Genesis 10:18

10:17 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,

And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.

KJV

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

And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.

10:19 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. Gaza: Heb. Azzah

What does Genesis 10:18 mean?

Genesis 10:18 is a verse in the book of Genesis, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אַרְוָדִי (ʼArvâdîy), צְמָרִי (Tsᵉmârîy), חֲמָתִי (Chămâthîy). It connects to 11 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

And

the

Arvadite,אַרְוָדִיʼArvâdîy/ar-vaw-dee'/H721an Arvadite or citizen of Arvad

and

the

Zemarite,צְמָרִיTsᵉmârîy/tsem-aw-ree'/H6786a Tsemarite or branch of the Canaanites

and

the

Hamathite:חֲמָתִיChămâthîy/kham-aw-thee'/H2577a Chamathite or native of Chamath

and

afterwardאַחַרʼachar/akh-ar'/H310properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

were

the

familiesמִשְׁפָּחָהmishpâchâh/mish-paw-khaw'/H4940a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people

the

CanaanitesכְּנַעַנִיKᵉnaʻanîy/ken-ah-an-ee'/H3669a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing for their neighbors the Ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile caravans)

spread

abroad.פּוּץpûwts/poots/H6327to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse)

Commentary on Genesis 10:18

HENRY_FULL · Genesis 10:17–22

Girgasite, 17 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, 18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad. 19 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 These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations. Observe here, 1. The account of the posterity of Canaan, of the families and nations that descended from him, and of the land they possessed, is more particular than of any other in this chapter, because these were the nations that were to be subdued before Israel, and their land was in process of time to become the holy land, Immanuel's land; and this God had an eye to when, in the meantime, he cast the lot of that accursed devoted race in that spot of ground which he had selected for his own people; this Moses takes notice of, Deut. xxxii. 8 , When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. 2. By this account it appears that the posterity of Canaan were numerous, and rich, and very pleasantly situated; and yet Canaan was under a curse, a divine curse, and not a curse causeless. Note, Those that are under the curse of God may yet perhaps thrive and prosper greatly in this world; for we cannot know love or hatred, the blessing or the curse, by what is before us, but by what is within us, Eccl. ix. 1 . The curse of God always works really and always terribly: but perhaps it is a secret curse, a curse to the soul, and does not work visibly, or a slow curse, and does not work immediately; but sinners are by it reserved for, and bound over to, a day of wrath. Canaan here has a better land than either Shem or Japheth, and yet they have a better lot, for they inherit the blessing. 21 Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Numbers 34:8

From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad:

Joshua 18:22

And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel,

2 Samuel 8:9

When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,

2 Kings 17:24

And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

2 Kings 17:30

And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,

2 Chronicles 13:4

And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;

Isaiah 10:9

Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?

Ezekiel 27:8

The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners: thy wise men, O Tyrus, that were in thee, were thy pilots.

Ezekiel 47:16

Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazarhatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran. Hazarhatticon: or, the middle village

Ezekiel 47:17

And the border from the sea shall be Hazarenan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side.

Zechariah 9:2

And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.

Topics

Canaanites Canaanites, the Phenicia Sciences

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Genesis 10:18.

1 Chronicles 1:16

And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.

Exodus 6:15

And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman: these are the families of Simeon.

Genesis 10:32

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.

Frequently asked questions

What does Genesis 10:18 say?

Genesis 10:18 (King James Version) reads: "And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad."

Is Genesis 10:18 in the Old or New Testament?

Genesis 10:18 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Genesis.

Who wrote the book of Genesis?

The book of Genesis is traditionally attributed to Moses.

Reflect

As you read Genesis 10:18, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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