Genesis 10:9 kjv
He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.
Genesis 10:9 nkjv
He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD."
Genesis 10:9 niv
He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; that is why it is said, "Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD."
Genesis 10:9 esv
He was a mighty hunter before the LORD. Therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD."
Genesis 10:9 nlt
Since he was the greatest hunter in the world, his name became proverbial. People would say, "This man is like Nimrod, the greatest hunter in the world."
Genesis 10 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:28 | "Be fruitful and multiply... have dominion over the fish... birds... living thing..." | God's initial command for human dominion over creation. |
| Gen 6:4 | "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days... the mighty men (gibborim)... renown." | Pre-Flood powerful individuals; Nimrod as a gibbor connects to this concept. |
| Gen 9:2 | "The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth..." | Reaffirmation of human dominion over animals after the flood. |
| Gen 10:8 | "Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth." | Introduction of Nimrod as the first human "mighty one" or conqueror. |
| Gen 10:10-12 | "The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar..." | Nimrod's role as a city-builder and founder of significant kingdoms. |
| Gen 11:4 | "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves..." | The spirit of human self-exaltation and centralized power seen in Babel, often associated with Nimrod. |
| Exod 14:14 | "The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." | God fights for His people, contrasting with Nimrod's personal might. |
| Num 13:28 | "...the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there." | Description of "mighty men" in Canaan, showing their intimidating power. |
| Deut 3:24 | "...Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works...?" | Contrast between Nimrod's earthly might and God's incomparable power. |
| Judg 6:12 | "...The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!" | Use of gibbor in a positive context, chosen by God (Gideon). |
| Judg 11:1 | "Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor..." | Another example of gibbor referring to a brave warrior. |
| 1 Sam 2:4 | "The bows of the mighty are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength." | Prophecy against those who rely on their own strength, fitting Nimrod's character. |
| 1 Sam 17:51 | "...David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword... and cut off his head..." | David, a "shepherd," defeats Goliath, the Philistine gibbor, by God's power. |
| 2 Sam 1:19 | "The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!" | A lament over the death of great warriors (Saul and Jonathan). |
| 2 Sam 23:8 | "These are the names of the mighty men whom David had..." | David's elite warriors, known for their strength, serve a divinely appointed king. |
| Ps 7:2-3 | "...Lest they tear me like a lion, Rend my soul while there is no deliverer... who hunts my soul." | Hunters as a metaphor for dangerous enemies or oppressors. |
| Ps 24:8 | "Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle." | The ultimate gibbor is God Himself. |
| Prov 16:32 | "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city." | Moral wisdom contrasting inner virtue with outward conquest or strength. |
| Ezek 13:18, 20 | "...you hunt lives, to hunt the lives of My people... your magic bands by which you hunt souls..." | Metaphorical hunting used negatively for spiritual deception or oppression. |
| Mic 5:6 | "They shall waste with the sword the land of Assyria and the land of Nimrod..." | Prophetic mention of "land of Nimrod," associating him with Mesopotamia/Assyria and its destruction. |
| Col 2:8 | "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men..." | Nimrod's building of a human-centric kingdom aligns with human tradition over divine. |
| 1 Tim 6:15 | "...He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords..." | Contrasts earthly kings (like Nimrod) with God's ultimate sovereignty. |
| Rev 17:18 | "And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth." | Symbolic of human kingdoms seeking universal dominion, echoing Nimrod's ambition. |
Genesis 10 verses
Genesis 10 9 Meaning
Genesis 10:9 describes Nimrod, a descendant of Ham through Cush, as exceptionally powerful in hunting, even to the point where "Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord" became a common proverb or saying. This verse highlights his renowned strength and skill in this pursuit. The phrase "before the Lord" is critical, indicating either an outstanding capability in the eyes of God, or, more likely given his subsequent actions, an audacious display of power in defiance of or in competition with the Lord's own authority and design. This establishes him as a unique figure, distinct from previous patriarchal figures, who inaugurates a new era of powerful human kingdom building.
Genesis 10 9 Context
Genesis chapter 10, often called the "Table of Nations," catalogues the descendants of Noah's three sons—Japheth, Ham, and Shem—and their geographical dispersal across the earth after the Great Flood. It systematically maps the origins of various peoples and regions. Nimrod, introduced in verse 8 as a descendant of Ham through Cush, stands out within this genealogy because he is not merely listed as a progenitor but as a powerful individual who initiates kingdom-building. This chapter lays the groundwork for understanding the diverse peoples but uniquely spotlights Nimrod as a "mighty one" on earth, preparing the reader for the narrative of the Tower of Babel in chapter 11, where human unity under potentially defiant leadership takes center stage. Historically, this period reflects the emergence of powerful city-states and early empires in Mesopotamia, where rulers were often depicted as great hunters or conquerors.
