Where is the lions’ den, the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion and lioness went, where his cubs were, with none to disturb?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet asks "Where is it?" not just about Nineveh's ruins, but about the fierce, unchecked power that once ruled there, symbolized by the lion family that lived without fear. This question highlights how utterly God's judgment will erase the city and its oppressive might, leaving no trace of its former terror.
Where is the lions’ den, the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion and lioness went, where his cubs were, with none to disturb?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Nahum dramatically asks where the mighty city of Nineveh has gone, picturing it as a powerful lion's den. He emphasizes how this once terrifying empire, where its rulers and warriors acted without fear and preyed upon nations, has been utterly destroyed, leaving barely a trace. This question of "where is it?" highlights the totality of God's judgment against Assyria's pride and cruelty.
Imagine the most powerful, feared empire on earth. Now imagine it vanishing, its roar silenced. What does this tell us about power and judgment?
The prophet Nahum uses a powerful image to describe Nineveh: a lion's den.
A Symbol of Cruelty
Lions are known for their strength, ferocity, and predatory nature. In this verse, Nineveh is depicted as the home of lions – the old lion (or lioness) and its cubs. This isn't just about a wild animal's habitat; it's a metaphor for the Assyrian empire itself. Its kings and warriors were seen as ruthless, devouring nations and people, much like lions preying on their victims. They moved freely, without fear, leaving a trail of destruction.
Security in Iniquity
The verse highlights that in Nineveh, these 'lions' lived without disturbance. They felt secure, their power unchallenged, able to hunt and feed their young without opposition. This speaks to the unchecked arrogance and cruelty of the Assyrian regime. They believed their might made them untouchable, that no force could challenge their dominance.
When something is utterly destroyed, the question isn't just 'What happened?' but 'Where did it go?' This verse asks a question that would have seemed impossible to answer.
The rhetorical question, 'Where is it?' isn't just an expression of surprise; it signifies utter annihilation.
A City Erased
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Nahum is prophesying the complete destruction of Nineveh, the capital of the mighty Assyrian empire. At its height, Nineveh was a symbol of power, wealth, and terror. The idea that it could simply cease to exist, that its very location might become unknown, was almost inconceivable to people at the time.
Divine Judgment
This question powerfully underscores God's judgment. Just as Nineveh had brought devastation to others without fear, God declares that it will be devastated. Its 'den' of power and terror will be so thoroughly destroyed that its place will be hard to find. This wasn't just a change of rulers; it was an erasing of existence, demonstrating God's ultimate authority over even the greatest human empires.
Understand the original words
aryeh · Hebrew Noun
A large cat often used in Scripture as a symbol of power, ferocity, sovereignty, and predatory strength. It is frequently employed to describe nations or rulers who exhibit aggressive or domineering behavior.
me'onah · Hebrew Noun
A place of shelter, hiding, or dwelling, often associated with safety or clandestine activity. In a prophetic context, it can symbolize the perceived security of a kingdom or the fortified position of an oppressor.
The prophet Nahum uses the metaphor of a lion's den to describe Nineveh's former power and security, emphasizing how terrifying and unassailable the city and its empire once seemed to its neighbors. The question 'Where is it?' expresses utter astonishment at its complete destruction, a fate hard to comprehend given its former might.
c. 750-700 BC
Assyrian Empire at its Zenith
Under rulers like Tiglath-Pileser III and Sargon II, the Neo-Assyrian Empire expanded aggressively, conquering vast territories and growing immensely wealthy through tribute and warfare. Nineveh served as a major administrative and royal center.
c. 705-681 BC
Reign of Sennacherib
Sennacherib, a powerful Assyrian king, made Nineveh his magnificent capital, rebuilding and expanding it extensively. He boasted of his military campaigns and the subjugation of many peoples, solidifying Nineveh's image as an unassailable fortress.
c. 668-627 BC
Reign of Ashurbanipal
Nineveh reached its greatest splendor under Ashurbanipal, known for his vast library. However, his reign also saw internal struggles and overextended military campaigns, sowing seeds of future weakness for the empire.
c. 612 BC— this verse
Fall of Nineveh
A coalition of Babylonians, Medes, and Scythians besieged and utterly destroyed Nineveh. The city was sacked, burned, and its population massacred or scattered, marking the definitive end of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.
c. 609 BC
Battle of Carchemish
After Nineveh's fall, remnant Assyrian forces, allied with Egypt, were decisively defeated by the Babylonians. This battle cemented Babylonian dominance in the region and effectively extinguished the remnants of Assyrian power.
This passage uses the same imagery of lions, lionesses, and cubs to describe the downfall of the royal house of Judah, paralleling Nahum's depiction of Nineveh's destruction as a powerful, predatory entity brought low.
Jeremiah 50:17This verse directly echoes the theme of a predator being scattered and consumed, stating 'Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gnawed his bones.' This highlights the historical pattern of powerful empires preying on others.
Proverbs 30:29-30This passage describes majestic creatures that are powerful and impressive, with the lion being specifically mentioned for its strength and sovereignty, providing a backdrop for understanding why Nineveh would be metaphorically represented as a 'lion's den' of power and dominance.
Genesis 1:24This verse speaks of God creating living creatures that move on the earth, including wild animals, offering a foundational understanding of the animal kingdom that God established, which Nahum then uses metaphorically to describe human power and cruelty.
barnesNahum 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?"
Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions? - Great indeed must be the desolation, which should call forth the wonder of the prophet of God. He asks "where is it?" For so utterly was Nineveh to be effaced, that its place should scarcely be known, and now is known by the ruins which…
jfbNahum 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?"
- dwelling of … lions—Nineveh, the seat of empire of the rapacious and destructive warriors of various ranks, typified by the "lions," "young lions," "old lion" (or lioness [Maurer]), "the lion's whelp." The image is peculiarly appropriate, as lions of every form, winged, and sometimes with the head of a man, are…
The prophet asks "Where is it?" not just about Nineveh's ruins, but about the fierce, unchecked power that once ruled there, symbolized by the lion family that lived without fear. This question highlights how utterly God's judgment will erase the city and its oppressive might, leaving no trace of its former terror.
The prophet Nahum dramatically asks where the mighty city of Nineveh has gone, picturing it as a powerful lion's den. He emphasizes how this once terrifying empire, where its rulers and warriors acted without fear and preyed upon nations, has been utterly destroyed, leaving barely a trace. This question of "where is it?" highlights the totality of God's judgment against Assyria's pride and cruelty.
The prophet Nahum dramatically asks where the mighty city of Nineveh has gone, picturing it as a powerful lion's den. He emphasizes how this once terrifying empire, where its rulers and warriors acted without fear and preyed upon nations, has been utterly destroyed, leaving barely a trace. This question of "where is it?" highlights the totality of God's judgment against Assyria's pride and cruelty.
"Where is the lions’ den, the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion and lioness went, where his cubs were, with none to disturb?" — The prophet asks "Where is it?" not just about Nineveh's ruins, but about the fierce, unchecked power that once ruled there, symbolized by the lion family that lived without fear. This question highl…
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Last reviewed October 2026