Cush
Son of Ham and father of Nimrod in Genesis 10
- Father
- Ham, son of Noah
- Brothers
- Mizraim (Egypt), Put, Canaan
- Sons
- Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, Sabtecha; Nimrod
- Land
- Usually Kush (Nubia), south of Egypt
- Main text
- Genesis 10:6–8
Noah's grandson in the Table of Nations, father of Nimrod, whose name is also the biblical name of the land of Kush south of Egypt.
What is Cush known for?
Cush is the eldest son of Ham in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10. His brothers' names are also names of lands, Mizraim for Egypt and Canaan for the land of that name, and Cush likewise names a country: the Kingdom of Kush on the Nile south of Egypt, in what is now Sudan. The Hebrew Bible often uses "Cushite" for people from that region.
Genesis 10:8 adds that "Cush begat Nimrod," who began to be a mighty one in the earth and ruled cities in Mesopotamia, including Babel, Erech (Uruk) and Accad. Because Nimrod is placed in Mesopotamia, some scholars suggest that this Cush reflects a different name, perhaps the city of Kish or the Kassites, which became confused with Nubian Kush.
Cush is known only from biblical genealogies and their interpretation. The Cushitic language family of East Africa takes its name from him.
Cush appears as Nimrod's father in the Genesis verses the site quotes.
Mentioned on these pages
- Rabbit holeNimrod
- PassageNimrod, the mighty one (Genesis 10:8–10)
Sources
- Genesis 10 (KJV), Bible GatewayPrimary text
- Wikipedia, 'Cush (Bible)'Reference
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