Togarmah
Togarmah was a son of Gomer and grandson of Japheth, mentioned in the Table of Nations.
Biography
Togarmah appears in the ancient Table of Nations (Genesis 10:3; 1 Chronicles 1:6) as the son of Gomer and grandson of Japheth, one of Noah's three sons. His name became associated with a people and geographical region in the ancient Near East, most commonly identified by scholars with areas of Anatolia, possibly Cappadocia or Armenia. Togarmah surfaces again in the prophetic literature: Ezekiel 27:14 describes the people of Beth-togarmah trading horses, war horses, and mules in the markets of Tyre, suggesting a culture known for equestrian trade. In Ezekiel 38:6, Beth-togarmah appears among the nations arrayed in the eschatological army of Gog, marking the people as a distant northern nation in prophetic geography.
Significance
As a figure in the Table of Nations, Togarmah represents the biblical conviction that all peoples of the earth trace their origins to a common humanity through Noah, and ultimately to the creator God. His lineage through Japheth illustrates how God's purposes extend to all ethnic and national groups, not only the Semitic line of Shem. The later prophetic use of Togarmah in Ezekiel's oracles underscores that no nation, however distant or powerful, lies outside the scope of divine sovereignty. His story invites reflection on both human solidarity and the universal reach of biblical eschatology.
Verse Appearances (2)
Genesis
1 Chronicles
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]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]