Boy Old Testament Known
Cush
Cushan, Cushi, Ethiopians; blackness
כּוּשׁ
Cush (Hebrew: כּוּשׁ) means “Cushan, Cushi, Ethiopians; blackness”, by traditional interpretation. Three men in scripture bear the name; the best attested belongs to the Patriarchal period. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Benjamin in Psalms 7.
Which Cush?
Three men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Cush
father of Nimrod; son of Ham; father of Havilah
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Cush
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Cush
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 8 across 3 books
- Bearers
- 3 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 10:6 |
| Last appears | Psalms 7:1 |
| Cross-references | 100 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Arkites attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Ham.
- Philistine attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Ham.
- Put attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Ham.
- Canaan attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Ham.
- Naphtuhim attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Ham.
- Pathrusim attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Ham.
- Put co-occurrence Appears with Put in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Raamah co-occurrence Appears with Raamah in 1 Chronicles 1.
Origin & meaning
Cush, a son of Ham, was the father of Nimrod and other descendants who became nations.
The biblical story
Cush is mentioned in the genealogies of Genesis 10 and 1 Chronicles 1 as one of the sons of Ham, the son of Noah. He is listed alongside his brothers Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
Several descendants of Cush are named, including Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. Raamah's sons, Sheba and Dedan, are also mentioned. These descendants of Cush are associated with various regions and peoples, mostly located in Africa and Arabia.
One of the most notable descendants of Cush is Nimrod, who is described as a mighty hunter before the Lord and the founder of the first kingdoms on earth, including Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh in the land of Shinar (Babylonia). Nimrod is also credited with building Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, and Resen in Assyria.
The Cushites, descendants of Cush, are often associated with the region of Nubia, south of Egypt. In later biblical texts, Cush is used as a geographical term referring to the land south of Egypt, including parts of modern-day Sudan and Ethiopia.
The genealogy of Cush and his descendants in Genesis 10 and 1 Chronicles 1 provides insight into the early spread of nations and the origins of various people groups in the ancient Near East and Africa.
Key verses
Cush appears in 6 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.
Genesis 10:6 -
And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
Genesis 10:7 -
And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
Genesis 10:8 -
The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
1 Chronicles 1:8 -
And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
1 Chronicles 1:9
Show all 6 references
Genesis (3)
- Genesis 10:6
- Genesis 10:7
- Genesis 10:8
1 Chronicles (3)
- 1 Chronicles 1:8
- 1 Chronicles 1:9
- 1 Chronicles 1:10