Tom Bombadil

Tom Bombadil is perhaps the greatest of the many mysteries of Middle-earth. He is one of the most powerful characters in the world of The Lord of the Rings and at the same time one of the most enigmatic. Who exactly is Tom Bombadil?

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Tom Bombadil is the name by which the Hobbits of Buckland know him, but he has others: the Elves and the Dúnedain call him by the Sindarin name Iarwain Ben-adar, which means “Oldest and Fatherless”; the Men of the Vales of Anduin and Rohan call him Orald, which means “Very Ancient”; and the Dwarves call him Forn, which in Old Norse means “(belonging to) ancient (days).” From his many names, it’s clear that Tom is very, very old. In Tom’s own words, when the Hobbits came to his house:

“Mark my words, my friends: Tom was here before the river and the trees; Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn. He made paths before the Big People and saw the Little People arriving. He was here before the Kings and the tombs and the Barrow-wights. When the Elves passed westward, Tom was already here, before the seas were bent. He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless—before the Dark Lord came from Outside.”

Another important detail is that he was affected by the One Ring differently than anyone else—or rather, not affected at all. When Frodo told Tom about the Ring and his quest, Tom asked to see it. Frodo, without hesitation, allowed it. Tom put the Ring on his finger, but not only did he not disappear, it seemed the Ring had no effect on him whatsoever. After making the Ring vanish as a trick, he returned it to Frodo, who, slightly suspicious that it hadn’t made Tom disappear, put it on himself to check if it was the real Ring. Tom surprised him again by revealing that he could see Frodo even with the Ring on, and told him to take it off, saying Frodo’s hand looked better without it.

Over a month later, Tom became a topic of discussion at the Council of Elrond. There, Elrond—who had evidently met Tom many years before—recalled him briefly before the Council considered whether the Ring should be given to Tom, as it seemed Tom might have power even over the Ring. However, Gandalf quickly dismissed the idea, saying that Tom does not have power over the Ring—but rather, the Ring has no power over Tom. He was immune to its influence, but could not change its nature. Furthermore, Gandalf believed that even if all the Free Peoples of the world asked Tom to take the Ring, he might agree to do so—but he wouldn’t understand why. Gandalf thought that Tom would most likely either forget about it or throw it away, as such things had little meaning to him.

Now, with what we know, let’s dive into some of the most prominent theories about what Tom Bombadil really is:

1. Tom Bombadil is Eru Ilúvatar
   Personally, I like this theory, though I don’t think it’s likely. While he is not mentioned in The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, Tolkien’s world is ruled by a God known as Eru Ilúvatar. This primeval being shares many traits with monotheistic gods of the real world and was responsible for creating all life with the help of his first children, the Ainur. As expected, Eru doesn’t interfere in the world’s daily events. Despite his omniscience, he intervenes only on rare occasions throughout Tolkien’s history—perhaps one such case being Gollum’s accidental fall into Mount Doom. Since Eru is as mysterious as Tom Bombadil, fans have naturally drawn connections between the two. Bombadil appears to possess seemingly limitless power and a deep bond with nature. He aids Frodo but does not directly involve himself in the quest, which matches Eru’s distant relationship with Middle-earth. Tom calls himself the “Eldest” and remembers the “first raindrop,” while Elrond refers to him as “Fatherless,” which some interpret to mean he was the first being to ever exist—Eru Ilúvatar.

2. Tom Bombadil is a Vala
   If Tom isn’t Eru himself, he might be one of the Valar—who are to Eru what archangels are to God. The Valar dwell in the Undying Lands, watching over the world of Men and intervening when necessary. While Eru is not known to walk among his creations, the Valar do. These beings loved their Father’s creations and were drawn to specific elements of nature. Some of the Ainur befriended Elves in the distant past and took on physical forms to interact with Eru’s children. Given that Tom’s power seems confined to the Old Forest, he could be a Vala, as both have influence over aspects of nature. Some Valar were more hands-off than others, which could explain why Tom’s power is limited to his borders. Valar were also known to marry, which would better explain the presence of Goldberry than if Tom were Eru.

