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The Generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth

10 Now these are the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood.

(A)The sons of Japheth were (B)Gomer and Magog and (C)Madai and (D)Javan and Tubal and (E)Meshech and Tiras. The sons of Gomer were (F)Ashkenaz and [a]Riphath and (G)Togarmah. The sons of Javan were Elishah and (H)Tarshish, Kittim and [b]Dodanim. From these the coastlands of the nations [c]were separated into their lands, every one according to his tongue, according to their families, into their nations.

(I)The sons of Ham were Cush and [d]Mizraim and Put and Canaan. The sons of Cush were (J)Seba and Havilah and Sabtah and (K)Raamah and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah were (L)Sheba and (M)Dedan. Now Cush [e]was the father of Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before Yahweh; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before Yahweh.” 10 The beginning of his kingdom was [f](N)Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of (O)Shinar. 11 From that land he went out (P)to Assyria and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, 12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. 13 Mizraim [g]was the father of (Q)Ludim and Anamim and Lehabim and Naphtuhim 14 and (R)Pathrusim and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines) and Caphtorim.

15 Canaan [h]was the father of (S)Sidon, his firstborn, and (T)Heth 16 and (U)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; and afterward the families of the Canaanite were scattered. 19 (V)The border of the Canaanite [i]extended from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; as you go toward (W)Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their tongues, by their lands, by their nations.

21 Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, and the [j]older brother of Japheth, children were born. 22 (X)The sons of Shem were (Y)Elam and Asshur and (Z)Arpachshad and (AA)Lud and Aram. 23 The sons of Aram were (AB)Uz and Hul and Gether and Mash. 24 Arpachshad [k]was the father of (AC)Shelah; and Shelah [l]was the father of Eber. 25 (AD)Now two sons were born to Eber; the name of the one was [m]Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan. 26 And Joktan [n]was the father of Almodad and Sheleph and Hazarmaveth and Jerah 27 and Hadoram and Uzal and Diklah 28 and [o]Obal and Abimael and Sheba 29 and Ophir and Havilah and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan.

30 Now their [p]settlement [q]extended from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the hill country of the east. 31 These are the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their tongues, by their lands, according to their nations.

32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, by their nations; and (AE)out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood.

The Tower of Babel

11 Now the whole earth [r]had the same language and [s]the same words. And it happened as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land (AF)of Shinar and [t]settled there. Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and they had (AG)tar for mortar. And they said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top (AH)will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves (AI)a name, lest we (AJ)be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” (AK)Then Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And Yahweh said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have [u](AL)the same language. And this is what they have begun to do. So now nothing which they purpose to do will be [v]impossible for them. Come, (AM)let Us go down and there (AN)confuse their [w]language, so that they will not understand one another’s [x]language.” So Yahweh (AO)scattered them from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name was called [y](AP)Babel, because there Yahweh confused the [z]language of the whole earth; and from there Yahweh scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

The Generations of Shem

10 (AQ)These are the generations of Shem. Shem was 100 years old and [aa]became the father of Arpachshad two years after the flood; 11 and Shem lived 500 years after he became the father of Arpachshad, and he became the father of other sons and daughters.

12 And Arpachshad lived 35 years and became the father of Shelah; 13 and Arpachshad lived 403 years after he became the father of Shelah, and he became the father of other sons and daughters.

14 And Shelah lived 30 years and became the father of Eber; 15 and Shelah lived 403 years after he became the father of Eber, and he became the father of other sons and daughters.

16 And Eber lived 34 years and became the father of Peleg; 17 and Eber lived 430 years after he became the father of Peleg, and he became the father of other sons and daughters.

18 And Peleg lived 30 years and became the father of Reu; 19 and Peleg lived 209 years after he became the father of Reu, and he became the father of other sons and daughters.

20 And Reu lived 32 years and became the father of Serug; 21 and Reu lived 207 years after he became the father of Serug, and he became the father of other sons and daughters.

22 And Serug lived 30 years and became the father of Nahor; 23 and Serug lived 200 years after he became the father of Nahor, and he became the father of other sons and daughters.

24 Nahor lived 29 years and became the father of (AR)Terah; 25 and Nahor lived 119 years after he became the father of Terah, and he became the father of other sons and daughters.

