Nimrod

Portrait of Nimrod

Nimrod is the mighty hunter-king who built Babel and established tyrannical rule after the Flood - the quintessential figure of human ambition opposing divine order in the Book of Jasher. Among the postdiluvian figures who embody both human ambition and defiance of divine order, Nimrod stands out in the apocryphal expansions of Genesis preserved in Jubilees and Jasher. These texts portray him as a descendant of Cush who rises to unparalleled power through skill in hunting and warfare, gradually consolidating authority over the scattered peoples. Jubilees 10 situates his activities within the broader division of the earth among Noah’s sons, while Jasher 7 details his early exploits as a mighty hunter whose prowess earns him kingship, transforming him from an individual warrior into the ruler of expanding territories that include Babel, Erech, and Accad. The same sources develop his role as the architect of the Tower of Babel project, framing the enterprise as a deliberate attempt to secure lasting fame and protection against future divine judgment. Jasher 9-10 recounts how Nimrod organizes the construction, enforces participation through royal decree, and suppresses dissent, thereby positioning the tower as both a technological marvel and an act of collective rebellion. This episode underscores the tension between human self-sufficiency and the covenantal framework established after the flood, themes that resonate throughout the Enochic corpus where angelic and human transgressions repeatedly disrupt the created order. Nimrod further appears as an antagonist to Abraham, whose refusal to participate in idolatrous worship leads to direct confrontation. Jasher 12 narrates the king’s command that Abraham be cast into a fiery furnace, only for divine intervention to preserve the patriarch and expose the limits of royal power. Within the wider Enochian tradition, such episodes illustrate how postdiluvian rulers could perpetuate the rebellious patterns associated with the Watchers, turning political authority into an instrument that challenges the sovereignty of the Most High. These legendary expansions thus transform a brief biblical notice into a sustained meditation on kingship, idolatry, and the persistence of antediluvian disorder.

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Biography

Occupation
King and Mighty Hunter
Father
Cush
Era
Post-Flood

Family

Parents
Cush
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Nimrod
King Jasher Hunter

Key Chapters

The Book of Jasher 7 The Generations of Noah. The Garments of Skin made for Adam Stolen by Ham and they Descend to Nimrod the Mighty Hunter, who Becomes the King of the Wh... 9 min read Nimrod becomes a mighty tyrant; he forces the people to worship him and builds g... The Book of Jasher 8 The Wise Men of Nimrod, by their Divination, Foretell the Evil that Abram will do to Nimrod's Kingdom, and they seek to kill the Child. Abram, with hi... 9 min read Nimrod orders the death of the infant Abraham; later, when Abram destroys the id... The Book of Jasher 9 When Ten Years Old, Abram goes to Noah and Shem, Remains with them for Thirty-nine Years, and is Taught in all the Ways of the Lord. The Wickedness of... 10 min read Under Nimrod's leadership, the people build the tower in Shinar to reach heaven ... The Book of Jasher 27 Esau slays Nimrod and Two of his Mighty Men. Returns Home weary from the Fight, and sells his Birthright for Value. 4 min read

Key Passages

Nimrod's Wicked Reign

The Book of Jasher 7:1-5

Nimrod becomes a mighty tyrant; he forces the people to worship him and builds great cities; he is the first to wear a crown and to hunt men as well as beasts.

A1nd these are the names of the sons of Noah: Japheth, Ham and Shem; and children were born to them after the flood, for they had taken wives before the flood.

2 These are the sons of Japheth; Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras, seven sons. 3 And the sons of Gomer were Askinaz, Rephath and Tegarmah. 4 And the sons of Magog were Elichanaf and Lubal. 5 And the children of Madai were Achon, Zeelo, Chazoni and Lot.

Read full chapter: The Book of Jasher 7 →

Nimrod and Abraham

The Book of Jasher 8:1-5

Nimrod orders the death of the infant Abraham; later, when Abram destroys the idols, Nimrod casts him into a fiery furnace from which God miraculously delivers him.

A1nd it was in the night that Abram was born, that all the servants of Terah, and all the wise men of Nimrod, and his conjurors came and ate and drank in the house of Terah, and they rejoiced with him on that night.

2 And when all the wise men and conjurors went out from the house of Terah, they lifted up their eyes toward heaven that night to look at the stars, and they saw, and behold one very large star came from the east and ran in the heavens, and he swallowed up the four stars from the four sides of the heavens. 3 And all the wise men of the king and his conjurors were astonished at the sight, and the sages understood this matter, and they knew its import. 4 And they said to each other, This only betokens the child that has been born to Terah this night, who will grow up and be fruitful, and multiply, and possess all the earth, he and his children for ever, and he and his seed will slay great kings, and inherit their lands. 5 And the wise men and conjurors went home that night, and in the morning all these wise men and conjurors rose up early, and assembled in an appointed house.

