Genesis10
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Now this is the history of the generations of the sons of Noah and of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.
2The sons of Japheth were: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
3The sons of Gomer were: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.
4The sons of Javan were: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
5Of these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in their nations.
6The sons of Ham were: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
7The sons of Cush were: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah were: Sheba and Dedan.
8Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth.
9He was a mighty hunter before Yahweh. Therefore it is said, “like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before Yahweh”.
10The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
11Out of that land he went into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah,
12and Resen between Nineveh and the great city Calah.
13Mizraim became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim,
14Pathrusim, Casluhim (which the Philistines descended from), and Caphtorim.
15Canaan became the father of Sidon (his firstborn), Heth,
16the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,
17the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,
18the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad.
19The border of the Canaanites was from Sidon—as you go toward Gerar—to Gaza—as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim—to Lasha.
20These are the sons of Ham, after their families, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations.
21Children were also born to Shem (the elder brother of Japheth), the father of all the children of Eber.
22The sons of Shem were: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.
23The sons of Aram were: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.
24Arpachshad became the father of Shelah. Shelah became the father of Eber.
25To Eber were born two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. His brother’s name was Joktan.
26Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
28Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
29Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
30Their dwelling extended from Mesha, as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.
31These are the sons of Shem, by their families, according to their languages, lands, and nations.
32These are the families of the sons of Noah, by their generations, according to their nations. The nations divided from these in 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