Who was Cush in the Bible?

Cush was a son of Ham and a grandson of Noah. He is listed as the father of several descendants, including the famous hunter-king Nimrod, who founded cities like Babel (Genesis 10:6-8).

What is the significance of Cush in the Bible?

Cush is significant as the ancestral father of nations and peoples, often associated with the region south of Egypt (sometimes called Ethiopia). His lineage connects to the early post-flood civilizations and the rise of powerful kingdoms.

What key events involve Cush in the Bible?

The key event is his listing in the Table of Nations, which traces the repopulation of the earth after the flood through Noah's sons (Genesis 10). His life is primarily defined by his descendants, who became influential nations.

Cush

Old TestamentPatriarchsMaleSonFather

Cush, a son of Ham, was the father of Nimrod and other descendants who became nations. (Gen.10.6,7,8; 1Ch.1.8,9,10)

Cush

Biography

Cush was the eldest son of Ham and grandson of Noah, appearing in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10:6-8. He fathered seven sons who became the ancestors of various peoples and territories, most notably Nimrod, described as "a mighty hunter before the LORD" and the founder of the first great empire, including Babel, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh in Shinar, and later Nineveh and other cities of Assyria (Genesis 10:8-12). The name Cush in the Hebrew Bible refers both to this individual and to the land that bears his name, the region south of Egypt generally identified with ancient Nubia or Ethiopia. Cush also appears in 1 Chronicles 1:8-10, which repeats his genealogical record as part of the comprehensive lineage from Adam.

Significance

Cush's genealogical position carries profound implications for biblical theology and the unity of the human race. As Ham's firstborn, Cush became the progenitor of African and Cushite peoples, and his land appears throughout the prophetic literature as a nation that would ultimately bow before Israel's God (Isaiah 18:7; Psalm 68:31). The naming of Nimrod as his most celebrated son connects Cush to the origins of empire, urbanization, and the concentration of human power that would consistently resist God's purposes, from Babel to Babylon to Nineveh. Yet the prophetic vision held that even Cush's descendants would one day stretch out their hands to God, foreshadowing the gospel's ultimate reach to all nations.

Verse Appearances (6)

Genesis

Genesis 10:6 Genesis 10:7 Genesis 10:8

1Chr

1Chr 1:8 1Chr 1:9 1Chr 1:10

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources