Study Helps for Writers: The Nations Descended from Noah:Genesis 10

It might be surprising to some to know how much I love studying the geography and history of the Bible. An in depth study of the geography and history of the Bible gives Bible students a greater insight to the people and places of the Bible. Names that were once unfamiliar and unpronounceable become meaningful, and places that previously seemed exotic become as familiar to the student as her own neighborhood.

During my personal study time the other day, I rediscovered Genesis 10. It lists all of the nations that descended from Noah. The following verses come straight from the Bible (ESV), and make a great chart for Bible students. These scriptures are especially useful to those studying Bible history and geography.

Nations Descended from Noah GENESIS 10

Genesis 10:1

  "These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood."

Sons of Japheth: Genesis 10: 2-5

  "The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations."

Sons of Ham: Genesis 10: 6- 20

  "The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD. Therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD." The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. Egypt fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom the Philistines came), and Caphtorim. Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth, and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, thethe Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the clans of the Canaanites dispersed. And the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon in the direction of Gerar as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. These are the sons of Ham, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations."

Sons of Shem: Genesis 10: 21-31

  "To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born.The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. Arpachshad fathered Shelah; and Shelah fathered Eber. To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg,for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan. Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. The territory in which they lived extended from Mesha in the direction of Sephar to the hill country of the east. These are the sons of Shem, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations."

Genesis 10: 32

  "These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood."


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