1 Chronicles 1 10

1 Chronicles 1:10 kjv

And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.

1 Chronicles 1:10 nkjv

Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth.

1 Chronicles 1:10 niv

Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on earth.

1 Chronicles 1:10 esv

Cush fathered Nimrod. He was the first on earth to be a mighty man.

1 Chronicles 1:10 nlt

Cush was also the ancestor of Nimrod, who was the first heroic warrior on earth.

1 Chronicles 1 verses

1 Chronicles 1 10 Meaning

1 Chronicles 1:10 states that Cush, a son of Ham, fathered Nimrod, and that Nimrod was the first to establish himself as a mighty and powerful figure on the earth. This verse, brief as it is, marks a significant departure in the pre-Abrahamic genealogies by singling out Nimrod with a descriptive statement. It highlights his unique status as a pioneer in accumulating personal power and establishing organized dominion among humans post-flood. This "might" extended beyond personal strength to the building of early cities and kingdoms, signaling a new era of human ambition and authority.

1 Chronicles 1 10 Context

1 Chronicles 1 opens with Adam, meticulously listing genealogies, emphasizing a continuous lineage that leads to the covenant people of Israel. The inclusion of 1 Chronicles 1:10 is significant because, unlike most entries which simply list "so-and-so begot so-and-so," Nimrod receives a unique descriptive phrase. This indicates his pivotal historical role, despite not being within the covenant line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His mention, adapted from Genesis 10, highlights the emergence of a new type of human endeavor after the Flood: the building of formidable cities and kingdoms led by powerful individuals. In the broader scope of Chronicles, which seeks to legitimate the lineage of David and the Levites for a post-exilic community, Nimrod serves as a contrasting figure – representing human-initiated, self-aggrandizing power structures, as opposed to the divinely ordained kingship of Judah.

1 Chronicles 1 10 Word analysis

• Cush (כּוּשׁ, Kush): Son of Ham and grandson of Noah. He is identified as the progenitor of people typically associated with lands south of Egypt, often referred to as Ethiopia or Nubia. In the genealogies, he marks a specific branch of humanity descended from Ham.

• Begot (יָלַד, yalad): The common Hebrew verb meaning "to bear," "to beget," or "to father." It simply denotes direct familial lineage and procreation, establishing a genealogical link.

• Nimrod (נִמְרוֹד, Nimrod): A highly significant figure, identified in Genesis as "a mighty hunter before the LORD" and the founder of the first major kingdom post-flood. While his name is popularly associated with the Hebrew root marad ("to rebel"), scholarly consensus suggests its origin is likely non-Hebrew, possibly Babylonian, and might be related to a specific type of heroic figure or warrior. His naming here, however, immediately prompts the reader to recall his activities described more fully in Genesis 10.

• He began (הֵחֵל, hechel): This verb indicates initiation or pioneering. It underscores that Nimrod was the first of his kind in this specific role. This was not a gradual development but a distinct commencement, setting a new precedent for human power and dominion.

• To be (לִהְיוֹת, lihyot): A standard infinitive meaning "to be," functioning here to express the resulting state or role that Nimrod initiated.

• A mighty one (גִּבּוֹר, gibbor): This Hebrew term signifies a strong man, hero, warrior, or mighty person. It can describe a positive figure (like David's "mighty men") or, as in this context and echoing "Nephilim" (also gibborim) from Genesis 6:4, one whose might could be a source of tyranny or a challenge to divine authority. Given Nimrod's subsequent actions in Genesis, it is often interpreted to mean a powerful, authoritative, possibly oppressive, leader or warrior king. His "might" was political and militaristic.

• In the earth (בָּאָרֶץ, ba'aretz): "In the land" or "on the earth." This specifies the scope of his might—it was a worldly dominion, concerning the physical realm and human societies, in contrast to divine or heavenly authority.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Cush begot Nimrod": A concise statement establishing direct familial lineage. It links Nimrod to the Hamitic line, placing him within the broader framework of early humanity's descent.
  • "he began to be a mighty one": This is the crucial phrase setting Nimrod apart. It signifies a unique turning point: Nimrod actively initiated a new form of human power and influence. It implies self-will and ambition, a pioneering spirit in establishing authority through personal strength and leadership rather than a divinely appointed role. This distinct declaration in a long genealogy is meant to draw attention to his specific role in history.
  • "a mighty one in the earth": This phrase emphasizes the earthly, human, and possibly material nature of his power. His might was demonstrated in the realm of human society and terrestrial conquest, leading to the establishment of the earliest kingdoms. It foreshadows the human inclination to build significant worldly power structures that often stand in opposition to divine rule.

1 Chronicles 1 10 Bonus section

The unique description of Nimrod as a "mighty one" (gibbor) in an otherwise straightforward genealogical list immediately flags him as a person of exceptional note. The phrase "began to be" (hechel) underscores his role as an innovator in establishing political and possibly religious systems outside the patriarchal family structures that preceded him. While Genesis 10:9 famously calls him a "mighty hunter before the LORD," this phrase can carry a dual meaning: "in the sight of the LORD" (neutral, indicating skill) or "against the LORD" (implying defiance). Many scholars and ancient traditions lean toward the latter, seeing Nimrod's ambition to build great cities and establish powerful kingdoms as an early form of human self-exaltation that challenged divine sovereignty. This perspective positions Nimrod as a symbolic anti-hero or a type of oppressive ruler whose legacy influences the narrative of later biblical empires, particularly Babylon, which he is associated with founding. He thus foreshadows the spirit of human pride and institutionalized opposition to God that runs throughout biblical history, culminating in the "Babylon" imagery in Revelation.

1 Chronicles 1 10 Commentary

1 Chronicles 1:10, though terse, identifies Nimrod as the singular, significant individual who initiated a new era of human authority and centralized power after the global reset of the Flood. His "might" was not merely personal strength but pioneering political and military power, leading to the establishment of foundational city-states like Babel. He represents the first prominent post-diluvian human empire builder, setting a precedent for large-scale human organization and ambition that could stand apart from, or even in opposition to, God's intended order. For the Chronicler's original audience, this mention serves as a subtle contrast, highlighting the trajectory of human-initiated dominion against the divinely chosen line of blessing that leads to David and beyond. Nimrod exemplifies human potential for greatness and dominion, yet without clear divine authorization, pointing to the subsequent tensions between human empires and God's covenant people throughout biblical history.