Lexical Summary Togarmah: Togarmah Original Word: תּוֹגַרְמָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance heaviness, sorrow Or Togarmah {to-gar-maw'}; probably of foreign derivation; Togarmah, a son of Gomer and his posterity -- Togarmah. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably of foreign origin Definition a son of Gomer, also his desc. and their land NASB Translation Beth-togarmah* (2), Togarmah (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs תֹּגַרְמָה, ׳תּו proper name, of a territory Genesis 10:3 = ׳תּו 1 Chronicles 1:6; ׳בֵּית תּו Ezekiel 27:14; Ezekiel 38:6; Θοργαμα, Θεργ., etc.; it lay in (southwest) Armenia according to DiGenesis 10:2 (and references), DlPa 246 (Til-garimmu); > northwest Asia Minor (Greek Τευθρανία) LagGes. Abh. 257; Armen. Stud. § 865; Abh. GGW. xxxv (1888). 142. תִּדְהָר see above. Topical Lexicon Biblical References Genesis 10:3; 1 Chronicles 1:6; Ezekiel 27:14; Ezekiel 38:6 Genealogical Roots Togarmah appears twice in the Table of Nations (Genesis 10:3; 1 Chronicles 1:6) as the third son of Gomer, son of Japheth, son of Noah. These genealogies are more than ancient family trees; they trace the orderly dispersion of humanity after the Flood and underline God’s sovereign oversight of every nation’s origin. Togarmah’s inclusion affirms that all peoples, including those later known in Asia Minor and the Armenian Highlands, are within the Creator’s redemptive scope. Geographical Identification The name is widely linked with the mountainous region north and east of the Euphrates, roughly corresponding to historical Armenia and parts of eastern Anatolia. Assyrian inscriptions mention “Tilgarimmu,” a fortified city in this area, strengthening the identification. Positioned at the nexus of trade routes between Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and the Caucasus, Togarmah’s land was ideally situated to supply both goods and forces to surrounding powers. Commercial and Military Significance Ezekiel portrays “the house of Togarmah” as a first-rank supplier of cavalry to the Phoenician emporium of Tyre: “The house of Togarmah supplied your marketplace with horses, war horses, and mules” (Ezekiel 27:14). In the ancient Near East, horses were strategic assets, essential for both commerce and conquest. Togarmah’s reputation for quality livestock highlighted its economic vitality and military relevance, foreshadowing the later fame of Armenian steeds in classical sources. The passage also reminds readers of Tyre’s reliance on distant nations—a dependence soon judged by the Lord (Ezekiel 26–28). Eschatological Role In the prophecy against Gog, the prophet lists “Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops” (Ezekiel 38:6). The phrase “from the far north” pinpoints a region beyond the immediate neighbors of Israel, reinforcing the Armenian-Anatolian setting. Togarmah’s troops join a confederation hostile to God’s covenant people, yet their ultimate defeat underscores the certainty of divine victory in the “latter days” (Ezekiel 38:16, 23; 39:7). Historical Corroboration • Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser I (twelfth century BC) lists Tilgarimmu among northern foes. These sources align with the biblical profile: a northern people economically strong, militarily capable, and strategically positioned. Theological Themes 1. Sovereignty of God over Nations: From Noah’s sons to the eschaton, Togarmah moves at God’s command. Ministry Insights • Genealogies Matter: Pastors can highlight that the Table of Nations grounds humanity’s diversity in a common origin, encouraging unity in the gospel. Forms and Transliterations וְתֹגַרְמָֽה׃ וְתוֹגַרְמָֽה׃ ותגרמה׃ ותוגרמה׃ תּֽוֹגַרְמָ֔ה תּוֹגַרְמָ֑ה תוגרמה tō·w·ḡar·māh togarMah tōwḡarmāh vetogarMah wə·ṯō·ḡar·māh wə·ṯō·w·ḡar·māh wəṯōḡarmāh wəṯōwḡarmāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 10:3 HEB: אַשְׁכֲּנַ֥ז וְרִיפַ֖ת וְתֹגַרְמָֽה׃ NAS: and Riphath and Togarmah. KJV: Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. INT: Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah 1 Chronicles 1:6 Ezekiel 27:14 Ezekiel 38:6 4 Occurrences |