The Law · Chapter 10 of 50

Genesis 10

Often called the Table of Nations, this chapter traces the descendants of Noah's three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and how their families spread into peoples, languages, and nations after the flood. It names many clans and lands, including Nimrod the mighty hunter and the beginnings of great cities like Babel and Nineveh. The chapter presents the whole known world of nations as one family descended from Noah, all under God's ordering hand.

What happens in Genesis 10

The generations of Noah's sons unfold. From Japheth come peoples associated with the coastlands and Gentile nations, each with its own tongue and territory. From Ham come Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan, and from Cush comes Nimrod, a mighty one and a mighty hunter before the LORD, whose kingdom begins with Babel and the cities of Shinar, and out of whose lands Nineveh and other cities are built. Ham's line also produces the Canaanite peoples whose borders are described from Sidon toward Gaza and Sodom.

From Shem, named as the father of the children of Eber and the brother of Japheth, come Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, and others, and eventually Peleg, in whose days the earth was divided. The chapter closes by summarizing that these are the families of the sons of Noah, and by these the nations were divided in the earth after the flood.

Genesis 10 in context

Genesis 10 stands between the flood and the tower of Babel, explaining how the earth came to be populated by many nations. Within the Law it functions as a bridge, showing the spread of humanity before chapter 11 recounts the scattering of languages at Babel.

It presents a shared human ancestry and prepares for the call of Abram, through whom God will bless all these nations.

Main themes of Genesis 10

Genesis 10 (KJV)

1Now 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. 6And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan. 7And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtechah: 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. 15And Canaan begat Sidon his first born, 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. 21Unto 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.

Verses to carry from Genesis 10

“By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.”Genesis 10:5

“He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.”Genesis 10:9

“These 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.”Genesis 10:32

Reflection

Behind the unfamiliar names lies a striking claim: every people on earth belongs to one family. The divisions we treat as permanent are, at root, branches of one tree God intends to bless. Let this chapter enlarge your heart for the nations, and for the day when they are gathered as one before God.

A prayer from Genesis 10