"And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Nimrod Meaning in the Bible
Nimrod
boy
Nimrod means "Rebel; Mighty hunter", a boy's name of Hebrew origin. Nimrod appears in the King James Bible, and Genesis 10:8-9 is the passage most often tied to it. Nimrod warns that might without submission to God becomes rebellion — strength is only as noble as the cause it serves.
Is Nimrod in the Bible?
Yes — Nimrod appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 10:8-9.
Pronunciation:/NIM-rod/
OriginHebrew
MeaningRebel; Mighty hunter
What does Nimrod mean?
Nimrod is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning "Rebel; Mighty hunter". Nimrod was described as 'a mighty hunter before the LORD' and the founder of great cities including Babel and Nineveh.
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Editor’s reflection
'A mighty hunter before the LORD' — and how an ancient king became a playground insult.
Nimrod (נִמְרוֹד) is usually connected to the Hebrew root marad, 'to rebel,' though the derivation is disputed and may be a folk etymology built on the character rather than the source of the name. Genesis 10:8–10 introduces him as the son of Cush who 'began to be a mighty one in the earth' — 'a mighty hunter before the LORD' — whose kingdom began with Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh in the land of Shinar.
Genesis never explicitly says he built the tower of Babel; that link comes from later Jewish tradition, which reads his Babel-centred kingdom in Genesis 10 alongside the tower narrative in Genesis 11 and casts him as the archetypal proud king. Micah 5:6 later calls Assyria 'the land of Nimrod,' which shows how firmly the name had attached to empire.
The modern slang sense — 'nimrod' meaning fool — has nothing to do with Scripture. It is widely traced to twentieth-century American cartoons using the phrase 'mighty hunter' sarcastically, and the sarcasm outlived the reference. As a given name it is effectively unused in English today.
“He was a mighty hunter before the LORD.”
What does Nimrod mean in the Bible?
Nimrod means "Rebel; Mighty hunter" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Nimrod was described as 'a mighty hunter before the LORD' and the founder of great cities including Babel and Nineveh. Tradition associates him with the Tower of Babel — a cautionary example of using God-given strength for self-glorification rather than divine worship.
Where does Nimrod appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Nimrod is connected to 1 key passage in the King James Bible, beginning with Genesis 10:8-9. Each verse is quoted in full below.
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What are the variants and nicknames of Nimrod?
Nimrod has 1 recorded variant, short form, and translation across languages and biblical traditions.
Variants & related forms
Which books of the Bible mention Nimrod?
Nimrod is mentioned across 3 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Nimrod?
Nimrod warns that might without submission to God becomes rebellion — strength is only as noble as the cause it serves.
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Q&A
Who Was Nimrod in the Bible?
People & Characters
What names are related to Nimrod?
Names like Nimrod
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "Rebel; Mighty hunter" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Nimrod
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Nimrod
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Nimrod name meaning: frequently asked questions
The Bible does not say he did. Genesis 10:10 places the beginning of his kingdom at Babel in Shinar, and Genesis 11 tells the tower story without naming him. The identification comes from later Jewish and Christian tradition, notably Josephus, not from the KJV text itself.
Yes — Nimrod appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 10:8-9.
Nimrod means "Rebel; Mighty hunter." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in Genesis 10:8-9, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Nimrod
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Nimrod?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Nimrod?
You can read every verse where Nimrod appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.