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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 10:8 Cush was the father of Nimrod, who began to be a mighty one on the earth.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/10-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/01_Gen_10_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 10:8 - The Hamites" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Cush was the father of Nimrod, who began to be a mighty one on the earth." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/10-8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/10-8.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/10.htm">Chapter 10</a> > Verse 8</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/10-7.htm" title="Genesis 10:7">◄</a> Genesis 10:8 <a href="/genesis/10-9.htm" title="Genesis 10:9">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/10.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/10.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/10.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Cush was also the ancestor of Nimrod, who was the first heroic warrior on earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/10.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/10.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Cush was the father of Nimrod, who began to be a mighty one on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/10.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/10.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/10.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now Cush fathered Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/10.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/10.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/10.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now Cush was the father of Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/10.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/10.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Cush fathered Nimrod, who began to be powerful in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/10.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Cush fathered Nimrod, who was the first powerful man on earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/10.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/10.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/10.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Cush was the father of Nimrod, the first mighty warrior on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/10.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Cush had a son named Nimrod, who became the world's first great conqueror. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/10.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Cush fathered Nimrod, who became the first fearless leader throughout the land. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/10.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Cush was the father of Nimrod, who began to be a mighty one on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/10.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Cush was the father of Nimrod; he began to be a valiant warrior on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/10.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/10.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/10.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/10.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Cush has begotten Nimrod;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/10.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Cush hath begotten Nimrod;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/10.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be strong in the earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/10.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Now Chus begot Nemrod: he began to be mighty on earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/10.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And then Cush conceived Nimrod; he began to be powerful on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/10.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Cush became the father of Nimrod, who was the first to become a mighty warrior on earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/10.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Cush became the father of Nimrod; he was the first on earth to become a mighty warrior.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/10.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/10.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Cush begot Nemruud; he began to be a champion in the earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/10.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/10.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Chus begot Nebrod: he began to be a giant upon the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/10-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=2142" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/10.htm">The Hamites</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">7</span>The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3568.htm" title="3568: wə·ḵūš (Conj-w:: N-proper-ms) -- Probably of foreign origin; Cush, the name of a son of Ham, and of his territory; also of an Israelite.">Cush</a> <a href="/hebrew/3205.htm" title="3205: yā·laḏ (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage.">was the father of</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5248.htm" title="5248: nim·rōḏ (N-proper-ms) -- A son of Cush and founder of the Bab. kingdom. Or Nimrod; probably of foreign origin; Nimrod, a son of Cush.">Nimrod,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hū (Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">who</a> <a href="/hebrew/2490.htm" title="2490: hê·ḥêl (V-Hifil-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to bore, i.e. to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane, to break, to begin; denom. to play.">began</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: lih·yō·wṯ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">to be</a> <a href="/hebrew/1368.htm" title="1368: gib·bōr (Adj-ms) -- Strong, mighty. Or gibbor; intensive from the same as geber; powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant.">a mighty one</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: bā·’ā·reṣ (Prep-b, Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">on the earth.