Genesis 10

The Table of Nations

¹Now this is the history of the generations of the sons of Noah and of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

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

³The sons of Gomer were: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

⁴The sons of Javan were: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

⁵Of these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in their nations.

⁶The sons of Ham were: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

⁷The sons of Cush were: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah were: Sheba and Dedan.

⁸Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in 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 Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

¹¹Out of that land he went into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah,

¹²and Resen between Nineveh and the great city Calah.

¹³Mizraim became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim,

¹⁴Pathrusim, Casluhim (which the Philistines descended from), and Caphtorim.

¹⁵Canaan became the father of Sidon (his firstborn), Heth,

¹⁶the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,

¹⁷the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,

¹⁸the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad.

¹⁹The border of the Canaanites was from Sidon—as you go toward Gerar—to Gaza—as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim—to Lasha.

²⁰These are the sons of Ham, after their families, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations.

²¹Children were also born to Shem (the elder brother of Japheth), the father of all the children of Eber.

²²The sons of Shem were: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.

²³The sons of Aram were: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.

²⁴Arpachshad became the father of Shelah. Shelah became the father of Eber.

²⁵To Eber were born two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. His brother’s name was Joktan.

²⁶Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

²⁷Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,

²⁸Obal, Abimael, Sheba,

²⁹Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.

³⁰Their dwelling extended from Mesha, as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.

³¹These are the sons of Shem, by their families, according to their languages, lands, and nations.

³²These are the families of the sons of Noah, by their generations, according to their nations. The nations divided from these in the earth after the flood.

Previous Genesis 9

Next Genesis 11

Genesis 10 presents the Table of Nations, a genealogical record tracing how Noah's three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—became the ancestors of all post-flood peoples. The chapter systematically lists their descendants and the nations, languages, and territories that emerged from each family line. This genealogy establishes the biblical understanding of human diversity and geographic distribution, showing how God's command to 'fill the earth' was fulfilled through Noah's lineage.

Context

Following the flood narrative and Noah's blessing and curse in chapter 9, this genealogy bridges to the Tower of Babel account in chapter 11, explaining the origins of human diversity.

Key Themes

Outline

1-5
Descendants of Japheth Lists Japheth's sons and grandsons who populated the coastlands and islands of the nations
6-20
Descendants of Ham Details Ham's lineage including Nimrod the mighty hunter and the Canaanite peoples who would later oppose Israel
21-31
Descendants of Shem Chronicles Shem's line with special attention to Eber and Peleg, during whose time 'the earth was divided'
32
Summary Statement Concludes that all nations on earth descended from Noah's sons after the flood

The Table of Nations

10:1–10:32

genealogy narration contemplative

The genealogical record of Noah's descendants through his three sons, showing how the nations of the earth were populated and divided after the flood.

person_contrast

Noah transforms from the solitary righteous survivor of divine judgment into the progenitor of seventy nations, shifting from covenant recipient to creation's new Adam.

Insight Character Study

Noah transforms from the solitary righteous survivor of divine judgment into the progenitor of seventy nations, shifting from covenant recipient to creation's new Adam.