3. Tom Bombadil is a Maia
   More likely than a Vala, Bombadil could be a Maia—a lesser spirit, akin to an angel. Since the Maiar were more numerous than the Valar, it’s easier to believe one of them could have escaped to the Old Forest for a quiet life. Interestingly, Tom’s powers seem somewhat similar to those of Melian, a Maia who appears in The Silmarillion. Sauron himself is also a Maia, so Bombadil could have taken on a human form like him, without being one of the known Wizards. However, this wouldn’t explain Tom’s neutrality. Also, if Tom were a Maia, he would be just as old as the rest of the Ainur—which again, doesn’t quite fit with how ancient Tom is implied to be in The Lord of the Rings.

4. Tom Bombadil is a Wizard
   In The Lord of the Rings, a wizard is a Maia in human form. Tolkien’s known wizards include Gandalf, Saruman, Radagast, and the two Blue Wizards who are only briefly mentioned. Since Bombadil wears a blue coat and little is known of the Blue Wizards’ whereabouts, some fans speculate he might be one of them in disguise. However, this is unlikely, as Tom lived in Middle-earth long before the wizards arrived. Alternatively, Bombadil could be another Maia from an earlier era, whose existence was not widely known. But Tom’s immunity to the Ring’s influence undermines the idea that he’s a wizard—since both Gandalf and Saruman were affected by Sauron’s power, while Tom was not. His powers also seem to surpass what even Gandalf the Grey could do.

5. Tom Bombadil is the Embodiment of Middle-earth / Father Time
   A more unusual theory suggests that Tom is the physical embodiment of the world itself. Tom’s abilities are rooted in nature—the living world responds to his commands, a power even the Ainur don’t possess. Bombadil also stays neutral in the War of the Ring and seems concerned only with preserving the natural order. Just as the Earth itself shows no preference for its inhabitants, Tom remains uninvolved in the battle between good and evil. A key point comes during the Council of Elrond, when the Elf Galdor says:
   “Power to defy our Enemy is not in him, unless such power is in the earth itself.”
   This implies that Tom and the Earth may be one and the same. Similarly, some believe Tom could be the personification of Time itself, due to his carefree nature, immortality, and command over the natural world. The titles “Eldest” and “Fatherless” support this theory—as does Tom’s resistance to the One Ring.

6. Tom Bombadil is the Song of the Ainur
   In Tolkien’s creation myth from The Silmarillion, Eru and the Ainur sing a great music that weaves the tapestry of time and existence. Some have theorized that Tom Bombadil is the physical embodiment of that Music in Middle-earth. This makes sense, as Radagast already represents nature. Tom’s constant singing supports this idea—he exerts his power through music, seemingly enchanting creatures into submission. If Tom is the Music of Creation, that would explain why he’s the oldest living being in a land full of ancient beings. The Music flows through existence with no will or mind of its own—just as Tom drifts through life, indifferent to the battle between good and evil.

7. Tom Bombadil is J.R.R. Tolkien
   Another post-Lord of the Rings meta-theory is that Tom Bombadil represents Tolkien himself. This is similar to the Eru theory, as Tolkien is the real creator of Arda and Middle-earth. This would explain Tom’s ancient existence—since the author obviously predates his fictional world. It would also explain why Tolkien refused to offer any clear explanation for Bombadil’s identity—revealing it would ruin the mystery. However, this theory has flaws, since Tolkien already has a role in the lore. The Lord of the Rings books are presented as "found manuscripts." Tolkien positions himself not as the author, but as a translator of an ancient text. It wouldn’t make much sense for the man who discovered the stories to also appear as a character in them. Still, it’s a fun idea to consider.

8. Tom Bombadil is Tom Bombadil
   Ultimately, the most likely theory—and probably the one Tolkien would want us to believe—is that Tom Bombadil is simply himself, a being unto his own. He may well have been created—and probably was—during the Music of the Ainur. One key point about that music is that it is Eru, not the Ainur, who actually creates through it. Even Melkor’s discord and evil ends up fulfilling Eru’s design, leading eventually to the Second Music.

In short, Eru could have created Tom Bombadil just as he is—not to fight anyone, but simply to rule over his little domain and continue the work he always refers to, though we don’t know what that work is.

In the end, Tolkien wanted Tom Bombadil to remain a mystery—and that’s exactly what he is.