I saw the tents of Cushan in distress; the curtains of Midian were trembling.
Parallel translations
- WEB I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction. The dwellings of the land of Midian trembled.
- KJV I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
- NKJV I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; The curtains of the land of Midian trembled.
- NASB I saw the tents of Cushan under distress, The tent curtains of the land of Midian were trembling.
- NLT I see the people of Cushan in distress, and the nation of Midian trembling in terror.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The prophet sees distant peoples like Cushan and Midian trembling in distress at God's approach. It shows the nations shaken with fear before the advancing God.
Overview
Cushan and Midian, peoples associated with the wilderness regions, are pictured in anguish as God draws near. Their trembling testifies to the universal dread that God's glorious coming inspires. This portrait of the nations in fear underlines God's sovereignty over all peoples and assures Israel that the powers arrayed against them cannot stand before their God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Exod 15:14–16The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the dwellers of Philistia.
- Num 31:2–12“Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”
- Judg 7:24–25Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim to say, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth-barah.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they captured the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth-barah.
- Josh 2:10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, whom you devoted to destruction.
- Josh 9:24The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants were told clearly that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and wipe out all its inhabitants before you. So we greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we have done this.
- Gen 10:6–7The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
- Gen 25:1–4Now Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah,
- Num 22:3–4and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.
- Ps 83:5–10For with one mind they plot together, they form an alliance against You—
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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'The righteous shall live by his faith' (2:4) becomes a cornerstone of the gospel in Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews — the faith that lays hold of Christ.
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Original language
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