Genesis 10:20

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

These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.

KJV

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

These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.

These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations. ¶

10:21 Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.

What does Genesis 10:20 mean?

Genesis 10:20 is a verse in the book of Genesis, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include בֵּן (bên), חָם (Châm), מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpâchâh). It connects to 2 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

These

are

the

sonsבֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)

Ham,חָםChâm/khawm/H2526Cham, a son of Noah; also (as a patronymic) his descendants or their country

after

their

families,מִשְׁפָּחָהmishpâchâh/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

after

their

tongues,לָשׁוֹןlâshôwn/law-shone'/H3956the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)

their

countries,אֶרֶץʼerets/eh'-rets/H776the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

and

their

nations.גּוֹיgôwy/go'-ee/H1471a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

Commentary on Genesis 10:20

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.

Genesis 10:6

And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.

Genesis 11:1

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. language: Heb. lip. speech: Heb. words

Topics

Sciences Tongue

People & places in this verse

People

Ham

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Genesis 10:20.

Genesis 10:31

These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.

Genesis 10:5

By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

Exodus 1:7

And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

Exodus 16:1

And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.

Exodus 16:3

And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Exodus 34:24

For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year.

Exodus 9:24

So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

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 10:20 say?

Genesis 10:20 (King James Version) reads: "These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations."

Is Genesis 10:20 in the Old or New Testament?

Genesis 10:20 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 10:20, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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