Genesis 10:8

And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. Genesis 10:8 (KJV)

The verse appears within the genealogical account of Noah’s descendants, commonly called the Table of Nations, recorded in Genesis 10. This chapter details the lineages of Noah’s three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—and the nations that sprang from them. In Genesis 10:8 we meet Nimrod, identified as the son of Cush, who himself was a son of Ham, one of Noah’s offspring.

The name Nimrod is understood to mean “rebel” or “we will rebel,” a meaning that casts a negative light on his character. Genesis 10:9‑12 expands on his reputation: “He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. Out of that land went forth Asshur and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.”

These verses portray Nimrod as a prominent figure in the early post‑Flood era, credited with founding several key cities in the land of Shinar, later known as Babylonia. His description as a “mighty hunter before the LORD” highlights his prowess in hunting, yet the phrase also suggests a desire for personal glory and power that could lead to rebellion against God’s plans.

The cities associated with Nimrod—Babel (later Babylon), Erech, Accad, and Calneh—were important centers of early civilization. Babel, in particular, becomes infamous in Genesis 11:1‑9 for the Tower of Babel, an episode that illustrates human pride and the attempt to exalt oneself apart from God.

While Nimrod’s achievements in building cities and establishing a kingdom are not explicitly condemned in Scripture, the emphasis on his “mighty hunter” reputation and the subsequent rise of Babel point to a trajectory of human ambition that disregards divine authority. The biblical record therefore uses Nimrod as a reminder of the consequences of rebellion and the lure of self‑glorification. His story serves as a cautionary tale against seeking power and greatness apart from God’s purposes and commands.

Overall, Genesis 10:8 and the surrounding passages present Nimrod as a figure of historical significance, illustrating both the development of early civilizations and the potential dangers of pride and rebellion against God.