Nimrod is a figure mentioned in the Bible, primarily known as a mighty hunter and a ruler in ancient Mesopotamia. His story is primarily found in the Book of Genesis.
1. **Genesis 10:8-12**: This passage describes Nimrod as the son of Cush and a mighty warrior on the earth. It mentions that he began to be a mighty one and that his kingdom included Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh in the land of Shinar. The text reads as follows:
– “Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD. Therefore it is said, ‘Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD.’ The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.”
2. **Genesis 11:1-9**: Although Nimrod is not directly named in this passage, the Tower of Babel, which he is traditionally associated with, is described here. This narrative depicts humanity’s attempt to build a tower reaching to heaven, leading to God confusing their language and scattering them across the earth.
3. **Micah 5:6**: Nimrod is referenced as a symbol of oppression and destruction in this prophetic book. The verse mentions that God will deliver people from the Assyrian, who tries to invade and oppress them, invoking Nimrod in the imagery of the oppressor.
Nimrod has become a figure often associated with rebellion against God and the beginnings of organized civilization, with his name frequently evoking the spirit of defiance and the challenge of establishing kingdoms apart from divine guidance.