Bible Dictionaries
Nimrod

Holman Bible Dictionary

(nihm' rahd) Personal name meaning, “we shall rebel.” Son of Cush or Ethiopia (Genesis 10:8-10; 1 Chronicles 1:10 ). A hunter and builder of the kingdom of Babel who some Bible students have linked to Tukulti-Ninurta, an Assyrian king (about 1246-1206 B.C.). The bible does not give sufficient information to connect him with any other known figure of history. Others think that Amenophis III of Egypt (about 1411-1375 B.C.) or the heroic Gilgamesh might have been the ancient Nimrod. Regardless, extremely popular legends involve Nimrod as a ruler in both Assyrian and Egyptian lore. The prophet Micah called Assyria “the land of Nimrod” (1 Chronicles 5:6 ). Nimrod shows that the great Mesopotamian culture had its origin from the creative work of the God of Israel.