Genesis10
English Standard Version
1 are the of the of , , , and . were to them the .
2The of : , , , , , , and .
3The of : , , and .
4The of : , , , and .
5From the in their , with his own , by their , in their .
6The of : , , , and .
7The of : , , , , and . The of : and .
8 ; he was the on to a man.
9He was a the Lord. it is , Like a the Lord.
10The of his was , , , and , in the of .
11From that he into and , , , and
12 and ; that is the .
13 , , , ,
14 , (from whom the ), and .
15 his and ,
16and the , the , the ,
17the , the , the ,
18the , the , and the . the of the .
19And the of the extended from in the of as far as , and in the of , , , and , as far as .
20 are the of , by their , their , their , and their .
21To also, the of the of , the of , children were .
22The of : , , , , and .
23The of : , , , and .
24 ; and .
25To were : the of the was , for in his the was , and his was .
26 , , , ,
27 , , ,
28 , , ,
29 , , and ; these were the of .
30The territory in which they extended from in the of to the country of the .
31 are the of , by their , their , their , and their .
32 are the of the of , according to their , in their , and from these the abroad on the the .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The sons of Noah, of Japheth, of Ham. (1–7). Nimrod the first monarch. (8–14). The descendants of Canaan, The sons of Shem. (15–32).
vv1-7
This chapter shows concerning the three sons of Noah, that of them was the whole earth overspread. No nation but that of the Jews can be sure from which of these seventy it has come. The lists of names of fathers and sons were preserved of the Jews alone, for the sake of the Messiah. Many learned men, however, have, with some probability, shown which of the nations of the earth descended from each of the sons of Noah To the posterity of Japheth were allotted the isles of the gentiles; probably, the island of Britain among the rest. All places beyond the sea from Judea are called isles, Jer 25:22. That promise, Isa 42:4, The isles shall wait for his law, speaks of the conversion of the gentiles to the faith of Christ.
vv8-14
Nimrod was a great man in his day; he began to be mighty in the earth, Those before him were content to be upon the same level with their neighbours, and though every man bare rule in his own house, yet no man pretended any further. Nimrod was resolved to lord it over his neighbours. The spirit of the giants before the flood, who became mighty men, and men of renown, Ge 6:4, revived in him. Nimrod was a great hunter. Hunting then was the method of preventing the hurtful increase of wild beasts. This required great courage and address, and thus gave an opportunity for Nimrod to command others, and gradually attached a number of men to one leader. From such a beginning, it is likely, that Nimrod began to rule, and to force others to submit. He invaded his neighbours' rights and properties, and persecuted innocent men; endeavouring to make all his own by force and violence. He carried on his oppressions and violence in defiance of God himself. Nimrod was a great ruler. Some way or other, by arts or arms, he got into power, and so founded a monarchy, which was the terror of the mighty, and bid fair to rule all the world. Nimrod was a great builder. Observe in Nimrod the nature of ambition. It is boundless; much would have more, and still cries, Give, give. It is restless; Nimrod, when he had four cities under his command, could not be content till he had four more. It is expensive; Nimrod will rather be at the charge of rearing cities, than not have the honour of ruling them. It is daring, and will stick at nothing. Nimrod's name signifies rebellion; tyrants to men are rebels to God. The days are coming, when conquerors will no longer be spoken of with praise, as in man's partial histories, but be branded with infamy, as in the impartial records of the Bible.
vv15-32
The posterity of Canaan were numerous, rich, and pleasantly seated; yet Canaan was under a Divine curse, and not a curse causeless. Those that are under the curse of God, may, perhaps, thrive and prosper in this world; for we cannot know love or hatred, the blessing or the curse, by what is before us, but by what is within us. The curse of God always works really, and always terribly. Perhaps it is a secret curse, a curse to the soul, and does not work so that others can see it; or a slow curse, and does not work soon; but sinners are reserved by it for a day of wrath Canaan here has a better land than either Shem or Japheth, and yet they have a better lot, for they inherit the blessing. Abram and his seed, God's covenant people, descended from Eber, and from him were called Hebrews. How much better it is to be like Eber, the father of a family of saints and honest men, than the father of a family of hunters after power, worldly wealth, or vanities. Goodness is true greatness.
Key Words
אֵלֶּה: these or those
תּוֹלְדָה: (plural only) descent, i.e. family; (figuratively) history
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
נֹחַ: Noach, the patriarch of the flood
שֵׁם: Shem, a son of Noah (often includ. his posterity)
חָם: Cham, a son of Noah; also (as a patronymic) his descendants or their country
יֶפֶת: Jepheth, a son of Noah; also his posterity
יָלַד: to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
מַבּוּל: a deluge
Cross References
Genesis 10Direct parallel genealogical register detailing the descendants of Japheth.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct parallel genealogical register detailing the descendants of Ham.
Direct parallel genealogy in Chronicles tracing the descendants of Shem down to Abraham.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct parallel text recording Cush begetting Nimrod, who began to be mighty.
The direct post-flood lineage tracing Shem to Abram, expanding on this list.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic reference to Gomer and Togarmah as northern nations.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Ezekiel's trade list identifies Tarshish, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Togarmah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Explains the historical event of division of tongues and dispersion of nations.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Poetically identifies Egypt as 'the land of Ham' based on Ham's descendant Mizraim.
Supported by JFB
Noah's blessing on Shem, explaining his special prominence as the father of Eber.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Refers to the Most High dividing to the nations their inheritance, reflecting Peleg's days.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic use of 'isles'/coastlands beyond the sea to depict Gentile nations.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Messianic promise that 'the isles' (Japheth's descendants) will wait for His law.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels the spirit of the pre-flood tyrants/giants ('mighty men').
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies the location of Nimrod's kingdom in Shinar.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God set boundaries of the nations, matching the borders of Canaan.
Supported by JFB
Traces the exact years and lineage from Arphaxad to Salah and Eber.
Supported by JFB
Paul states God made of one blood all nations and determined their preappointed times and boundaries.
Supported by JFB
Chronicles the birth of Peleg to Eber in the formal line of Shem.
Supported by JFB
Traces the genealogy of Jesus back through Peleg, Heber, and Salah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jonah's commission to Nineveh, confirming its status as a great city.
Details Caphtorim as the source from whom the Philistines came.
Lists Canaanite tribes whose territory was promised to Abraham's seed.
Job lived in the land of Uz, named after Shem's grandson Uz.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Mentions the gold-rich land of Havilah, linked to Joktan's son Havilah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Ophir, associated with Joktan's son, is famous for its gold trade during Solomon's reign.
Supported by Matthew Poole