Other translations, like the ESV, say that he was “the first on earth to be a mighty man,” perhaps the first tyrant post-Flood. In Genesis 10:8, where it says Nimrod “became a mighty warrior on the earth,” there are other possible translations of the Hebrew words. We discussed above that the name Nimrod probably came from a root meaning “to rebel,” and that “mighty warrior” could also be translated as “tyrant.” We also noted the phrasing in that he was a mighty hunter “to the face of the Lord.” Later Jewish writers and historians also tend to treat Nimrod as a distinct person. This is possible, but seems unlikely, given that other nations in the surrounding genealogical records are clearly treated as such, whereas Nimrod is portrayed as a singular person. Some interpreters have suggested that Nimrod was not an individual, but a stand-in term for a rebellious people group. So check out the fun facts-and some myths and legends-below. 7 Facts You Didn’t Know about Nimrod in the Bibleīeyond these facts, there is little we know for certain. His kingdom appears to have extended across Sumer, then called Shinar.Īfter Nimrod established cities in Shinar, Genesis 10:11 records that he went to Assyria built great cities there, including Nineveh. These include the great cities of Babylon and Nineveh. Nimrod was presumably some sort of king, as the Bible records the “centers of his kingdom” in Genesis 10:10-12. Nimrod, according to Genesis 20:8, was a “mighty warrior.” The Hebrew word here, gibbor, could potentially also mean “tyrant,” though it is used many other times in the Bible simply to refer to strong warriors or champions, so the potential conclusion that he was tyrannical is tenuous. Cush, then, may not have been under the curse. However, it does not appear that Noah directly cursed Ham’s other sons. Due to Ham’s unfortunate behavior in Genesis 9:18-27, Noah cursed Ham’s son Canaan, who was presumably Nimrod’s uncle. Only a few generations had passed since the Flood that destroyed the world and washed away all of humanity other than Noah and his family. Thus, Noah was Nimrod’s great-grandfather. His father was Cush, the son of Noah’s son Ham. The genealogies in Genesis 10 and 1 Chronicles 1 distinctly list Nimrod’s lineage. We will begin with a few things that we can gather with more surety from the biblical text itself. Theories abound about Nimrod’s life, from Jewish stories and legends to modern interpretations. This possible translation may back up Nimrod’s name as The Rebel. Genesis 10:9) might more literally be translated “to the face of the Lord”-in other words, in opposition to God. The phrasing in the Bible that says he was a mighty hunter “before the Lord” (e.g. However, we learn little about Nimrod himself.īecause of this, Nimrod is often thought to have been a rebel against the Lord. He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land and march across our borders.”įrom this passage in Micah, we gather that Assyria was still regarded as the land of Nimrod-at least by the people of God-hundreds of years later. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders, who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. “And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. The final passage also only mentions Nimrod in passing. His brief listing in 1 Chronicles 1:10 states, “Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on earth.” The next time Nimrod appears is in a genealogy at the beginning of 1 Chronicles. From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah and Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah-which is the great city.” He was a mighty hunter before the Lord that is why it is said, ‘Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.’ The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in Shinar. The first and most thorough passage is Genesis 10:8-12: “Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth. So what do we truly know about Nimrod? What Did Nimrod Do in the Bible? However, legends and tales galore have sprung up about this elusive figure. He was a mighty warrior, the son of Cush, and the great-grandson of Noah. Only seven verses in the Bible mention anything about Nimrod.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |