Genesis 10:8 kjv

And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.

Genesis 10:8 nkjv

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

Genesis 10:8 niv

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

Genesis 10:8 esv

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

Genesis 10:8 nlt

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

Genesis 10 verses

Genesis 10 8 Meaning

Genesis 10:8 introduces Nimrod, a descendant of Cush (who was a son of Ham), as the first notable individual to "begin" or "be" a mighty figure post-Flood. He is specifically characterized as a "mighty warrior" or "mighty hunter," signaling his strength, dominance, and probable leadership prowess in the early earth. This verse marks the emergence of organized, powerful human rule.

Genesis 10 8 Context

Genesis chapter 10, often called the "Table of Nations," meticulously details the descendants of Noah's three sons—Japheth, Ham, and Shem—who repopulated the earth after the Flood. The chapter primarily serves as a genealogical list, tracing the origins of the various nations and peoples. Within this otherwise structured and relatively static enumeration, Nimrod's introduction in verses 8-12 stands out. He is presented not merely as a name in a lineage but as an active, powerful figure, marking a distinct departure from the prevailing genealogical format. This abrupt shift signals his unique importance and perhaps his disruptive role in early post-Flood society. His story serves as a prelude to Genesis chapter 11, which describes the unified human ambition leading to the building of the Tower of Babel and God's subsequent dispersion of humanity. Nimrod, therefore, represents the earliest notable emergence of organized human power, city-building, and dominion post-Flood, potentially embodying a nascent form of centralized authority or kingship that contrasts with the divinely ordained scattering of peoples.

Genesis 10 8 Word analysis

• Cush (כּוּשׁ - Kūš): Son of Ham (Gen 10:6). Cush is identified with ancient Ethiopia or Nubia, a region south of Egypt. The lineage here connects Nimrod to a strong, often influential, part of the world as understood by the ancient Near East. This genealogical placement sets the stage for a powerful individual.
• father of (יָלַד - yālad): Standard Hebrew verb for "to beget" or "to give birth." In this context, it confirms a direct paternal line for Nimrod from Cush.
• Nimrod (נִמְרוֹד - Nimrōd): The proper name itself. While the precise etymology is debated among scholars, some connect it to the Hebrew root marad (מָרַד), meaning "to rebel." If so, it would symbolically foreshadow his character or his legacy, possibly implying defiance against God's command to "fill the earth" (Gen 9:1) by building unified cities and kingdoms.
• who became (הֵחֵל - hēḥēl): This is the Hifil perfect form of the verb ḥālal (חָלַל), which in this conjugation means "he began" or "he commenced." This verb is crucial. It suggests Nimrod was not simply born into this status, but that he initiated or was the first to be a powerful figure of this specific kind on the earth. This marks a new era in human social and political development, the rise of powerful individuals asserting dominion.
• a mighty warrior (גִּבֹּר צָיִד - gibbōr ṣāyiḏ): This is a unique and highly significant phrase.
  • mighty (גִּבּוֹר - gibbōr): Means "strong," "hero," "champion," "valiant one." It is often used for military leaders, warriors, or powerful individuals (e.g., Gen 6:4; 1 Sam 17:51). It conveys physical strength, power, and influence.
  • warrior/hunter (צָיִד - ṣāyiḏ): Primarily means "hunter" (of animals) or "game" (what is hunted). However, in this pairing with gibbōr and considering the subsequent context of city-building (Gen 10:10-12), the interpretation often extends beyond mere animal hunting. Many biblical scholars suggest gibbōr ṣāyiḏ implies a "hunter of men," a conqueror, or one who subdues peoples through force or skill. It indicates a politically or militarily dominant individual, rather than just an expert marksman.
• on the earth (בָּאָרֶץ - bā’āreṣ): Specifies the scope of his might. It signifies his domain as a terrestrial ruler and suggests his authority was established within human society and on the ground, potentially setting him apart from God's heavenly authority.

Genesis 10 8 Words-group analysis

• Cush was the father of Nimrod: This establishes Nimrod's specific genealogical placement within the lineage of Ham, a line often associated with powerful nations in biblical history. It also gives him legitimacy through established ancestry within the Table of Nations.
• who became a mighty warrior: The phrase emphasizes a transformative quality about Nimrod. He didn't just exist; he actively "began to be" something distinct and powerful. The specific pairing of "mighty" and "hunter/warrior" defines his primary characteristic: not just strong, but active in establishing control and power, perhaps through subjugation.
• a mighty warrior on the earth: This phrase underscores Nimrod's practical dominion. His power was exercised in the human realm, impacting land and peoples, and contrasting implicitly with divine sovereignty over all the earth. It portrays him as an initiator of human-centric power structures and the builder of an earthly kingdom.

Genesis 10 8 Bonus section

• Archetypal Figure: Nimrod can be seen as the Bible's first archetypal human king who establishes his rule through strength and initiative, laying the groundwork for future empires that often oppose divine authority. He embodies humanity's potential for self-aggrandizement and centralization of power.
• The Silence of Divine Blessing: Unlike other patriarchs or leaders whom the Bible notes are "blessed by the LORD," there is no such blessing explicitly mentioned for Nimrod. This absence can be significant, subtly hinting that his might and kingdom-building endeavors were not necessarily aligned with divine will, or at least not initiated or sanctioned by God.
• Connection to Idolatry (Later Tradition): Though not explicit in Genesis, later Jewish and early Christian traditions, particularly rabbinic commentaries and some ancient histories, often connect Nimrod with the introduction of idolatry and direct rebellion against God, positioning him as a figure who encouraged people to abandon the worship of God for self-glorification or pagan practices, further solidifying his association with defiance.
• Founding of Empires: Nimrod is credited with founding major cities and, implicitly, an early empire that included Babel (Babylon), Erech, Accad, and Calneh (Gen 10:10). This established him as a pioneer of organized human government and urban development, foreshadowing the great empires that would shape biblical history, often becoming symbols of human pride and opposition to God.

Genesis 10 8 Commentary

Genesis 10:8 introduces Nimrod as a seminal figure in post-Flood human history, unique within the Table of Nations due to his description as an active, powerful individual rather than just a name. His identity as "a mighty warrior" (or "hunter") signifies a crucial turning point: the emergence of human power centralized in a single dominant figure, marking the advent of leadership based on might rather than solely on family lineage. The phrase "who began to be" further emphasizes that Nimrod was an innovator in this realm, possibly the first to consolidate widespread authority or to establish kingdoms and cities that rivaled the prevailing family-groupings of the time. While some early interpretations, influenced by the Septuagint, saw "before the LORD" in Gen 10:9 as a commendation, later readings and broader biblical context suggest an ironic or even defiant stance. Nimrod, a formidable conqueror and builder, likely embodies the archetypal self-reliant human ambition that culminated in the unified effort to build the Tower of Babel (Gen 11), a direct challenge to God's command to spread out and fill the earth. His legacy is one of the consolidation of human strength and the formation of earthly kingdoms, laying the groundwork for empires that would later stand in opposition to God's purposes.