26 And Terah lived 70 years and became (AS)the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

The Generations of Terah

27 Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and (AT)Haran became the father of (AU)Lot. 28 And Haran died [ab]in the presence of Terah his father in the land of his birth, in (AV)Ur of the Chaldeans. 29 Abram and (AW)Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram’s wife was (AX)Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife was (AY)Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah. 30 (AZ)And Sarai was barren; she had no child.

31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went out [ac]together from (BA)Ur of the Chaldeans in order to go to the land of Canaan; and they came as far as Haran and [ad]settled there. 32 And the days of Terah were 205 years; and Terah died in Haran.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 10:3 In 1 Chr 1:6, Diphath
  2. Genesis 10:4 In 1 Chr 1:7, Rodanim
  3. Genesis 10:5 Or separated themselves
  4. Genesis 10:6 Or Egypt
  5. Genesis 10:8 Lit begot
  6. Genesis 10:10 Or Babylon
  7. Genesis 10:13 Lit begot
  8. Genesis 10:15 Lit begot
  9. Genesis 10:19 Lit was
  10. Genesis 10:21 Or the brother of Japheth the elder
  11. Genesis 10:24 Lit begot
  12. Genesis 10:24 Lit begot
  13. Genesis 10:25 Lit division
  14. Genesis 10:26 Lit begot
  15. Genesis 10:28 In 1 Chr 1:22, Ebal
  16. Genesis 10:30 Lit dwelling
  17. Genesis 10:30 Lit was
  18. Genesis 11:1 Lit was one lip
  19. Genesis 11:1 Or one set of words
  20. Genesis 11:2 Lit dwelt
  21. Genesis 11:6 Lit one lip
  22. Genesis 11:6 Lit withheld from
  23. Genesis 11:7 Lit lip
  24. Genesis 11:7 Lit lip
  25. Genesis 11:9 Or Babylon
  26. Genesis 11:9 Lit lip
  27. Genesis 11:10 Lit begot, so in ch
  28. Genesis 11:28 Or during the lifetime of
  29. Genesis 11:31 Lit with them
  30. Genesis 11:31 Lit dwelt

The Table of Nations

10 This is the account(A) of Shem, Ham and Japheth,(B) Noah’s sons,(C) who themselves had sons after the flood.

The Japhethites(D)

The sons[a] of Japheth:

Gomer,(E) Magog,(F) Madai, Javan,(G) Tubal,(H) Meshek(I) and Tiras.

The sons of Gomer:

Ashkenaz,(J) Riphath and Togarmah.(K)

The sons of Javan:

Elishah,(L) Tarshish,(M) the Kittites(N) and the Rodanites.[b] (From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.)(O)

The Hamites(P)

The sons of Ham:

Cush,(Q) Egypt, Put(R) and Canaan.(S)

The sons of Cush:

Seba,(T) Havilah,(U) Sabtah, Raamah(V) and Sabteka.

The sons of Raamah:

Sheba(W) and Dedan.(X)

Cush was the father[c] of Nimrod,(Y) who became a mighty warrior on the earth. He was a mighty(Z) hunter(AA) before the Lord; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon,(AB) Uruk,(AC) Akkad and Kalneh,(AD) in[d] Shinar.[e](AE) 11 From that land he went to Assyria,(AF) where he built Nineveh,(AG) Rehoboth Ir,[f] Calah 12 and Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah—which is the great city.

13 Egypt was the father of

the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 14 Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines(AH) came) and Caphtorites.(AI)

15 Canaan(AJ) was the father of

Sidon(AK) his firstborn,[g](AL) and of the Hittites,(AM) 16 Jebusites,(AN) Amorites,(AO) Girgashites,(AP) 17 Hivites,(AQ) Arkites, Sinites, 18 Arvadites,(AR) Zemarites and Hamathites.(AS)

Later the Canaanite(AT) clans scattered 19 and the borders of Canaan(AU) reached from Sidon(AV) toward Gerar(AW) as far as Gaza,(AX) and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim,(AY) as far as Lasha.

