Gomer
[Gō’mûr]-completion or heat.
The first born of Japheth and father of Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. Also the head of many families (Gen. 10:2-3; 1 Chron. 1:5-6; Ezek. 38:6 ). The eldest son of Japheth is the father of the ancient Cimmerians or as the Assyrians called them, Gimirra, who settled on the northern shores of the Baltic Sea. The modern and familiar name in English history, Crimea, and the Cimbri of old times are derived from the Cimmerians, the immediate descendants of Gomer. Their original home appears to have been north of the Euxine, but by the seventh century they had completely conquered Cappadocia and settled there.
The Man Who Became a Nation
The Gauls and Celts of ancient times, and of more modern date, the Germans, French and British are descendants of Gomer. In the Talmud, Gomer is spoken of as Germani, that is, Germany. The present divided land of Germany was first called “The Land of Gomer” or Gomerland, and many old maps bear the name of Ashkenaz, one of the sons of Gomer. Other maps carry the name Gomer.
The major portion of Germany was never connected with the old Roman Empire. Although presently divided, with communists controlling the East, and the western powers eager to keep West Germany free from communist control, prophecy declares that “Gomer and all his bands,” will be found allied to the Northern Confederacy. Owing to Germany’s divided condition, European stability is endangered. With West Germany under intense Soviet pressure to refuse any military alliance with western nations, one wonders how long they can resist the determination of Russia to reunite all Germany under the “Hammer and the Sickle.”
Gomer is also the name of Hosea’s wife, the daughter of Diblaim, and affords another instance of the same name being used by a man and a woman (Hos. 1:3).
Editor’s Note: Today’s reading references the Cold War and other 20th century political situations. When Herbert Lockyer wrote “All the Men in the Bible” in 1958, these events provided a cultural context for discussing the character of Gomer. Although these references are now dated, we have decided to leave them intact.
Today’s reading is from:
All the Men of the Bible
by Herbert Lockyer
A portrait gallery and reference library of over 3,000 named biblical characters. Characters you can learn from and teachings you can apply.
See also these related resources:
* All the Women of the Bible by Herbert Lockyer
