Who and what is…
Put

Hebrew: פוּט —transliteration: Put —meaning unknown

also known as: Phut (Ezek. 27:10 KJV)

This was the name of a biblical man and a place.

  1. Put, son of Ham

    Put is one of the sons of Ham, and a grandson of Noah.

    The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. —Genesis 10:6 NASB

  2. Put, a land or people

    Put is a land or people from among whom came a portion of the mercenary troops of Egypt. It is believed with certainty to be in northern Africa. Based on various evidences, it is assumed to refer to Libyans and Libya, but this is not certain.

    Go up, you horses, and drive madly, you chariots,
    That the mighty men may march forward:
    Ethiopia and Put, that handle the shield,
    And the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow. —Jeremiah 46:9 NASB

    Note: Jeremiah 46:9 KJV and NKJV say “Libyans,” but other translations more correctly say “Put,” which is the actual Hebrew word used in Scripture (Jeremiah 46:9 ESV; Jeremiah 46:9 NIV). Likewise, Ezekiel 30:5 KJV and NKJV and Ezekiel 38:5 KJV/NKJV say “Libya,” whereas modern translations say “Put” (Ezekiel 38:5 NASB; Ezek. 38:5 ESV; Ezek. 38:5 NIV). The word “Libya” does not exist in the Old Testament original texts. However, it does appear in the New Testament. The Greek word is Λιβύη —transliteration: Libué —meaning: “the west bank of the Nile,” Libya (Acts 2:10 NASB).

    The King James Version and others say Put in Nahum 3:9.

    Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite;
    Put and Lubim were thy helpers. —Nahum 3:9 KJV

    Compare: Nahum 3:9 NKJV and Nah. 3:9 NASB

    “Persia and Lud and Put were in your army, your men of war. They hung shield and helmet in you; they set forth your splendor. —Ezekiel 27:10 NASB

    The ancient Jewish historian Flavius Josephus wrote,

    “Phut also was the founder of Libya, and called the inhabitants Phutites (Phoutes), from himself: there is also a river in the country of Moors which bears that name; whence it is that we may see the greatest part of the Grecian historiographers mention that river and the adjoining country by the appellation of Phut (Phoute): but the name it has now has been by change given it from one of the sons of Mezraim [Mizraim], who was called Lybyos.” —Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, book 1:6/2

    Ancient geographer Claudius Ptolemy of Egypt (circa 100-170 AD) mentions a city called Putea in Libya (iv.3.39).

More information

Article Version: July 12, 2021