Keraia
Genesis 10

Genesis 10:1

The Table of Nations · Genesis 10:1–32
Read Genesis 10

Translations

Modern
This is the account of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, who also had sons after the flood.
Traditional
Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.
Literal
And these are the generations of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And were born to them sons after the flood.
Latin
Hæ sunt generationes filiorum Noë, Sem, Cham et Japheth: natique sunt eis filii post diluvium.

Original

Hebrew
English
This is the account of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, who also had sons after the flood.

Notes

Genesis 10:1

who also had sons after the flood: This fulfilled the renewed command of creation to populate the earth (9:1, 9; compare 1:28).

Genesis 10:1–11:9

The fifth account (10:1) in Genesis (see study note on 2:4) unites the Table of Nations (10:2–32) and the Babel story (11:1–9) around the theme of scattering the nations (10:5, 18; 11:4, 8–9). The Table of Nations appears before the Babel story, but the Babel event explains how the nations and languages in that list came to exist.

By placing these events in this order, Genesis connects the filling of the earth with the blessing God gave to Noah and his sons (see 9:1 and study note). It shows that the growth of the nations comes from God’s blessing.

This order also prepares for Abram’s call (12:1–3). Abram’s call shows God’s answer to the problem seen at Babel (11:1–9), where humans were separated from God. Through Abram, God begins to restore that relationship.

Theme notes and profiles

Noah Symbolic Numbers

Parallels

1 Chronicles 1:4–27

People

Ham: One of Noah's three sons, father of Canaan Japheth: Son of Noah, ancestor of Indo-European peoples Noah: Righteous man, built ark, survived flood Shem: Noah's son, ancestor of Semitic peoples

Glossary

Ashkenaz Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Edom, Edomites Genealogy Genesis, Book of Greece, Greek Ham (Person) Japheth Land Lud, Ludim, Ludites Mesopotamia Nations Nineveh, Ninevite Patriarchs, Period of the Perizzite Put (Place) Shem Sidon (Place), Sidonian The Flood Togarmah Zemarites

Topics

Dispersion of the Descendants of Noah Earth: Early Divisions of Genealogy of the Descendants of Noah Sciences: Geography Shem: Descendants of