Genesis 10:11
in Genesis 10From that land he went forth into Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Out of that land he went forth into Assyria, and builded Nineveh, and Rehoboth-Ir, and Calah,
KJV
Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,
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This verse in Genesis 10
Commentary
8 notes on this verse(Verse 11) From that land came Assur, and he built Nineveh and the city of Rehoboth. From this land of the Assyrians, the empire sprouted, founded by Ninus, son of Belus, and it is a great city which the Hebrews call Nineveh. The entire prophecy of Jonah pertains to its destruction or repentance. And when it says 'Nineveh and the city of Rehoboth,' we should not think that there are two cities, but because Rehoboth means streets, it should be read as 'And he built Nineveh, and the streets of the city.'
This site's exposition
His kingdom began in Babylon
on Genesis 10:10-12
Babylon, Erech, Accad and Calneh are the first cities of his kingdom, all in the land of Shinar. Nimrod went on from there into Assyria and built Nineveh and Calah, and Babylon and Nineveh both begin in one man's reign, both later carrying Israel and Judah into exile. Shinar becomes a fixed address in Scripture.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
From that land came forth Asshur, and he built Nineveh and the streets of the city. From that land, from the land of Shinar it is said, from which the empire of the Assyrians sprang up, who from the name of Ninus the son of …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Out of that land went forth Ashur,....
The spirit of building is the common effect of a spirit of pride. It is daring, and will stick at nothing. Nimrod's name signifies rebellion, which (if indeed he did abuse his power to the oppression of his neighbours) teaches us that tyrants to men are rebels to God, and their rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Out of that land went forth Asshur - The marginal reading is to be preferred here. He - Nimrod, went out into Assyria and built Nineveh; and hence Assyria is called the land of Nimrod, Mic 5:6. Thus did this mighty hunter extend his dominions in every possible way. The city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, is supposed to have had its name from Ninus, the son of Nimrod; but probably Ninus and Nimrod are the same person.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
This raid into Assyria was an invasion of the territories of Shem, and hence the name "Nimrod," signifying "rebel," is supposed to have been conferred on him from his daring revolt against the divine distribution.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
This raid into Assyria was an invasion of the territories of Shem, and hence the name "Nimrod," signifying "rebel," is supposed to have been conferred on him from his daring revolt against the divine distribution.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
OUT OF THAT LAND — when Nimrod reigned over it — WENT FORTH ASSHUR, meaning he went forth to Asshur for Asshur was one of the sons of Shem. 279 Verse.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
It appears to me that this is connected to and builded Nineveh.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| הָאָ֥רֶץ | haaretz | the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| הַהִ֖וא | hahiv' | <the> that | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| יָצָ֣א | yatza' | he went forth | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| אַשּׁ֑וּר | ʾashur | Assyria | H804 → | 151 times |
| וַיִּ֙בֶן֙ | vaiyiven | and he built | H1129 → | 376 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| נִ֣ינְוֵ֔ה | ninveh | Nineveh | H5210 → | |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| רְחֹבֹ֥ת | rechovot | Rehoboth- | H7344 → | 4 times |
| עִ֖יר | ʾir | Ir | H5893 → | |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| כָּֽלַח׃ | kalach | Calah | H3625 → |
מִן־from
min-H4480 →1188 times
הָאָ֥רֶץthe land
haaretzH776 →2504 times
הַהִ֖וא<the> that
hahiv'H1931 →1879 times
יָצָ֣אhe went forth
yatza'H3318 →1067 times
אַשּׁ֑וּרAssyria
ʾashurH804 →151 times
וַיִּ֙בֶן֙and he built
vaiyivenH1129 →376 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
נִ֣ינְוֵ֔הNineveh
ninvehH5210 →
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
רְחֹבֹ֥תRehoboth-
rechovotH7344 →4 times
עִ֖ירIr
ʾirH5893 →
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
כָּֽלַח׃Calah
kalachH3625 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Nahum 1:1This is the burden against Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:
it leads to
- Zephaniah 2:13
And He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria; He will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as a desert.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Zephaniah 2:13
Through
Jonah 1:2“Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.”
it leads to
- Genesis 18:20–21
Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous,
- Isaiah 58:1
“Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins.
- Nahum 1:1
This is the burden against Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:
- Jonah 4:11
So should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well?”
- Zephaniah 2:13–15
And He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria; He will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as a desert.
- Genesis 18:20–21
Through
Nahum 3:7Then all who see you will recoil from you and say, ‘Nineveh is devastated; who will grieve for her?’ Where can I find comforters for you?”
it leads to
- Isaiah 51:19
These pairs have befallen you: devastation and destruction, famine and sword. Who will grieve for you? Who can comfort you?
- Jeremiah 15:5
Who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem? Who will mourn for you? Who will turn aside to ask about your welfare?
- Isaiah 51:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Genesis
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PlaceUpper MesopotamiaAssyriaMesopotamian empire whose capital Nineveh repented at Jonah's preaching and fell to Nahum's burden in 612 BC; the rod of God's ang…
- PlaceAssyriaNinevehThe great city of Assyria that repented in sackcloth at Jonah’s preaching, that Sennacherib returned to after Jerusalem was spared…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Genesis (Hexaemeron); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Hebrew Questions on Genesis; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.