PUT pŏŏt (פּ֥וּט; LXX, Φουδ, variation of Φούτ). KJV PHUT, fŏŏt (Gen 10:6; Ezek 27:10), PUL, pŏŏl (Isa 66:19), LIBYANS, lĭb’ ĭ enz (Jer 46:9; Ezek 30:5). 1. In the ethnographical sections of Genesis and 1 Chronicles, the third son of Ham, the only one with no descendants named (Gen 10:6; 1 Chron 1:8). Josephus says (Jos. Antiq. I. vi. 2) he was the founder of Libya whose inhabitants were called Putites.

2. As a geographical area, its identity is disputed. Isaiah placed Put between Tarshish and Lud as nations that will one day hear of the glory of God (Isa 66:19). Jeremiah listed Put between Ethiopia and Lud as nations whose warriors would be used in the conquest of Egypt by Nebuchadrezzar (Jer 46:9). He described them as men who “handle the shield.” Ezekiel says that the armies of Persia, Lud, and Put were once numbered among the armies of Tyre and contributed to her splendor (Ezek 27:10). She is included with Egypt, Ethiopia, Lud, Arabia, and Libya (Cub) as nations that shall fall by the sword (30:5). She is included with Gog, Persia, and Cush as objects of God’s wrath (38:5). She is associated with Ethiopia, Egypt, and Libya by the prophet Nahum (Nah 3:9). None of these passages yields sufficient information to locate Put with certainty, but the linking with African countries makes it certain that Put was also located in the same area.

Put has been identified most often with Libya. The Pers. inscr. of Naqsh-i-Rustam mentions Putāyā (a land generally identified with Libya) as being among the tributary countries. A fragmentary text that records the invasion of Egypt by Nebuchadrezzar in his thirty-seventh year says he did battle with Amasis and penetrated Egypt as far as Puṭu-Iaman.

Attempts have been made to identify Put with Punt (of the Egyp. inscrs.) in E Africa (Somalia), but in the absence of more certain evidence, Libya appears to be the more likely choice.

Bibliography G. A. Cameron, “Darius, Egypt, and the ‘Lands beyond the Sea,’” JNES, II (1943), 308; J. B. Pritchard, ed., ANET (1955), 308; M. Dods, Genesis (1956), 47; D. J. Wiseman, Chronicles of Chaldaean Kings (1956), 30, 94; E. A. Speiser, “Genesis,” Anchor Bible (1964), 66.