This verse paints a picture of ultimate security and unchecked power, describing a place where lions of all ages – the old, the lioness, the young, and even the whelp – dwelled and fed without any fear of disturbance. The crucial insight is that this image of complete safety and dominance is precisely what makes its eventual destruction so astonishing and profound in God's judgment.
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 lion tore enough for his cubs and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his caves with prey and his dens with torn flesh.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Nahum shifts to question the former glory of Nineveh, personifying the city and its people as powerful, predatory lions. This imagery highlights Assyria's immense strength and cruelty, emphasizing how they operated without fear, oppressing nations and feeding on their spoils. The verse dramatically questions where this formidable power has vanished to, anticipating its utter destruction and the incredulity of those who witness it.
Imagine a place so powerful, so terrifying, that even lions would feel at home there, secure and undisturbed. The prophet Nahum uses this potent image to describe the mighty city of Nineveh. But what does this metaphor truly reveal about its rulers and its fate?
The Symbol of the Lion
The prophet Nahum employs the powerful imagery of lions to represent the Assyrian rulers and their empire. Nineveh was the 'den' of these lions, a place where they resided, feasted, and raised their young.
Nahum's question isn't just rhetorical; it's a profound statement about the impermanence of human power. The empire that once instilled terror will vanish, leaving behind only ruins and a forgotten legacy. What does this signify for the seemingly unshakeable powers of today?
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From Fear to Forgotten
The prophet's insistent question, 'Where is...?' serves as a powerful announcement of Nineveh's impending and absolute destruction. The city that was once a symbol of terrifying might would cease to exist, becoming a historical curiosity rather than a living threat.
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.
This verse dramatically contrasts the terrifying might and secure dominion of Nineveh, symbolized by lions, with its impending, total annihilation. The rhetorical question highlights the shocking completeness of its destruction, making its former power seem unbelievable.
c. 700s BC
Assyrian Empire at its Zenith
The Neo-Assyrian Empire, with Nineveh as its splendid capital, dominated the ancient Near East through military might and administrative prowess. Lions were a prominent symbol on their art and royal insignia, representing strength and power.
670s BC
Assyrian Expansion and Tribute
Assyrian kings, like Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal, expanded the empire, subjugating neighboring kingdoms and exacting heavy tribute. These campaigns and the spoils brought back mirrored the predatory nature of lions, as described in the text.
c. 650-620 BC— this verse
Nahum Prophesies Against Nineveh
The prophet Nahum delivers his oracle predicting the imminent destruction of Nineveh. The book's context is the latter days of the Assyrian Empire, when its power was beginning to wane under internal strife and external pressures.
612 BC
Fall of Nineveh
A coalition of Babylonians, Medes, and Scythians besieged and utterly destroyed Nineveh, bringing an end to the Neo-Assyrian Empire. The city was so thoroughly ruined that its exact location was lost for centuries.
This passage uses the same powerful imagery of lions, lionesses, and their cubs to represent the royal family of Judah, highlighting how their pride and arrogance led to their downfall, mirroring Nineveh's fate.
Jeremiah 50:17This verse directly prophesies the destruction of Babylon, calling them 'scattered lions' whose king has devoured them, echoing the fate of Nineveh and the predatory nature described in Nahum.
Proverbs 30:29-30This proverb describes majestic animals like the lion, which 'can do nothing against' when it walks proudly, and a 'warhorse', setting the stage for how even the proudest and mightiest can be brought low by divine judgment.
Isaiah 5:29This verse describes the Assyrian army as lions roaring over their prey, illustrating the fierce and predatory nature of the empire that Nahum is condemning, and setting up the contrast with their coming destruction.
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…
This verse paints a picture of ultimate security and unchecked power, describing a place where lions of all ages – the old, the lioness, the young, and even the whelp – dwelled and fed without any fear of disturbance. The crucial insight is that this image of complete safety and dominance is precisely what makes its eventual destruction so astonishing and profound in God's judgment.
The prophet Nahum shifts to question the former glory of Nineveh, personifying the city and its people as powerful, predatory lions. This imagery highlights Assyria's immense strength and cruelty, emphasizing how they operated without fear, oppressing nations and feeding on their spoils. The verse dramatically questions where this formidable power has vanished to, anticipating its utter destruction and the incredulity of those who witness it.
The prophet Nahum shifts to question the former glory of Nineveh, personifying the city and its people as powerful, predatory lions. This imagery highlights Assyria's immense strength and cruelty, emphasizing how they operated without fear, oppressing nations and feeding on their spoils. The verse dramatically questions where this formidable power has vanished to, anticipating its utter destruction and the incredulity of those who witness it.
"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 lion tore enough for his cubs and strangled prey for his lionesses;…" — This verse paints a picture of ultimate security and unchecked power, describing a place where lions of all ages – the old, the lioness, the young, and even the whelp – dwelled and fed without any fe…
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Last reviewed October 2026
