה (ve.‘ein qetseh) literally states “there is no end” to the supply of wealth.
The thread — The theme of conquered wealth being gathered appears in Isaiah 33:4, where spoil is swept over like locusts. The fate of plundered leadership echoes the warning in Jeremiah 25:34 regarding the slaughter of rulers, while historical precedent for royal looting is recorded in 2 Chronicles 36:10.
Why it lands — The text declares the total depletion of Nineveh’s wealth before describing the terror of its inhabitants. It demands a reader acknowledge that human treasure cannot prevent divine judgment or halt the collapse of a corrupt regime.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 36:10 In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar summoned Jehoiachin and brought him to Babylon, along with the articles of value from the house of the LORD. And he made Jehoiachin’s relative Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.
- Isaiah 33:4 Your spoil, O nations, is gathered as by locusts; like a swarm of locusts men sweep over it.
- Jeremiah 25:34 Wail, you shepherds, and cry out; roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. For the days of your slaughter have come; you will fall and be shattered like fine pottery.
- Jeremiah 51:56 For a destroyer is coming against her—against Babylon. Her warriors will be captured, and their bows will be broken, for the LORD is a God of retribution; He will repay in full.
- Ezekiel 26:12 They will plunder your wealth and pillage your merchandise. They will demolish your walls, tear down your beautiful homes, and throw your stones and timber and soil into the water.
- Daniel 11:8 He will take even their gods captive to Egypt, with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold. For some years he will stay away from the king of the North,
- Nahum 2:12 The lion mauled enough for its cubs and strangled prey for the lioness. It filled its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey.
- Isaiah 33:1 Woe to you, O destroyer never destroyed, O traitor never betrayed! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed. When you have finished betraying, you will be betrayed.