The Descendants of Japheth
Study note
Japheth's descendants generally settled in regions to the north and west — areas that would become parts of modern Europe and Central Asia. Names like Javan (Greece), Madai (Media/Persia), and Tarshish (Spain) connect these ancient peoples to known locations. The phrase 'divided in their lands' refers to each group settling in its own territory with its own language.
1 Here is the record of the families that came from Noah's three sons — Shem, Ham, and Japheth. After the flood, they all had sons of their own. Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.
2 Japheth's sons were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
3 Gomer's sons were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
4 Javan's sons were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
5 These descendants of Japheth spread out along the coastlines and settled in their own regions. Each group had its own language, and they organized themselves by families and nations. By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
The Descendants of Ham
Study note
Ham's descendants settled mostly in Africa and the ancient Near East. Cush refers to the region south of Egypt (modern Sudan/Ethiopia), Mizraim is Egypt, and Canaan is the land that would later be promised to Abraham's descendants. One of the most notable figures is Nimrod, described as a mighty warrior and hunter, who founded Babel (Babylon) and Nineveh — two of the most powerful cities of the ancient world. The Philistines, later enemies of Israel, also descend from Ham.
6 Ham's sons were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.
7 Cush's sons were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. Raamah's sons were Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
8 Cush also had a son named Nimrod, who grew up to be the first great warrior on earth. And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
9 He became a renowned hunter. People would say, "That person is as great a hunter as Nimrod was before the Lord." He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.
10 His kingdom started with the cities of Babylon, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh, all in the region of Shinar. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
11 From there he moved into Assyria and built the cities of Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, and Calah, Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,
12 and also Resen, located between Nineveh and Calah. Resen was a major city. And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.
13 Mizraim was the ancestor of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, and Naphtuhites, And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
14 as well as the Pathrusites, Casluhites (the Philistines came from this group), and the Caphtorites. And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.
15 Canaan's oldest son was Sidon, and he was also the ancestor of the Hittites, And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,
16 the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,
17 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,
18 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Over time, the families of Canaan spread out in different directions. And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.
19 The Canaanite land stretched from Sidon toward Gerar. It went down to Gaza. Then it went toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim. It reached as far as Lasha. And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.
20 All of these were Ham's family members, sorted by their families, languages, lands, and nations. These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.
The Descendants of Shem
Study note
Shem's line is the most important for the rest of the Bible because it leads to Abraham, Israel, and eventually Jesus. Shem is called 'the father of all the children of Eber,' from which the name 'Hebrew' may come. His descendants settled in the Middle East. The name Peleg means 'division,' and the text notes that 'in his days the earth was divided,' possibly referring to the scattering at the Tower of Babel. The chapter ends by noting that all the nations of the earth descended from Noah's family after the flood.
21 Shem, who was Japheth's older brother, also had sons. Shem was the ancestor of all the descendants of Eber. Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.
22 Shem's sons were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
23 Aram's sons were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.
24 Arphaxad had a son named Shelah, and Shelah had a son named Eber. And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber.
25 Eber had two sons. The first was named Peleg, because during his lifetime the people of the earth got divided up. His brother was named Joktan. And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.
26 Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,
27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,
28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. Every one of them was a son of Joktan. And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.
30 They all settled in a stretch of land from Mesha all the way to Sephar, in the hill country to the east. And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east.
31 These were all Shem's family members, sorted by their families, languages, lands, and nations. These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
32 All of these family groups trace back to Noah's sons, organized by their ancestry within their nations. Every nation on earth after the flood came from these families. These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.