Genesis 10 9 Word analysis
- He: Refers to Nimrod, whose lineage was given in the preceding verse (Gen 10:8).
- was a mighty (גִּבֹּר - gibbor): This Hebrew term signifies a "strong one," a "hero," a "warrior," or "champion." It often denotes someone of extraordinary strength, prowess, or influence, frequently in military or combat contexts. It appears elsewhere in Scripture to describe brave warriors (e.g., David's mighty men, 2 Sam 23) or even divinely appointed leaders (e.g., Gideon, Judg 6:12). In Genesis 6:4, gibborim refers to the "mighty men" of renown before the flood, suggesting a connection to an age of human giants or powerful figures. Nimrod is thus depicted as an archetype of raw, influential power.
- hunter (צַיִד - tsayid): This noun specifically means "game" or "prey" but can also refer to the act of hunting or the one who hunts. In Nimrod's case, it indicates a skilled individual adept at pursuing and capturing animals. The idea of "hunting" in ancient Near Eastern contexts was often associated with kingship, demonstrating power, courage, and the ability to protect a community by subduing dangerous beasts. However, some interpretations extend this to a metaphorical "hunter of men," suggesting a conqueror or a powerful leader who brought others under his dominion.
- before the Lord (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה - liphnê Yahweh): This critical phrase is open to multiple interpretations, which contributes to the ambiguity of Nimrod's character:
- In the presence of the Lord/With God's approval: Similar to Noah "finding favor in the eyes of the Lord" (Gen 6:8), suggesting divine favor or approval of his strength. This seems less likely given the trajectory of Nimrod's character and the subsequent narrative of Babel.
- Exceedingly/Greatly (in the eyes of the Lord): An idiom denoting an unparalleled or outstanding quality, implying he was "a remarkably mighty hunter."
- In defiance of/Against the Lord: This is a strong interpretive possibility, suggesting an adversarial stance. His strength and accomplishments were undertaken not for God but against or independently of God's will, foreshadowing human hubris. This aligns well with the building of the Tower of Babel (Gen 11), a direct challenge to God's command to scatter and fill the earth. Many scholars lean towards this interpretation due to the context of Genesis 10 and 11, seeing Nimrod's might as the inception of rebellion against divine order through human self-exaltation.
- therefore it is said: This indicates that Nimrod's reputation was so profound that it gave rise to a widely known proverb or saying. This highlights his legendary status.
- ‘Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.’: The repetition of the description emphasizes its proverbial nature and Nimrod's archetype status. Anyone powerful or audacious in their pursuits would be compared to him. This phrase encapsulates his entire character and renown.
Genesis 10 9 Bonus section
- The possible dual meaning of tsayid as "hunter of men" rather than just animals gains strength when considering Nimrod's rapid expansion of kingdom and city-building (Gen 10:10-12), which inherently involves bringing populations under his rule, akin to "capturing" people into his dominion.
- Nimrod's persona is often seen as a precursor or reflection of powerful hunter-king figures common in ancient Mesopotamian myths and reliefs (e.g., Gilgamesh). This suggests the biblical text is engaging with contemporary cultural concepts of leadership, possibly as a subtle polemic. While pagan rulers sought to be mighty by their own strength, the biblical narrative implies a higher, divine authority to which all strength must submit.
- His name "Nimrod" might derive from a root meaning "to rebel" (מָרַד - marad), which aligns perfectly with the interpretation of "before the Lord" as "against the Lord." While etymology can be speculative, this connection has been noted by many scholars as contributing to his perceived rebellious nature.
- The placement of this detailed description within a long genealogical list makes Nimrod stand out, emphasizing his significance as the first prominent leader to actively establish a kingdom on earth, diverging from previous narratives of family units. This sets the stage for the conflict between human autonomy and divine sovereignty throughout biblical history.
Genesis 10 9 Commentary
Genesis 10:9 unveils Nimrod not merely as a genealogic link but as a pivotal figure signifying a new human trajectory post-Flood. His description as a "mighty hunter" extends beyond simple animal control; it encapsulates raw strength, dominion, and an assertion of human power. The ambiguous but potent phrase "before the Lord" suggests either unparalleled excellence or, more tellingly, an audacious display of self-sufficiency that verges on defiance towards the divine order. This powerful image foreshadows the emerging era of centralized human authority and ambition seen immediately after in the Tower of Babel narrative. Nimrod represents the birth of empire-building and human kingdoms established not under divine command, but often in competition with it, setting a precedent for human pride and the struggle for earthly dominance apart from God. His legendary status, evinced by the proverb, warns against the idolization of human might and ambition when divorced from humble submission to the Lord.