</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; so it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/11-1.htm">Genesis 11:1-9</a></span><br />Now the whole world had one language and a common form of speech. / And as people journeyed eastward, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. / And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” So they used brick instead of stone, and tar instead of mortar. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/5-6.htm">Micah 5:6</a></span><br />And they will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod with the blade drawn. So He will deliver us when Assyria invades our land and marches into our borders.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/1-10.htm">1 Chronicles 1:10</a></span><br />Cush was the father of Nimrod, who began to be a mighty one on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/10-9.htm">Isaiah 10:9</a></span><br />“Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/13-19.htm">Isaiah 13:19</a></span><br />And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/50-23.htm">Jeremiah 50:23</a></span><br />How the hammer of the whole earth lies broken and shattered! What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/51-58.htm">Jeremiah 51:58</a></span><br />This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Babylon’s thick walls will be leveled, and her high gates consumed by fire. So the labor of the people will be for nothing; the nations will exhaust themselves to fuel the flames.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nahum/3-1.htm">Nahum 3:1-4</a></span><br />Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without prey. / The crack of the whip, the rumble of the wheel, galloping horse and bounding chariot! / Charging horseman, flashing sword, shining spear; heaps of slain, mounds of corpses, dead bodies without end—they stumble over their dead— ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/5-11.htm">Zechariah 5:11</a></span><br />“To build a house for it in the land of Shinar,” he told me. “And when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its pedestal.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-2.htm">Revelation 18:2</a></span><br />And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/17-5.htm">Revelation 17:5</a></span><br />And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/14-8.htm">Revelation 14:8</a></span><br />Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-10.htm">Revelation 18:10</a></span><br />In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-21.htm">Revelation 18:21</a></span><br />Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-37.htm">Matthew 24:37-39</a></span><br />As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. / For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. / And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.</p><p class="hdg">A.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/micah/5-6.htm">Micah 5:6</a></b></br> And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver <i>us</i> from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/6-10.htm">Begat</a> <a href="/genesis/6-10.htm">Begot</a> <a href="/genesis/5-30.htm">Begotten</a> <a href="/genesis/10-7.htm">Cush</a> <a href="/genesis/9-19.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/genesis/9-20.htm">First</a> <a href="/genesis/10-1.htm">Great</a> <a href="/genesis/2-5.htm">Grew</a> <a href="/genesis/7-24.htm">Mighty</a> <a href="/micah/5-6.htm">Nimrod</a> <a href="/zechariah/10-7.htm">Warrior</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/10-13.htm">Begat</a> <a href="/genesis/10-13.htm">Begot</a> <a href="/genesis/10-13.htm">Begotten</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-9.htm">Cush</a> <a href="/genesis/10-25.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/genesis/10-10.htm">First</a> <a href="/genesis/10-9.htm">Great</a> <a href="/genesis/19-25.htm">Grew</a> <a href="/genesis/10-9.htm">Mighty</a> <a href="/genesis/10-9.htm">Nimrod</a> <a href="/exodus/15-3.htm">Warrior</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 10</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/10-1.htm">The generations of Noah.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/10-2.htm">Japheth.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/10-6.htm">Ham.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/10-8.htm">Nimrod becomes the first monarch; the descendants of Canaan.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/10-21.htm">The sons of Shem.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/genesis/10.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>And Cush</b><br />The name "Cush" refers to the son of Ham, who was one of Noah's three sons. In Hebrew, "Cush" (כּוּשׁ) is often associated with the region south of Egypt, known as Ethiopia in modern terms. This connection highlights the spread of Noah's descendants into Africa, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's command to "fill the earth" (<a href="/genesis/9.htm">Genesis 9:1</a>). The mention of Cush here sets the stage for the introduction of his notable offspring, Nimrod, and underscores the genealogical and geographical expansion of humanity post-Flood.<p><b>was the father of Nimrod</b><br />The phrase "was the father of" indicates a direct lineage, emphasizing the importance of genealogies in the Bible. Nimrod, whose name in Hebrew (נִמְרוֹד) is often associated with rebellion or valiant, is a significant figure. His introduction here marks the beginning of a narrative about human ambition and the establishment of early civilizations. Nimrod's lineage from Cush, a son of Ham, places him within the context of the post-Flood world, where the descendants of Noah's sons spread out and established various nations and cultures.<p><b>who began to be</b><br />This phrase suggests the initiation of a new role or status. In the context of Nimrod, it indicates the start of his rise to prominence. The Hebrew root for "began" (הֵחֵל) can imply a commencement of an action or state, highlighting Nimrod's emergence as a significant figure in the ancient world. This beginning marks a shift in the narrative from mere genealogical records to the actions and influence of individuals.<p><b>a mighty one</b><br />The term "mighty one" (גִּבּוֹר) in Hebrew conveys strength, power, and heroism. Nimrod is described as a "gibbor," which can denote a warrior or a person of great influence and authority. This description sets Nimrod apart as a leader and a figure of considerable impact. In a broader biblical context, "gibbor" is used to describe warriors, heroes, and even God Himself (as in <a href="/isaiah/9-6.htm">Isaiah 9:6</a>, "Mighty God"). Nimrod's might is thus both physical and political, suggesting his role in shaping early human societies.