1 Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: these are the sons which they had after the great flow of waters 2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras. 3 And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah. 4 And the sons of Javan: Elishah and Tarshish, the Kittim and the Dodanim. 5 From these came the nations of the sea-lands, with their different families and languages. 6 And the sons of Ham: Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan. 7 And the sons of Cush: Seba and Havilah and Sabtah and Raamah and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. 8 And Cush was the father of Nimrod, who was the first of the great men of the earth. 9 He was a very great bowman, so that there is a saying, Like Nimrod, a very great bowman. 10 And at the first, his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went out into Assyria, building Nineveh with its wide streets and Calah, 12 And Resen between Nineveh and Calah, which is a very great town. 13 And Mizraim was the father of the Ludim and Anamim and Lehabim and Naphtuhim; 14 And Pathrusim and Casluhim and Caphtorim, from whom came the Philistines. 15 And Canaan was the father of Zidon, who was his oldest son, and Heth, 16 And the Jebusite and the Amorite and the Girgashite, 17 And the Hivite and the Arkite and the Sinite, 18 And the Arvadite and the Zemarite and the Hamathite; after that the families of the Canaanites went far and wide in all directions; 19 Their country stretching from Zidon to Gaza, in the direction of Gerar; and to Lasha, in the direction of Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim. 20 All these, with their different families, languages, lands, and nations, are the offspring of Ham. 21 And Shem, the older brother of Japheth, the father of the children of Eber, had other sons in addition. 22 These are the sons of Shem: Elam and Asshur and Arpachshad and Lud and Aram. 23 And the sons of Aram: Uz and Hul and Gether and Mash. 24 And Arpachshad became the father of Shelah; and Shelah became the father of Eber. 25 And Eber had two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, because in his time the peoples of the earth became separate; and his brother's name was Joktan. 26 And Joktan was the father of Almodad and Sheleph and Hazarmaveth and Jerah 27 And Hadoram and Uzal and Diklah 28 And Obal and Abimael and Sheba 29 And Ophir and Havilah and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. 30 And their country was from Mesha, in the direction of Sephar, the mountain of the east. 31 These, with their families and their languages and their lands and their nations, are the offspring of Shem. 32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, in the order of their generations and their nations: from these came all the nations of the earth after the great flow of waters.
Genesis · Bible in Basic English
Genesis 10 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Abimael
Listed among the thirteen sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:28; 1 Chronicles 1:22
Almodad
Listed among the thirteen sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:26; 1 Chronicles 1:20
Amorite
Listed among those whom Canaan fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Amorites'), a Canaanite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:16; 1 Chronicles 1:14
Anamim
Listed among those whom Mizraim fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Anamites').
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:13; 1 Chronicles 1:11
Aram
A son of Shem and ancestor of the Arameans, the peoples of Syria.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:22-23
Arkite
Listed among those whom Canaan fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Arkites'), a Canaanite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:17; 1 Chronicles 1:15
Arphaxad
Born two years after the flood, a link from Shem toward Abraham.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:22–24; 11:10–13
Arvadite
Listed among those whom Canaan fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Arvadites'), a Canaanite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:18; 1 Chronicles 1:16
Ashkenaz
Listed first among the sons of Gomer in the Table of Nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:3; 1 Chronicles 1:6
Asshur
A son of Shem and ancestor of the Assyrians of the upper Tigris.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:22
Canaan
A son of Ham and ancestor of the Canaanites who peopled the Promised Land.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:6,15-19
Caphtorim
Listed among those whom Mizraim fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Caphtorites').
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:14; 1 Chronicles 1:12
Casluhim
Listed among those whom Mizraim fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Casluhites'), from whom the Philistines came.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:14; 1 Chronicles 1:12
Cush
A son of Ham and ancestor of the Cushites of Ethiopia and Nubia.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:6-8
Dedan
Listed with Sheba as a son of Raamah, Cush's son, in the Table of Nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:7; 1 Chronicles 1:9
Diklah
Listed among the thirteen sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:27; 1 Chronicles 1:21
Eber
The name behind the word 'Hebrew,' father of Peleg.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:24–25; 11:14–17
Elam
A son of Shem and ancestor of the Elamites east of Babylon, near Persia.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:22
Elishah
Listed first among the sons of Javan in the Table of Nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:4; 1 Chronicles 1:7
Gether
Listed among the sons of Aram in the Table of Nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:23; 1 Chronicles 1:17
Girgashite
Listed among those whom Canaan fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Girgashites'), a Canaanite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:16; 1 Chronicles 1:14
Gomer
A son of Japheth and ancestor of northern peoples linked to the Cimmerians.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:2-3
Hadoram
Listed among the thirteen sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:27; 1 Chronicles 1:21
Ham
A son of Noah whose descendants filled the Table of Nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 9:18–25; 10:6–20
Hamathite
Listed among those whom Canaan fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Hamathites'), a Canaanite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:18; 1 Chronicles 1:16
Havilah
Listed among the sons of Cush in the Table of Nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:7; 1 Chronicles 1:9
Havilah
Listed among the thirteen sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:29; 1 Chronicles 1:23
Hazarmaveth
Listed among the thirteen sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:26; 1 Chronicles 1:20
Heth
Listed after Sidon among those whom Canaan fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Hittites').
