Togarmah תֹּגַרְמָה
Son of Gomer, grandson of Japheth
Who is Togarmah in the Bible?
Togarmah was a son of Gomer and grandson of Japheth, listed in the genealogical Table of Nations found in Genesis 10:3 and 1 Chronicles 1:6. He appears alongside his brothers Ashkenaz and Riphath as part of the post-flood distribution of humanity across different regions and peoples. While the exact meaning of his name remains uncertain, some scholars have speculated connections to places like Armenia or regions in Asia Minor, though these identifications are not definitively established. Togarmah's inclusion in the genealogy underscores the biblical emphasis on the diversity of nations and ethnic groups that descended from Noah's sons, particularly the line of Japheth.
Biography
Togarmah is mentioned in Gen.10.3 and 1Ch.1.6 as one of the sons of Gomer and grandsons of Japheth. He is listed in the Table of Nations, which records the descendants of Noah's sons after the flood. The descendants of Japheth are generally associated with the peoples of Europe and Asia Minor. Some ancient Jewish traditions and historians have attempted to identify Togarmah with various regions or ethnic groups, such as Armenia or Phrygia, but these connections remain speculative. The mention of Togarmah in the genealogy serves to emphasize the diversity and spread of the nations descended from Noah.
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study contentGenesis 1 verse
- Genesis 10:3
"The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah."
Study Genesis →
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 1:6
"The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | תֹּגַרְמָה |
Encyclopedia Article
ISBE 1915 (Public Domain) Togarmah
heth, his brothers being Ashkenaz and Riphath (Ge 10:3). The meaning of the name is doubtful. Grimm (Gesch. deutsch. Sprache, II, 325) suggests Sanskr. toka, "tribe," and arma = Armenia. Etymological and other difficulties stand in the way of French Delitzsch's identification of Togarmah with the Assyrian Til-garimmu, "hill of Garimmu," or, possibly, "of the bone-heap," a fortress of Melitene, on the borders of Tabal (Tubal).
2Probably Armenia or a Tract Connected Therewith
In Eze 27:14 Togarmah is mentioned after Tubal, Javan and Mesech as supplying horses and mules to the Tyrians, and in 38:6 it is said to have supplied soldiers to the army of Gog (Gyges of Lydia). In the Assyrian inscriptions horses came from Kusu (neighborhoed of Cappadocia), Andia and Mannu, to the North of Assyria. Both Kiepert and Dillmann regard Togarmah as having been Southeastern Armenia, and this is at present the general opinion. The ancient identification of their country with Togarmah by the Armenians, though correct, is probably due to the Septuagint transposition of "g" and "r" (Thorgama for Togarmah), which has caused them to see therein the name of Thorgom, father of Haik, the founder of their race (Moses of Khor, I, 4, secs. 9-11). Eze 27:14 (Swete) alone has "g" before "r": Thaigrama. The name "Armenia" dates from the 5th century BC.
See ARMENIA; TABLE OF NATIONS.
T. G. Pinches
to'-hu.
See NAHATH.
to'-i.
See TOU.
to'-k'-n ('oth, usually rende