<p><b>on the earth</b><br />The phrase "on the earth" situates Nimrod's influence within the broader context of the world. It underscores the geographical and cultural impact of his actions. The Hebrew word for "earth" (אֶרֶץ) can refer to land, territory, or the entire world, emphasizing the extent of Nimrod's reach. This phrase also serves as a reminder of the post-Flood mandate for humanity to spread across the earth, with Nimrod's account illustrating both the fulfillment and the complexities of that divine command.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/10.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) <span class= "bld">Cush begat Nimrod.</span>--This does not mean that Nimrod was the son of Cush, but only that Cush was his ancestor. In the days of Nimrod population had become numerous, and whereas each tribe and family had hitherto lived in independence, subject only to the authority of the natural head, he was able, by his personal vigour, to reduce several tribes to obedience, to prevail upon them to build and inhabit cities, and to consolidate them into one body politic.<p><span class= "bld">He began to be a mighty one.</span>--Heb., <span class= "ital">gibbor= </span>warrior. (See Note on <a href="/genesis/6-4.htm" title="There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.">Genesis 6:4</a>.) The LXX. translate <span class= "ital">giant, </span>whence in fable Nimrod is identified with the Orion of the Greeks, in Hebrew Chesil, and in Arabic Jabbar; but this identification is entirely fanciful, as is probably the idea that he is the Izdubar of the Chaldean legends (<span class= "ital">Chald. Genesis, </span>p. 321). Following the unscholarlike method of explaining Hamite names by Hebrew roots, commentators interpret Nimrod as meaning <span class= "ital">rebel; </span>but the Biblical narrative speaks rather in his commendation, and the foolish traditions which blacken his reputation date only from the time of Josephus. Mr. Sayce connects his name with the Accadian town Amarda (<span class= "ital">Chald. Gen., </span>p. 191).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/10.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And Cush begat</span> - not necessarily as immediate progenitor, any ancestor being in Hebrew styled a father - <span class="cmt_word">Nimrod</span>; the rebel, from <span class="accented">maradh</span>, to rebel; the name of a person, not of a people; <span class="accented">- Namuret in</span> ancient Egyptian. Though not one of the great ethnic heads, he is introduced into the register of nations as the founder of imperialism. Under him society passed from the patriarchal condition, in which each separate clan or tribe owns the sway of its natural head, into that (more abject or more civilized according as it is viewed) in which many different clans or tribes recognize the sway of one who is not their natural head, but has acquired his ascendancy and dominion by conquest. This is the principle of monarchism. Eastern tradition has painted Nimrod as a gigantic oppressor of the people's liberties and an impious rebel-against the Divine authority. Josephus credits him with having instigated the building of the tower of Babel. He has been identified with the Orion of the Greeks. Scripture may seem to convey a bad impression of Nimrod, but it does not sanction the absurdities of Oriental legend. <span class="cmt_word">He began to be a mighty one</span> - <span class="accented">Gibbor</span> (<span class="accented">vide Genesis</span> 6:4); what he had been previously being expressed in ver. 5 - <span class="cmt_word">in the earth</span>. Not <span class="greek">ἐπι τῆς γῆς</span> (LXX.), as if pointing to his gigantic stature, but either among men generally, with reference to his widespread fame, or perhaps better "in the land where he dwelt, which was not Babel, but Arabia (vide ver. 6). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/10-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">And Cush</span><br /><span class="heb">וְכ֖וּשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ḵūš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3568.htm">Strong's 3568: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son of Ham, also his descendants, also a land in the southern Nile Valley</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was the father of</span><br /><span class="heb">יָלַ֣ד</span> <span class="translit">(yā·laḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3205.htm">Strong's 3205: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Nimrod,</span><br /><span class="heb">נִמְרֹ֑ד</span> <span class="translit">(nim·rōḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5248.htm">Strong's 5248: </a> </span><span class="str2">Nimrod -- a son of Cush and founder of the Babylonian kingdom</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who</span><br /><span class="heb">ה֣וּא</span> <span class="translit">(hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">grew</span><br /><span class="heb">הֵחֵ֔ל</span> <span class="translit">(hê·ḥêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2490.htm">Strong's 2490: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to be</span><br /><span class="heb">לִֽהְי֥וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(lih·yō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a mighty warrior</span><br /><span class="heb">גִּבֹּ֖ר</span> <span class="translit">(gib·bōr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1368.htm">Strong's 1368: </a> </span><span class="str2">Powerful, warrior, tyrant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on the earth.</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּאָֽרֶץ׃</span> <span class="translit">(bā·’ā·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/10-8.htm">Genesis 10:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/10-8.htm">Genesis 10:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/10-8.htm">Genesis 10:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/10-8.htm">Genesis 10:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/10-8.htm">Genesis 10:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/10-8.htm">Genesis 10:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/10-8.htm">Genesis 10:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/10-8.htm">Genesis 10:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/10-8.htm">Genesis 10:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/10-8.htm">Genesis 10:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/10-8.htm">OT Law: Genesis 10:8 Cush became the father of Nimrod (Gen. 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