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:15; 1 Chronicles 1:13
Hivite
Listed among those whom Canaan fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Hivites'), a Canaanite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:17; 1 Chronicles 1:15
Hul
Listed among the sons of Aram in the Table of Nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:23; 1 Chronicles 1:17
Japheth
A son of Noah, ancestor of the northern and coastland nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 9:18–27; 10:2–5
Javan
A son of Japheth and ancestor of the Greeks, known in Scripture as the Ionians.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:2,4
Jebusite
Listed among those whom Canaan fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Jebusites'), a Canaanite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:16; 1 Chronicles 1:14
Jerah
Listed among the thirteen sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:26; 1 Chronicles 1:20
Jobab
Listed among the thirteen sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:29; 1 Chronicles 1:23
Joktan
Eber's other son and the brother of Peleg, who was the father of the thirteen sons listed in Genesis 10:26-29.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:25; Genesis 10:26; Genesis 10:29
Kittim
Listed among the sons of Javan (BSB: 'the Kittites'), one of the maritime peoples that separated into their territories.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:4; 1 Chronicles 1:7
Lehabim
Listed among those whom Mizraim fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Lehabites').
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:13; 1 Chronicles 1:11
Lud
A son of Shem and ancestor of a people traditionally placed in Asia Minor.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:22
Ludim
Listed among those whom Mizraim fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Ludites').
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:13; 1 Chronicles 1:11
Madai
A son of Japheth and ancestor of the Medes of the Iranian plateau.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:2
Magog
A son of Japheth associated with the peoples of the far north.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:2
Mash
Listed last among the sons of Aram in Genesis 10:23 (the BSB reads 'Meshech' for this son in 1 Chronicles 1:17).
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:23; 1 Chronicles 1:17
Meshech
A son of Japheth associated with peoples of Asia Minor near Tubal.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:2
Mizraim
A son of Ham and ancestor of the Egyptians; his name is the Hebrew word for Egypt.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:6,13
Naphtuhim
Listed among those whom Mizraim fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Naphtuhites').
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:13; 1 Chronicles 1:11
Nimrod
A son of Cush, a mighty hunter before the LORD and founder of the first empire.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:8-12
Obal
Listed among the thirteen sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:28; 1 Chronicles 1:22
Ophir
Listed among the thirteen sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:29; 1 Chronicles 1:23
Pathrusim
Listed among those whom Mizraim fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Pathrusites').
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:14; 1 Chronicles 1:12
Peleg
In his days, Scripture says, the earth was divided.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:25; 11:16–19
Put
A son of Ham and ancestor of the peoples of Libya, west of Egypt.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:6
Raamah
Listed among the sons of Cush in the Table of Nations, and the father of Sheba and Dedan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:7; 1 Chronicles 1:9
Riphath
Listed among the sons of Gomer in the Table of Nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:3; 1 Chronicles 1:6
Sabtah
Listed among the sons of Cush in the Table of Nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:7; 1 Chronicles 1:9
Sabteca
Listed last among the sons of Cush in the Table of Nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:7; 1 Chronicles 1:9
Seba
Listed first among the sons of Cush in the Table of Nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:7; 1 Chronicles 1:9
Sheba
Listed among the thirteen sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:28; 1 Chronicles 1:22
Sheba
Listed with Dedan as a son of Raamah, Cush's son, in the Table of Nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:7; 1 Chronicles 1:9
