Page 277 - Foundations

pursuing his quarry. The word is at times used as a reference to the hunter, while at other times it is
a reference to the wild game that he has slain for food. This same word is used when the Bible speaks
of Esau, the son of Isaac, being a skilled huntsman (tsayid), and it is used to speak of the venison
(tsayid) that Esau brought to his father.

Some have suggested that Nimrod was more than a mighty hunter of wild animals. They contend that
he was a hunter of men, being skilled in warfare. In fact, some Bible translations describe Nimrod as
a mighty warrior and mighty hunter.

Genesis 10:8-9
Cush was the father of Nimrod, who grew to be a mighty warrior (gibbor) on the earth. He was a
mighty hunter (gibbor tsayid) before the Lord; that is why it is said, "Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter
(gibbor tsayid) before the Lord."
[New International Version]

Genesis 10:8-10
Cush was also the ancestor of Nimrod, who was the first heroic warrior (gibbor) on earth. Since he
was the greatest hunter (gibbor tsayid) in the world, his name became proverbial. People would say,
"This man is like Nimrod, the greatest hunter (gibbor tsayid) in the world."
[New Living Translation]

The two translations above obviously reveal the beliefs of the translators and have strayed from a
strict literal interpretation. There is nothing in the Hebrew wording to denote that Nimrod was
considered a “heroic” figure, nor is the word “warrior” found in the Hebrew text. The same criticism
could be leveled at Barnhouse’s translation, for there is no mention of Nimrod being a “despot,” or
a “tyrant.” Such ideas may be deduced from other evidence within or without the pages of Scripture,
but a strict literal rendering of the original Hebrew manuscripts does not lead the translator to these
interpretations.

There is much historical evidence to lend support to the idea of Nimrod being a mighty “hunter,” for
it was quite common for Chaldean monarchs to be depicted in conflict with a wild animal. These
images helped shape public opinion about the ruler, suggesting that they were virile, strong, and
fearless.

A Chaldean King Slaying a Lion
(Image from The Five Great Monarchies of the Ancient World, George Rawlinson)