“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?”
The full verse · Nahum 2:11 · KJV
Where is the of the , and the of the young , where the , even the old , , and the , and none made them ?
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The city of Nineveh and its inhabitants, representing the Assyrian Empire at the height of its power and cruelty.
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionNahum taunts Nineveh by asking where their once-fearsome power has gone, exposing the emptiness of their former pride. The question format forces them to confront their own demise rather than simply announcing judgment.
The Response
What Scripture recordsNo verbal response is recorded. The historical response came when Babylon and the Medes destroyed Nineveh in 612 BC, fulfilling Nahum’s prophecy completely. The city was so thoroughly devastated that its location was lost to history for centuries.
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyNahum’s question drips with irony, challenging Nineveh to locate the invincible lion’s den they once inhabited. The Hebrew ma’on means a secure dwelling, a habitation of safety. By piling up lion imagery, lion, lioness, young lions, cubs, Nahum emphasizes how Assyria once dominated without fear, devouring nations as prey. The question form magnifies the reversal: where did this power go? A statement would announce judgment, but a question makes Nineveh search for what no longer exists. The theological weight is profound. God alone determines which kingdoms rise and fall, and no predator escapes His sovereignty. Nineveh’s pride became its trap.
Every earthly kingdom that oppresses God’s people will answer for its cruelty. If you’ve been wounded by powerful systems or people who seemed untouchable, remember that God sees and will judge. Tyrants fall, empires crumble, and bullies face their reckoning. Yet this promise also warns us: if we’ve used our own strength to devour others, through harsh words, exploitation, or indifference, we must repent before judgment comes. God humbles the proud but lifts up the humble (James 4:6). His justice is certain, and His mercy is available today.
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