Genesis 10

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 10

1¶ Now these [are] the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.

2The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.

3And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.

4And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

5By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

6¶ And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.

7And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.

8And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.

9He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.

10And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

11Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,

12And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same [is] a great city.

13And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,

14And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.

15¶ And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,

16And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,

17And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,

18And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.

19And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.

20These [are] the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, [and] in their nations.

21¶ Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were [children] born.

22The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

23And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.

24And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber.

25And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one [was] Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name [was] Joktan.

26And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,

27And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,

28And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,

29And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these [were] the sons of Joktan.

30And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east.

31These [are] the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.

32These [are] the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Genesis chapter 10 provides a detailed genealogical account of the nations descended from Noah's three sons, Japheth, Ham, and Shem, who repopulated the earth after the flood. It enumerates the various peoples and their geographical distributions, noting that they divided according to their families, tongues, and nations. A prominent figure introduced is Nimrod, a mighty hunter and the founder of early kingdoms like Babel, and the chapter also mentions Peleg, in whose days "the earth was divided."

Medium Summary

Genesis chapter 10, often referred to as the "Table of Nations," systematically lists the descendants of Noah's three sons—Japheth, Ham, and Shem—who became the progenitors of all post-flood humanity. The chapter begins with the sons of Japheth, whose lineage is associated with the "isles of the Gentiles," indicating their spread across various lands. Next, it details the extensive progeny of Ham, including Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan. Within Ham's line, a significant figure is Nimrod, described as a "mighty hunter before the LORD," who founded powerful kingdoms such as Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, and built cities like Nineveh. The chapter then outlines the descendants of Shem, highlighting figures like Eber and his son Peleg, in whose time "was the earth divided." The chapter concludes by affirming that these generations, categorized by their families, tongues, and nations, were responsible for the division of the earth's peoples after the great flood.

Long Summary

Genesis chapter 10 provides a comprehensive genealogical record of the nations that emerged from the three sons of Noah—Japheth, Ham, and Shem—following the universal flood. This "Table of Nations" systematically traces the lineage of humanity's repopulation. The chapter first details the descendants of Japheth, including Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras, whose families are noted to have divided "the isles of the Gentiles" according to their tongues and nations. Subsequently, the text focuses on the progeny of Ham, listing Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan as his primary sons. From Cush came Nimrod, a particularly prominent figure described as a "mighty hunter before the LORD," who established the beginning of his kingdom in the land of Shinar, encompassing cities like Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh. Nimrod is also credited with building Nineveh and other great cities in Asshur. The descendants of Mizraim are then enumerated, including those from whom the Philistines originated. The lineage of Canaan is extensively detailed, listing various tribes such as the Jebusite, Amorite, and Hivite, and defining their geographical borders from Sidon to Sodom and Gomorrah. Finally, the chapter presents the generations of Shem, identifying him as the "father of all the children of Eber." His sons included Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. A key detail in Shem's line is the birth of Peleg to Eber, for "in his days was the earth divided." The chapter concludes by reiterating that these diverse families, distinguished by their languages, lands, and nations, represent the complete division of the earth's peoples after the flood, fulfilling the divine command to replenish the earth.

Core Concepts

  • Table of NationsThis chapter serves as a comprehensive genealogical record, enumerating the descendants of Noah's three sons (Japheth, Ham, and Shem) and tracing the origins of the various nations and peoples that spread across the earth after the flood. It systematically outlines their family lines, languages, and geographical distributions.
  • Repopulation of the EarthFollowing the flood, the chapter illustrates how humanity began to multiply and spread from Noah's family, fulfilling the divine mandate to "be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." The diverse lineages represent the foundational groups from which all subsequent nations arose.
  • Nimrod's KingdomA significant figure from the line of Ham, Nimrod is described as a "mighty hunter before the LORD" and the founder of the first major kingdoms. His domain included prominent cities like Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, marking the emergence of organized political structures.
  • Division of the EarthThe chapter explicitly mentions Peleg, a descendant of Shem, stating that "in his days was the earth divided." This phrase suggests a significant event, possibly a geographical or linguistic separation, that occurred during his lifetime, contributing to the distinct nations described.
  • Geographical DistributionThe chapter not only lists names but also provides general geographical indicators for the various lineages, such as the "isles of the Gentiles" for Japheth's descendants and specific borders for the Canaanites. This outlines the initial spread and settlement patterns of the post-flood peoples.
  • Linguistic and Familial GroupingThroughout the chapter, nations are consistently described as dividing "after their tongue, after their families, in their nations." This emphasizes the early correlation between family lineage, shared language, and national identity in the formation of distinct peoples.