Bible Glide

Genesis 10

Genesis 10 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Genesis 10 records the family lines that came from Noah's sons after the flood. It maps how peoples spread into different regions, languages, and clans, showing the early growth of the nations. The chapter is often called the Table of Nations.

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What happens in Genesis 10?

This chapter gives a detailed list of the descendants of Japheth, Ham, and Shem. It notes where their families settled and how distinct peoples and territories formed over time. The account includes Nimrod, a powerful ruler linked with Babylon and other early cities, and it also traces the lines that led to Canaan and to Eber. The chapter ends by summarizing that the nations of the earth spread out from Noah's family after the flood.

Genesis 10 comes after the flood account and before the story of Babel in Genesis 11. It shows the widening human family after judgment and new beginnings. The chapter prepares the reader for the scattering of peoples and the unfolding of later biblical history through the line of Shem.

Themes to notice

  • Human family linesThe chapter traces how Noah's sons became the ancestors of many nations.
  • Spread of nationsIt shows peoples forming clans, languages, and territories across the earth.
  • Early power and citiesNimrod's rise points to the growth of kingdoms, cities, and human strength.

Questions for Genesis 10

  • What does this chapter show about the growth of nations after the flood?
  • Why do you think the chapter pays so much attention to family lines and locations?
  • How does the mention of Nimrod help set up the events that follow in Genesis?

Read the full text of Genesis 10 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Genesis 10

The Table of Nations

1This is the account of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, who also had sons after the flood.

The Japhethites

2The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.3The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.4And the sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites.5From these, the maritime peoples separated into their territories, according to their languages, by clans within their nations.

The Hamites

6The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.7The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.8Cush was the father of Nimrod, who began to be a mighty one on the earth.9He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; so it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.”10His kingdom began in Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.11From that land he went forth into Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah,12and Resen, which is between Nineveh and the great city of Calah.13Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, the Anamites, the Lehabites, the Naphtuhites,14the Pathrusites, the Casluhites (from whom the Philistines came), and the Caphtorites.

15And Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites,16the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,17the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,18the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Later the Canaanite clans were scattered,19and 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.20These are the sons of Ham according to their clans, languages, lands, and nations.

The Semites

21And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber.22The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.23The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.24Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber.25Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother was named Joktan.26And Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,28Obal, Abimael, Sheba,29Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.30Their territory extended from Mesha to Sephar, in the eastern hill country.31These are the sons of Shem, according to their clans, languages, lands, and nations.

32All 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.

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