After listing the descendants of Noah’s sons, Genesis introduces Nimrod in Genesis 10:8–9:
“Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, ‘Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.’”
Nimrod is significant because he is the first man described as a “mighty one on the earth.” His name is often associated with rebellion, as the root meaning of Nimrod implies revolt. The phrase “before the Lord” in this context likely suggests opposition or defiance, rather than faithfulness. Instead of using his strength for God’s glory, Nimrod used it to establish his own power and dominion.
Genesis 10:10 adds:
“And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.”
Nimrod was the founder of Babel, which later became Babylon, a city synonymous with pride, idolatry, and human arrogance throughout Scripture. He is strongly connected to the building of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, where humanity sought to make a name for themselves and resist God’s command to fill the earth (Genesis 11:4). This makes Nimrod a central figure in organized rebellion against God’s authority.
Micah 5:6 even refers to Assyria as “the land of Nimrod,” indicating that his influence extended far beyond his lifetime, shaping future empires that opposed God’s purposes.
Nimrod represents human pride, self-exaltation, and the establishment of kingdoms apart from God’s will. His legacy set the pattern for worldly powers that stand in opposition to God’s kingdom. This account reminds us that every attempt to build life or society apart from God ultimately leads to judgment, as seen in the events at Babel.