Read full chapter: The Book of Jasher 8 →

The Tower of Babel

The Book of Jasher 9:1-5

Under Nimrod's leadership, the people build the tower in Shinar to reach heaven and make a name for themselves; God confounds their language and scatters them.

A1nd Haran, the son of Terah, Abram's oldest brother, took a wife in those days.

2 Haran was thirty-nine years old when he took her; and the wife of Haran conceived and bare a son, and he called his name Lot. 3 And she conceived again and bare a daughter, and she called her name Milca; and she again conceived and bare a daughter, and she called her name Sarai. 4 Haran was forty-two years old when he begat Sarai, which was in the tenth year of the life of Abram; and in those days Abram and his mother and nurse went out from the cave, as the king and his subjects had forgotten the affair of Abram. 5 And when Abram came out from the cave, he went to Noah and his son Shem, and he remained with them to learn the instruction of the Lord and his ways, and no man knew where Abram was, and Abram served Noah and Shem his son for a long time.

Read full chapter: The Book of Jasher 9 →

Nimrod's rise to power

The Book of Jasher 7:23-50

And Cush the son of Ham, the son of Noah, took a wife in those days in his old age, and she bare a son, and they called ...

A23nd Cush the son of Ham, the son of Noah, took a wife in those days in his old age, and she bare a son, and they called his name Nimrod, saying, At that time the sons of men again began to rebel and transgress against God, and the child grew up, and his father loved him exceedingly, for he was the son of his old age.

24 And the garments of skin which God made for Adam and his wife, when they went out of the garden, were given to Cush. 25 For after the death of Adam and his wife, the garments were given to Enoch, the son of Jared, and when Enoch was taken up to God, he gave them to Methuselah, his son. 26 And at the death of Methuselah, Noah took them and brought them to the ark, and they were with him until he went out of the ark. 27 And in their going out, Ham stole those garments from Noah his father, and he took them and hid them from his brothers. 28 And when Ham begat his first born Cush, he gave him the garments in secret, and they were with Cush many days. 29 And Cush also concealed them from his sons and brothers, and when Cush had begotten Nimrod, he gave him those garments through his love for him, and Nimrod grew up, and when he was twenty years old he put on those garments. 30 And Nimrod became strong when he put on the garments, and God gave him might and strength, and he was a mighty hunter in the earth, yea, he was a mighty hunter in the field, and he hunted the animals and he built altars, and he offered upon them the animals before the Lord. 31 And Nimrod strengthened himself, and he rose up from amongst his brethren, and he fought the battles of his brethren against all their enemies round about. 32 And the Lord delivered all the enemies of his brethren in his hands, and God prospered him from time to time in his battles, and he reigned upon earth. 33 Therefore it became current in those days, when a man ushered forth those that he had trained up for battle, he would say to them, Like God did to Nimrod, who was a mighty hunter in the earth, and who succeeded in the battles that prevailed against his brethren, that he delivered them from the hands of their enemies, so may God strengthen us and deliver us this day. 34 And when Nimrod was forty years old, at that time there was a war between his brethren and the children of Japheth, so that they were in the power of their enemies. 35 And Nimrod went forth at that time, and he assembled all the sons of Cush and their families, about four hundred and sixty men, and he hired also from some of his friends and acquaintances about eighty men, and be gave them their hire, and he went with them to battle, and when he was on the road, Nimrod strengthened the hearts of the people that went with him. 36 And he said to them, Do not fear, neither be alarmed, for all our enemies will be delivered into our hands, and you may do with them as you please. 37 And all the men that went were about five hundred, and they fought against their enemies, and they destroyed them, and subdued them, and Nimrod placed standing officers over them in their respective places. 38 And he took some of their children as security, and they were all servants to Nimrod and to his brethren, and Nimrod and all the people that were with him turned homeward. 39 And when Nimrod had joyfully returned from battle, after having conquered his enemies, all his brethren, together with those who knew him before, assembled to make him king over them, and they placed the regal crown upon his head. 40 And he set over his subjects and people, princes, judges, and rulers, as is the custom amongst kings. 41 And he placed Terah the son of Nahor the prince of his host, and he dignified him and elevated him above all his princes. 42 And whilst he was reigning according to his heart's desire, after having conquered all his enemies around, he advised with his counselors to build a city for his palace, and they did so. 43 And they found a large valley opposite to the east, and they built him a large and extensive city, and Nimrod called the name of the city that he built Shinar, for the Lord had vehemently shaken his enemies and destroyed them. 44 And Nimrod dwelt in Shinar, and he reigned securely, and he fought with his enemies and he subdued them, and he prospered in all his battles, and his kingdom became very great. 45 And all nations and tongues heard of his fame, and they gathered themselves to him, and they bowed down to the earth, and they brought him offerings, and he became their lord and king, and they all dwelt with him in the city at Shinar, and Nimrod reigned in the earth over all the sons of Noah, and they were all under his power and counsel. 46 And all the earth was of one tongue and words of union, but Nimrod did not go in the ways of the Lord, and he was more wicked than all the men that were before him, from the days of the flood until those days. 47 And he made gods of wood and stone, and he bowed down to them, and he rebelled against the Lord, and taught all his subjects and the people of the earth his wicked ways; and Mardon his son was more wicked than his father. 48 And every one that heard of the acts of Mardon the son of Nimrod would say, concerning him, From the wicked goeth forth wickedness; therefore it became a proverb in the whole earth, saying, From the wicked goeth forth wickedness, and it was current in the words of men from that time to this. 49 And Terah the son of Nahor, prince of Nimrod's host, was in those days very great in the sight of the king and his subjects, and the king and princes loved him, and they elevated him very high. 50 And Terah took a wife and her name was Amthelo the daughter of Cornebo; and the wife of Terah conceived and bare him a son in those days.

