Genesis10
New International Version
1This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.
2The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras.
3The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.
4The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites.
5(From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.)
6The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan.
7The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteka. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
8Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth.
9He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.”
10The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in Shinar.
11From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah
12and Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah—which is the great city.
13Egypt was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites,
14Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.
15Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites,
16Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites,
17Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,
18Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites. Later the Canaanite clans scattered
19and the borders of Canaan reached from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, as far as Lasha.
20These are the sons of Ham by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.
21Sons were also born to Shem, whose older brother was Japheth; Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.
22The sons of Shem: Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.
23The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek.
24Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah the father of Eber.
25Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.
26Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
28Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
29Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.
30The region where they lived stretched from Mesha toward Sephar, in the eastern hill country.
31These are the sons of Shem by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.
32These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their lines of descent, within their nations. From these the nations spread out over the earth after the flood.
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