JOSEPH W. TKACH
PASTOR GENERAL

February 1989

Dear Friend:

Thank you for your question concerning Nimrod.

While the Bible is the foundation of all knowledge, in certain instances it gives us only the briefest account of people. We must, therefore, look to other reliable sources of information.

Such is the case with Nimrod. His name appears only four times in the Scriptures. Only three of those are direct references to the man himself.

Genesis 10:8-9, the first passage in the Bible where Nimrod is mentioned, is not clear in the King James Version, but, when properly understood, holds several vital keys to Nimrod's true nature. The name Nimrod itself denotes "one who rebels" or "come, let us rebel." The word before in verse 9 actually means "in defiance of." Nimrod was a "mighty one," that is, a hero to and of the people -- in defiance of God! He turned the people away from God to himself for protection.

The Jerusalem Targum, which is a translation of the Hebrew Old Testament into the Aramaic language of Christ's day, says the following: "He [Nimrod] was powerful in hunting and wickedness before the Lord, for he was a hunter of the sons of men, and he said to them, 'Depart from the judgment of the Lord, and adhere to the judgment of Nimrod!' Therefore is it said: 'As Nimrod [is] the strong one, strong in hunting, and in wickedness before the Lord.'"

Nimrod is also mentioned in the genealogy listed in the first chapter of I Chronicles (verse 10). In addition, his name appears in Micah 5:6. If you wish to study this subject further, you could refer to the article "Nimrod" in "A Dictionary of the Bible," by James Hastings.

Whenever we may assist you further with your study of the Bible, please let us hear from you. It is our pleasure to serve you.

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT