What Does 1 Chronicles 1:10 Mean in the King James?

And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.
1 Chronicles 1:10 · KJV
The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

Might is something a person grows into, while the name beside it carries an echo of rebellion.

A person’s origin and growing power are different things: lineage gives a beginning, while might emerges as a force on the earth. Nimrod’s name is commonly heard alongside the Hebrew root for rebellion, bringing defiance close to power while the verse itself names might, not an act of rebellion.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie that visible power proves goodness: the verse calls Nimrod mighty without equating might with goodness.

גִּבּוֹר

gibbōr

GROWS FROM

גבר

To be strong, prevail, or become mighty.

The verse presents might as a capacity that begins to take shape, rather than simply a fixed identity. The same root names prevailing and strength, showing the force beneath the English word “mighty.”

ALSO GROWS

gābar: To prevail or become strong.

גָּבַר

This verb reveals that might is something that rises into force.

gevurah: Might or an act of strength.

גְּבוּרָה

This branch names the strength held within the capacity described in the verse.

נִמְרֹד

Nimrōd

GROWS FROM

מרד

To rebel or revolt; a possible Hebrew wordplay heard in the name Nimrod.

Nimrod’s name is commonly associated by Hebrew wordplay with rebellion. That echo brings defiance close to his rise to might, though the verse itself does not describe an act of rebellion.

ALSO GROWS

mārad: To rebel or revolt.

מָרַד

This verb supplies the possible wordplay heard in Nimrod’s name.

mered: Revolt or rebellion.

מֶרֶד

This noun makes the name’s associated idea explicit while leaving the verse’s stated focus on might.

יָלַד

yālad

GROWS FROM

ילד

To give birth or beget.

“begat” in this verse is yālad. This root places Nimrod within a line of what is brought forth. The verse joins that inherited lineage to might that begins to take shape.

ALSO GROWS

yeled: A child or boy.

יֶלֶד

The branch names the person brought forth through the act of begetting.

tōledōt: Generations, genealogies, or what is brought forth.

תּוֹלְדוֹת

This branch connects the verse’s single act of begetting to the larger line of generations.

Scripture treats might as a real force whose presence does not prove rightness or guarantee control of outcomes.

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
Jeremiah 9:23 · KJVThe mighty person’s strength is named, yet it is not a ground for boasting.
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 · KJVThe strong do not control the outcome simply because they possess strength.
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1 Corinthians 1:27 · KJVWhat appears weak can overturn what appears mighty, so might does not set its own measure.
To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
Psalm 52:1 · KJV

Psalm 52:1 uses the same root ⁨גבר⁩ (g-b-r; gābar, to prevail or be mighty) in ⁨גִּבּוֹר⁩ (gibbōr, mighty man). It places the mighty man beside mischief and boasting, showing that strength names a capacity while the surrounding words reveal its direction.

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1 Chronicles 1:10 KJV Meaning