Bible Dictionary
Togarmah
Togarmah was a descendant of Japheth through Gomer and the name of a nation known for supplying horses, mules, and soldiers. It was probably located in or near southeastern Armenia.
Definition
Togarmah was a son of Gomer and grandson of Japheth, and the name also designates a people descended from him. This people was associated with horses, mules, and military strength.
Biblical Usage
Togarmah supplied horses and mules to Tyre and soldiers to the army of Gog in Ezekiel’s prophecies.
Historical Background
Togarmah is generally identified with southeastern Armenia or a connected region, though the identification is not certain. The area included rugged volcanic districts and was known for horses.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) A son of Gomer, and grandson of Japheth (Gen. 10:3). (2.) A nation which traded in horses and mules at the fairs of Tyre (Ezek. 27:14; 38:6); probably an Armenian or a Scythian race; descendants of (1).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
a son of Gomer, of the family of Japheth, and brother of Ashkenaz and Riphath. (Genesis 10:3) His descendants became a people engaged in agriculture, breeding horses and mules to be sold in Tyre. (Ezekiel 27:14) They were also a military people, well skilled in the use of arms. Togarmah was probably the ancient name of Armenia.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>to-gar'-ma (~togharmah]; Thorgama, Thergama, Thurgama, Thurgaba; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) Thorgoma):</p><p>1. Its Forms: A Suggested Identification:</p><p>The 3rd son of Gomer, and grandson of Japheth, 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).</p><p>2. Probably Armenia or a Tract Connected Therewith:</p><p>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.</p><p>See ARMENIA; TABLE OF NATIONS.</p><p>T. G. Pinches</p>