Read full chapter: The Book of Jasher 7 →

Esau slays Nimrod

The Book of Jasher 27:1-12

And Esau at that time, after the death of Abraham, frequently went in the field to hunt....

A1nd Esau at that time, after the death of Abraham, frequently went in the field to hunt.

2 And Nimrod king of Babel, the same was Amraphel, also frequently went with his mighty men to hunt in the field, and to walk about with his men in the cool of the day. 3 And Nimrod was observing Esau all the days, for a jealousy was formed in the heart of Nimrod against Esau all the days. 4 And on a certain day Esau went in the field to hunt, and he found Nimrod walking in the wilderness with his two men. 5 And all his mighty men and his people were with him in the wilderness, but they removed at a distance from him, and they went from him in different directions to hunt, and Esau concealed himself for Nimrod, and he lurked for him in the wilderness. 6 And Nimrod and his men that were with him did not know him, and Nimrod and his men frequently walked about in the field at the cool of the day, and to know where his men were hunting in the field. 7 And Nimrod and two of his men that were with him came to the place where they were, when Esau started suddenly from his lurking place, and drew his sword, and hastened and ran to Nimrod and cut off his head. 8 And Esau fought a desperate fight with the two men that were with Nimrod, and when they called out to him, Esau turned to them and smote them to death with his sword. 9 And all the mighty men of Nimrod, who had left him to go to the wilderness, heard the cry at a distance, and they knew the voices of those two men, and they ran to know the cause of it, when they found their king and the two men that were with him lying dead in the wilderness. 10 And when Esau saw the mighty men of Nimrod coming at a distance, he fled, and thereby escaped; and Esau took the valuable garments of Nimrod, which Nimrod's father had bequeathed to Nimrod, and with which Nimrod prevailed over the whole land, and he ran and concealed them in his house. 11 And Esau took those garments and ran into the city on account of Nimrod's men, and he came unto his father's house wearied and exhausted from fight, and he was ready to die through grief when he approached his brother Jacob and sat before him. 12 And he said unto his brother Jacob, Behold I shall die this day, and wherefore then do I want the birthright? And Jacob acted wisely with Esau in this matter, and Esau sold his birthright to Jacob, for it was so brought about by the Lord.

Read full chapter: The Book of Jasher 27 →

Nimrod's garments of power

The Book of Jasher 7:24-30

And the garments of skin which God made for Adam and his wife, when they went out of the garden, were given to Cush....

A24nd the garments of skin which God made for Adam and his wife, when they went out of the garden, were given to Cush.

25 For after the death of Adam and his wife, the garments were given to Enoch, the son of Jared, and when Enoch was taken up to God, he gave them to Methuselah, his son. 26 And at the death of Methuselah, Noah took them and brought them to the ark, and they were with him until he went out of the ark. 27 And in their going out, Ham stole those garments from Noah his father, and he took them and hid them from his brothers. 28 And when Ham begat his first born Cush, he gave him the garments in secret, and they were with Cush many days. 29 And Cush also concealed them from his sons and brothers, and when Cush had begotten Nimrod, he gave him those garments through his love for him, and Nimrod grew up, and when he was twenty years old he put on those garments. 30 And Nimrod became strong when he put on the garments, and God gave him might and strength, and he was a mighty hunter in the earth, yea, he was a mighty hunter in the field, and he hunted the animals and he built altars, and he offered upon them the animals before the Lord.

Read full chapter: The Book of Jasher 7 →

Related

Characters

Geography

Timeline Events

Themes

Did You Know?

1

Nimrod is portrayed as the first tyrant who forced idol worship.

2

He is central to the Tower of Babel story and the conflict with young Abraham.

3

In Jasher 7 Nimrod rises from mighty hunter to king whose territories expand to include Babel, Erech, and Accad.

4

Jubilees 10 places Nimrod's consolidation of power amid the division of the earth among Noah's sons.

5

A descendant of Cush, Nimrod gains unparalleled postdiluvian authority through skill in hunting and warfare.