Shelah
A quiet link in the line from Shem to Eber and Abraham.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:24; 11:12–15
Sheleph
Listed among the thirteen sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:26; 1 Chronicles 1:20
Shem
Noah's blessed son, ancestor of the Semitic peoples and of Abraham.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 9:18–10:31; 11:10–26
Sinite
Listed among those whom Canaan fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Sinites'), a Canaanite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:17; 1 Chronicles 1:15
Tarshish
Listed among the sons of Javan in the Table of Nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:4; 1 Chronicles 1:7
Tiras
A son of Japheth linked by tradition to seafaring peoples of the Aegean.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:2
Togarmah
Listed among the sons of Gomer in the Table of Nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:3; 1 Chronicles 1:6
Tubal
A son of Japheth linked to peoples of Asia Minor near the Black Sea.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 10:2
Uz
Listed first among the sons of Aram in the Table of Nations.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:23; 1 Chronicles 1:17
Uzal
Listed among the thirteen sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:27; 1 Chronicles 1:21
Zemarite
Listed among those whom Canaan fathered in the Table of Nations (BSB: 'the Zemarites'), a Canaanite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 10:18; 1 Chronicles 1:16
Cross references (31)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Genesis 2:4; Genesis 9:7; Matthew 1:1; Genesis 9:1; Genesis 9:19
- 2 Ezekiel 38:2; Ezekiel 38:6; Isaiah 66:19; 1 Chronicles 1:5–7; Revelation 20:8
- 3 Ezekiel 27:14; Jeremiah 51:27
- 4 Daniel 11:30; Numbers 24:24; Isaiah 23:12; Isaiah 23:1; Ezekiel 27:25
- 5 Zephaniah 2:11; Isaiah 42:4; Jeremiah 2:10; Jeremiah 25:22; Genesis 10:20
- 6 1 Chronicles 1:8–16; Psalm 106:22; Psalm 105:27; Genesis 9:22; Isaiah 11:11
- 7 Ezekiel 27:22; Ezekiel 27:15; 1 Kings 10:1; Genesis 2:11; Isaiah 21:13
- 8 Micah 5:6
- 9 2 Chronicles 28:22; Genesis 6:11; Genesis 27:30; Genesis 25:27; Genesis 13:13
- 10 Genesis 11:9; Genesis 11:2; Genesis 14:1; Micah 4:10; Isaiah 39:1
- 11 Micah 5:6; Jonah 1:2; Nahum 1:1; Psalm 83:8; Isaiah 37:37
- 13 Jeremiah 46:9; 1 Chronicles 1:11–12; Ezekiel 30:5
- 14 Jeremiah 47:4; 1 Chronicles 1:12; Amos 9:7; Deuteronomy 2:23; Jeremiah 44:1
- 15 Numbers 34:2–15; Exodus 34:11; 1 Chronicles 1:13; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 15:18–21
- 16 Zechariah 9:7; Judges 1:21; 2 Samuel 24:18
- 17 Genesis 34:2
- 18 2 Kings 17:24; 2 Kings 17:30; Isaiah 10:9; Ezekiel 27:8; 2 Samuel 8:9
- 19 Genesis 14:2; Genesis 19:24–25; Joshua 14:1–15; Hosea 11:8; Judges 16:1
- 20 Genesis 10:6; Genesis 11:1–9
- 21 Numbers 24:24; Genesis 11:10–26
- 22 Isaiah 66:19; Acts 2:9; Isaiah 21:2; Jeremiah 49:34–39; Genesis 9:26
- 23 Job 1:1; Jeremiah 25:20
- 24 Luke 3:35; Genesis 11:12–15
- 25 1 Chronicles 1:19; Genesis 10:32; Deuteronomy 32:8; Acts 17:26; Luke 3:35–36
- 26 1 Chronicles 1:20–28
- 27 1 Chronicles 1:20–28
- 28 1 Kings 10:1; Genesis 25:3; 1 Chronicles 1:20–28
- 29 1 Kings 9:28; Job 22:24; Psalm 45:9; 1 Samuel 15:7; 1 Kings 22:48
- 30 Numbers 23:7
- 31 Genesis 10:5; Genesis 10:20; Acts 17:26
- 32 Genesis 9:19; Acts 17:26; Genesis 10:1; Genesis 5:29–31; Genesis 10:25
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
For we read, "Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Heber, the brother of Japheth the elder, were children born." This is the order of the words: And to Shem was born Heber, even to himself, that is, to Shem himself was born Heber, and Shem is the father of all his children.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
And unquestionably it is this which fulfills the promise I made, that it should appear why it is said of the sons of Heber, "The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided." For what can we understand by the division of the earth, if not the diversity of languages?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… himself gave to his son this name Peleg, which means Division; because he was born when the earth was divided, that is, at the very time of the division, and that this is the meaning of the words, "In his days the earth was divided." For unless Heber had been still alive when the languages were multiplied, the language which …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)