Genesis 10:2-5
New English Translation
2 The sons of Japheth[a] were Gomer,[b] Magog,[c] Madai,[d] Javan,[e] Tubal,[f] Meshech,[g] and Tiras.[h] 3 The sons of Gomer were[i] Ashkenaz,[j] Riphath,[k] and Togarmah.[l] 4 The sons of Javan were Elishah,[m] Tarshish,[n] the Kittim,[o] and the Dodanim.[p] 5 From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to its language, according to their families, by their nations.
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- Genesis 10:2 sn The Greek form of the name Japheth, Iapetos, is used in Greek tradition for the ancestor of the Greeks.
- Genesis 10:2 sn Gomer was the ancestor of the Cimmerians. For a discussion of the Cimmerians see E. M. Yamauchi, Foes from the Northern Frontier (SBA), 49-61.
- Genesis 10:2 sn For a discussion of various proposals concerning the descendants of Magog see E. M. Yamauchi, Foes from the Northern Frontier (SBA), 22-24.
- Genesis 10:2 sn Madai was the ancestor of the Medes, who lived east of Assyria.
- Genesis 10:2 sn Javan was the father of the Hellenic race, the Ionians who lived in western Asia Minor.
- Genesis 10:2 sn Tubal was the ancestor of militaristic tribes that lived north of the Black Sea. For a discussion of ancient references to Tubal see E. M. Yamauchi, Foes from the Northern Frontier (SBA), 24-26.
- Genesis 10:2 sn Meshech was the ancestor of the people known in Assyrian records as the Musku. For a discussion of ancient references to them see E. M. Yamauchi, Foes from the Northern Frontier (SBA), 24-26.
- Genesis 10:2 sn Tiras was the ancestor of the Thracians, some of whom possibly became the Pelasgian pirates of the Aegean.
- Genesis 10:3 sn The descendants of Gomer were all northern tribes of the Upper Euphrates.
- Genesis 10:3 sn Ashkenaz was the ancestor of a northern branch of Indo-Germanic tribes, possibly Scythians. For discussion see E. M. Yamauchi, Foes from the Northern Frontier (SBA), 63.
- Genesis 10:3 sn The descendants of Riphath lived in a district north of the road from Haran to Carchemish.
- Genesis 10:3 sn Togarmah is also mentioned in Ezek 38:6, where it refers to Til-garimmu, the capital of Kammanu, which bordered Tabal in eastern Turkey. See E. M. Yamauchi, Foes from the Northern Frontier (SBA), 26, n. 28.
- Genesis 10:4 sn The descendants of Elishah populated Cyprus.
- Genesis 10:4 sn The descendants of Tarshish settled along the southern coast of what is modern Turkey. However, some identify the site Tarshish (see Jonah 1:3) with Sardinia or Spain.
- Genesis 10:4 sn The name Kittim is associated with Cyprus, as well as coastlands east of Rhodes. It is used in later texts to refer to the Romans.
- Genesis 10:4 tc Most of the MT mss read “Dodanim” here, but 1 Chr 1:7 has “Rodanim,” perhaps referring to the island of Rhodes. But the Qere reading in 1 Chr 1:7 suggests “Dodanim.” Dodona is one of the most ancient and revered spots in ancient Greece.
Genesis 10:2-5
International Standard Version
2 Japheth’s descendants included[a] Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
3 Gomer’s descendants included Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.
4 Javan’s descendants included Elisha, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim,[b] 5 from whom the coastal nations[c] spread into their own lands and nations, each with their own language and family groups.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 10:2 The Heb. lacks included; and so throughout the chapter
- Genesis 10:4 So MT; LXX and a Heb. mss. read Rodanim; Cf. 1Chr 1:7
- Genesis 10:5 Lit. peoples
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