נִמְרֹד (nim.rod)
nim.rod
Nimrod
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Nimrod appears only three times in the Hebrew Bible (Genesis 10:8–12; 1 Chronicles 1:10) as a proper noun identifying a specific historical figure rather than a common word with a broad semantic range. He is described as a mighty hunter before the Lord and the founder of an empire centered in Babylon, Assyria, and surrounding regions.
His lineage is explicitly traced through Cush, son of Ham, and Noah, placing him among the descendants of Noah’s sons who repopulated the earth after the Flood. The sources note that his name is traditionally interpreted to mean either "rebellion" or "the valiant," reflecting his reputation as a powerful ruler who established significant political control in the ancient Near East.
Unlike many biblical names that carry direct theological commands or descriptions of God’s character, Nimrod serves primarily as a genealogical marker and a historical anchor for the rise of early Mesopotamian city-states. His brief mention highlights the tension between human empire-building and divine sovereignty, setting the stage for the subsequent narrative of Babel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Nimrod appears only three times in Scripture, yet it carries significant weight as a historical marker for early human civilization. Identified as a descendant of Noah through Cush, he is described as a mighty hunter and the founder of an empire centered in Babylon and Assyria. His story highlights the ancient tension between human ambition and divine sovereignty, showing how power structures rose shortly after the Flood.
For believers today, Nimrod serves as a reminder that human strength and political influence are real forces in history, yet they remain under God’s ultimate authority. While his legacy is one of empire-building, the biblical narrative uses his brief mention to set the stage for the Tower of Babel, illustrating how pride can shape nations. This context invites us to consider where our own trust lies—in human systems or in the Creator who governs all history.
Understanding Nimrod helps ground our faith in real historical events rather than abstract myths. It reminds us that God’s plan unfolds through specific people and places, even when those figures represent opposition to His will. This perspective offers comfort, knowing that no matter how powerful human empires seem, they do not operate outside of God’s sovereign oversight.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Nimrod2×
- like/ Nimrod1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נִמְרֹ֑ד1×
- נִמְר֑וֹד1×
- כְּ/נִמְרֹ֛ד1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 10:9
He was a mighty hunter before Yahweh. Therefore it is said, “like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before Yahweh”.
This verse defines Nimrod's reputation by calling him a mighty hunter before Yahweh, establishing the cultural idiom used to describe powerful figures in the ancient Near East.
-
Genesis 10:8
Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth.
This occurrence traces his lineage through Cush, placing him within Noah’s family tree and linking early Mesopotamian history directly to the post-Flood repopulation of the earth.
-
I Chronicles 1:10
Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth.
The Chronicler repeats this genealogy to affirm the historical continuity of Israel’s ancestors and the rise of neighboring empires, confirming the reliability of the biblical record across generations.