Genesis 10

Descendants of Noah

1These are the records of the generations (descendants) of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and the sons born to them after the flood:

2the sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras; 3the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah; 4the sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5From these, [the people of] the coastlands of the nations were separated and spread into their lands, every one #Here and in vv 20 and 31, references are made to the different languages, in anticipation of God’s judgment of Babel (11:7-9), which resulted in a proliferation of languages.according to his own language, according to their constituent groups (families), and into their nations:

6the sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim [from whom descended the Egyptians], Put, and Canaan; 7the sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah; Sheba and Dedan. 8Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. 9He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10The beginning of his kingdom was #Or Babylon.Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar [in Babylonia]. 11From that land Nimrod went to Assyria, and built Nineveh, and Rehoboth-Ir, and Calah, 12and [Nimrod built] Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah; all these [combined to form] the great city [Nineveh]. 13Mizraim [the ancestor of the Egyptians] became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim 14and Pathrusim and Casluhim—from whom came the Philistines—and Caphtorim.

15Canaan became the father of Sidon, his firstborn, and Heth 16and the Jebusite and the Amorite and the Girgashite 17and the Hivite and the Arkite and the Sinite 18and the Arvadite and the Zemarite and the Hamathite. Afterward the families of the Canaanite were spread abroad. 19The territory of the Canaanite extended from Sidon as one goes to Gerar, as far as Gaza; and as one goes to #The fact that Genesis mentions the four cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim as still standing testifies to the antiquity of this account. These cities of the plain were completely destroyed in Abraham’s time (Gen 19:27-29; Deut 29:23).Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20These are the descendants of Ham according to their constituent groups, according to their languages, by their lands, and by their nations.

21Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber [including the Hebrews], the #Or the brother of Japheth the elder.older brother of Japheth, children were born. 22The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud and Aram; 23the sons of Aram [ancestor of the Syrians]: Uz, Hul, Gether and #Also known as Meshech (1 Chr 1:17).Mash. 24Arpachshad became the father of Shelah; and Shelah became the father of Eber. 25Two sons were born to Eber; the name of one was Peleg (division), for [the inhabitants of] the earth were divided in his days; and his brother’s name was Joktan. 26Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27and Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28and #Also known as Ebal (1 Chr 1:22).Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29and Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. 30Now their territory extended from Mesha as one goes toward Sephar, to the hill country of the east. 31These are Shem’s descendants according to their constituent groups (families), according to their languages, by their lands, according to their nations.

32These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their descendants, by their nations; and from these [people] the nations were separated and spread abroad on the earth after the flood.

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Genesis 10

Nations Grow and Spread

1This is the history of the families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They are Noah’s sons. These men had children after the flood.

Japheth’s Descendants

2Japheth’s sons were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

3Gomer’s sons were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

4Javan’s sons were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.#10:4 Dodanim Or “Rodanim, the people of Rhodes.”

5All the people who lived in the area around the Mediterranean Sea came from these sons of Japheth. The people separated and went to different countries according to languages, families, and nations.

Ham’s Descendants

6Ham’s sons were Cush,#10:6 Cush Another name for Ethiopia. Mizraim,#10:6 Mizraim Another name for Egypt. Also in verse 13. Put, and Canaan.

7Cush’s sons were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca.

Raamah’s sons were Sheba and Dedan.

8Cush also had a son named Nimrod who became a very powerful man on earth. 9He was a great hunter before the Lord. That is why people compare other men to him and say, “That man is like Nimrod, a great hunter before the Lord.”

10Nimrod’s kingdom spread from Babylon to Erech, to Akkad, and then to Calneh in the land of Babylonia.#10:10 Babylonia Literally, “Shinar,” which may be a form of the name Sumer. Also in 11:2; 14:1. 11Nimrod also went into Assyria. In Assyria, Nimrod built the cities of Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, and 12Resen. (Resen is the city between Nineveh and Calah, the big city.)

13Mizraim was the father of the people of Lud, Anam, Lehab, Naphtuh, 14Pathrus, Casluh, and Caphtor. (The Philistine people came from Casluh.)

15Canaan was the father of Sidon. Sidon was Canaan’s first son. Canaan was also the father of the Hittites, 16Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 17Hivites, Arkites, the Sinites, 18Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites.

The families of Canaan spread to different parts of the world. 19The land where the Canaanites lived went from Sidon down along the coast to Gerar and from Gaza as far east as Sodom and Gomorrah and from Admah and Zeboiim as far north as Laish.

20All these people were descendants of Ham. They are arranged by families, languages, countries, and nations.

Shem’s Descendants

21Shem was Japheth’s older brother. One of Shem’s descendants was Eber, the father of all the Hebrew people.#10:21 One … Hebrew people Literally, “To Shem was born the father of Eber’s sons.”

22Shem’s sons were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.

23Aram’s sons were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.

24Arphaxad was the father of Shelah.

Shelah was the father of Eber.

25Eber was the father of two sons. One son was named Peleg.#10:25 Peleg This name means “division.” He was given this name because the earth was divided during his life. The other son was named Joktan.

26Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these people were Joktan’s sons. 30They lived in the area between Mesha and the hill country in the East.#10:30 East This usually means the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers as far east as the Persian Gulf. Also in 11:2. Mesha was toward the country of Sephar.

31These are the people from the family of Shem. They are arranged by families, languages, countries, and nations.

32This is the list of the families from Noah’s sons. They are arranged according to their nations. From these families came all the people who spread across the earth after the flood.

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