Genesis 10

Now 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth.

He was a mighty hunter before the LORD. Therefore it is said, “like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD”.

The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

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

and Resen between Nineveh and the great city Calah.

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

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

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

the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,

the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,

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

The 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.

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

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

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

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

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

To 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.

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

Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,

Obal, Abimael, Sheba,

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

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

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

These 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.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter records the "Table of Nations," a genealogical mapping of the descendants of Noah’s three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—showing how humanity spread across the earth after the flood and diversified into distinct peoples, languages, and territories. It provides a bridge between the universal scope of the flood narrative and the narrowing focus of God’s redemptive plan through Shem’s line.

Flow.

Begins with a heading identifying the purpose: to trace the nations arising from Noah’s sons.
Lists the descendants of Japheth, associated with peoples to the north and west, including regions corresponding to Asia Minor and the islands of the Mediterranean.
Moves to Ham’s line, including key nations like Egypt (Mizraim), Canaan, and Cush, highlighting Nimrod as the first human known for establishing cities and human-centered political power.
Concludes with Shem’s descendants, emphasizing Eber (eponym of the Hebrews) and the division of the earth in Peleg’s time, setting the stage for Abraham’s call.

Connections. Following chapter 9, which concludes with Noah’s prophecy blessing Shem and cursing Canaan, this chapter expands that pronouncement to show how the nations are forming within God’s sovereign order. The dispersion under their respective languages and lands explains the ethnic and territorial divisions, which chapter 11 will directly address through the account of Babel. The genealogy ends with Shem’s line, leading naturally toward the call of Abram in chapter 12, narrowing the focus to the line through which blessing will come to the nations.

What it teaches. All nations descend from Noah and are thus of one blood and under one divine mandate to fill the earth (WCF 4.1), yet their divisions according to language and territory reflect God’s providential ordering after human pride began to rise, as seen in Nimrod’s city-building (; cf. WCF 3.7). The rise of Nimrod, a “mighty hunter before the LORD,” may imply opposition to God’s rule and foreshadow imperial rebellion (cf. HC LD 1). The mention of Peleg, “in whose days the earth was divided” (), points to a divine disruption of human unity, which is further explained at Babel; the division is not biological or ethnic alone, but an act of God’s governance to restrain sin and preserve His redemptive purpose (WCF 5.7).

Apply. The nations are neither random nor autonomous but ordered under God’s providence, even as they drift from His word.

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