20 These are the sons of Ham by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.

The Semites(AZ)

21 Sons were also born to Shem, whose older brother was[h] Japheth; Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.(BA)

22 The sons of Shem:

Elam,(BB) Ashur,(BC) Arphaxad,(BD) Lud and Aram.(BE)

23 The sons of Aram:

Uz,(BF) Hul, Gether and Meshek.[i]

24 Arphaxad was the father of[j] Shelah,

and Shelah the father of Eber.(BG)

25 Two sons were born to Eber:

One was named Peleg,[k] because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.

26 Joktan was the father of

Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal,(BH) Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba,(BI) 29 Ophir,(BJ) Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.

30 The region where they lived stretched from Mesha toward Sephar, in the eastern hill country.

31 These are the sons of Shem by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.

32 These are the clans of Noah’s sons,(BK) according to their lines of descent, within their nations. From these the nations spread out over the earth(BL) after the flood.

The Tower of Babel

11 Now the whole world had one language(BM) and a common speech. As people moved eastward,[l] they found a plain in Shinar[m](BN) and settled there.

They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks(BO) and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone,(BP) and tar(BQ) for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens,(BR) so that we may make a name(BS) for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered(BT) over the face of the whole earth.”(BU)

But the Lord came down(BV) to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language(BW) they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us(BX) go down(BY) and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”(BZ)

So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth,(CA) and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel[n](CB)—because there the Lord confused the language(CC) of the whole world.(CD) From there the Lord scattered(CE) them over the face of the whole earth.

From Shem to Abram(CF)

10 This is the account(CG) of Shem’s family line.

Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father[o] of Arphaxad.(CH) 11 And after he became the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.

12 When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah.(CI) 13 And after he became the father of Shelah, Arphaxad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.[p]

14 When Shelah had lived 30 years, he became the father of Eber.(CJ) 15 And after he became the father of Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

16 When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg.(CK) 17 And after he became the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters.

18 When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of Reu.(CL) 19 And after he became the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters.

20 When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug.(CM) 21 And after he became the father of Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters.

22 When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor.(CN) 23 And after he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters.

24 When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah.(CO) 25 And after he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters.

26 After Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram,(CP) Nahor(CQ) and Haran.(CR)

Abram’s Family

27 This is the account(CS) of Terah’s family line.

Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor(CT) and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot.(CU) 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans,(CV) in the land of his birth. 29 Abram and Nahor(CW) both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai,(CX) and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milkah;(CY) she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milkah and Iskah. 30 Now Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive.(CZ)

31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot(DA) son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law(DB) Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans(DC) to go to Canaan.(DD) But when they came to Harran,(DE) they settled there.

32 Terah(DF) lived 205 years, and he died in Harran.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 10:2 Sons may mean descendants or successors or nations; also in verses 3, 4, 6, 7, 20-23, 29 and 31.
  2. Genesis 10:4 Some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text and Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Septuagint and 1 Chron. 1:7); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text Dodanites
  3. Genesis 10:8 Father may mean ancestor or predecessor or founder; also in verses 13, 15, 24 and 26.
  4. Genesis 10:10 Or Uruk and Akkad—all of them in
  5. Genesis 10:10 That is, Babylonia
  6. Genesis 10:11 Or Nineveh with its city squares
  7. Genesis 10:15 Or of the Sidonians, the foremost
  8. Genesis 10:21 Or Shem, the older brother of
  9. Genesis 10:23 See Septuagint and 1 Chron. 1:17; Hebrew Mash.
  10. Genesis 10:24 Hebrew; Septuagint father of Cainan, and Cainan was the father of
  11. Genesis 10:25 Peleg means division.
  12. Genesis 11:2 Or from the east; or in the east
  13. Genesis 11:2 That is, Babylonia
  14. Genesis 11:9 That is, Babylon; Babel sounds like the Hebrew for confused.
  15. Genesis 11:10 Father may mean ancestor; also in verses 11-25.
  16. Genesis 11:13 Hebrew; Septuagint (see also Luke 3:35, 36 and note at Gen. 10:24) 35 years, he became the father of Cainan. 13 And after he became the father of Cainan, Arphaxad lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters, and then he died. When Cainan had lived 130 years, he became the father of Shelah. And after he became the father of Shelah, Cainan lived 330 years and had other sons and daughters