UNROLL
From a high ridge at dawn, valleys and plains fall away toward far coastlands and a distant sea, with thin threads of smoke rising from scattered camps.

The Book of

Genesis 10

After the flood, one family. From three brothers come the peoples of the whole known world, and every name is remembered.

32 verses≈ 3 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–11BeginningsCreation, fall, flood, BabelChapter 10
  2. 12–24AbrahamThe call and the promise
  3. 25–36Isaac and JacobThe promise passed on
  4. 37–50JosephGod meant it for good

The Table of Nations

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

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

JavanGomerMediaEgyptCushPutCanaanShinarAssyriaElamAram

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

The nations

Japheth’s peoples spread north and to the coastlands, Ham’s to Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan, Shem’s to the east. Many identifications are approximate.

The Japhethites

A rocky coast of headlands and small islands in morning light, with simple wooden plank boats drawn up on a pebble beach.

Family line

The sons of Japheth

    • Gomer
    • Magog
    • Madai
    • Javan
    • Tubal
    • Meshech
    • Tiras

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

  2. Gomer
    • Ashkenaz
    • Riphath
    • Togarmah

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

  3. Javan
    • Elishah
    • Tarshish
    • the Kittites
    • the Rodanites

    And the sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites.

  4. The coastland peoples

    From these, the maritime peoples separated into their territories, according to their languages, by clans within their nations.

The Hamites

The Nile at morning between palms and green fields, a reed boat with a square sail on the water and desert hills beyond.

Family line

The sons of Ham

    • Cush
    • Mizraim
    • Put
    • Canaan

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

  2. Cush
    • Seba
    • Havilah
    • Sabtah
    • Raamah
    • Sabteca

    The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca.

  3. Raamah
    • Sheba
    • Dedan

    And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.

A powerfully built hunter seen from behind with a bow, standing in the reeds of a marsh at dusk as a flight of birds rises.

Cush was the father of Nimrod, who began to be a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; so it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.”

0:11

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Reflect

Mighty on the earth

Nimrod is the one man in this list with a story. He “began to be a mighty one on the earth,” and his kingdom grew from city to city: Babylon, Erech, Accad, then Nineveh and Calah. Genesis doesn’t say more, but it puts Babylon at the start of his kingdom, and chapter 11 is about Babel. What are you building, and whose name is it for? Write it down.

Family line

Mizraim and Canaan

  1. Mizraim
    • the Ludites
    • the Anamites
    • the Lehabites
    • the Naphtuhites
    • the Pathrusites
    • the Casluhites
    • the Caphtorites

    The Hebrew name for Egypt

    Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, the Anamites, the Lehabites, the Naphtuhites, the Pathrusites, the Casluhites (from whom the Philistines came), and the Caphtorites.

  2. Canaan
    • Sidon
    • the Hittites
    • the Jebusites
    • the Amorites
    • the Girgashites
    • the Hivites
    • the Arkites
    • the Sinites
    • the Arvadites
    • the Zemarites
    • the Hamathites

    Sidon his firstborn

    And Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.

  3. Scattered

    Later the Canaanite clans were scattered,

and the borders of Canaan extended from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.

These are the sons of Ham according to their clans, languages, lands, and nations.

Dead SeaCanaanGerarGazaSodom (site uncertain)

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

The borders of Canaan

From Sidon on the northern coast, just beyond this map, Canaan ran south to Gerar and Gaza, then east toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim by the Dead Sea. Their sites are uncertain; Lasha’s is unknown.

The Semites

And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber.

A wide Mesopotamian plain at evening, a river winding through it, with flocks and black tents scattered along the bank.

Family line

Shem to Peleg

    • Elam
    • Asshur
    • Arphaxad
    • Lud
    • Aram

    The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.

  2. Aram
    • Uz
    • Hul
    • Gether
    • Mash

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

  3. ArphaxadShelahEber
    • Peleg
    • Joktan

    Peleg means division

    Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber.

    Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother was named Joktan.

in his days the earth was divided

Genesis 10:25

Pray

The quiet line

Shem’s list looks like the others, but one thread runs through it: “Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber,” and Eber’s son Peleg carries the line on toward Abram. God was keeping His promise long before anyone could see it. Thank Him for His patient faithfulness, and ask Him to help you trust Him in the long, quiet stretches of your own life.

Family line

The sons of Joktan

  1. Joktan
    • Almodad
    • Sheleph
    • Hazarmaveth
    • Jerah
    • Hadoram
    • Uzal
    • Diklah
    • Obal
    • Abimael
    • Sheba
    • Ophir
    • Havilah
    • Jobab

    Thirteen sons

    And Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.

Their territory extended from Mesha to Sephar, in the eastern hill country.

These are the sons of Shem, according to their clans, languages, lands, and nations.

All these are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their generations and nations. From these the nations of the earth spread out after the flood.

Genesis 10:32

Question

Quick question

Genesis lists Shem’s family last, and singles out one name.

Genesis 10:21 calls Shem the forefather of all the sons of whom?

You’ve experienced

Genesis 10

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A verse to carry with you

All these are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their generations and nations. From these the nations of the earth spread out after the flood.

Genesis 10:32

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