Nimrod

Nimrod is presented in the genealogy of Noah’s descendants as a son of Cush who became a mighty figure on earth and a renowned hunter before the LORD. His brief notice links personal prowess to the beginnings of urban rule, naming Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh in Shinar as the first cities of his kingdom.

Identity and Lineage

Nimrod appears in the account of the descendants of Ham, one of Noah’s three sons. He is named as a son of Cush, placing him within the genealogy that traces the peoples and lands said to have spread across the earth after the flood.

Might and Reputation

The narrative says Nimrod began to be mighty on earth and singles him out as a mighty hunter before the LORD. His reputation is condensed into a proverbial comparison: “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD.” The text gives no account of his hunts or of how his power was exercised, making the epithet itself the defining measure of his renown.

Kingdom and Significance

Nimrod’s notice moves from individual might to political geography: the beginning of his kingdom comprised Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, located in the land of Shinar. The passage identifies these cities as the first centers of his rule but does not narrate their construction or describe the extent or later course of his kingdom.

Within the genealogy, Nimrod is a notable bridge between descent and settlement. His lineage connects him to Noah’s post-flood family, while the named cities associate his remembered might with the emergence of a kingdom and urban centers.