Devine Scripture

Genesis 10:18

What does Genesis 10:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 10:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 10:18 means

This verse completes the list of Canaan's descendants with the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite, and then notes that "afterward were the families of the Canaanite spread abroad." This phrase indicates a subsequent expansion and dispersion of these groups beyond their initial settlements. The extensive list of Canaanite tribes underscores the numerous indigenous peoples of the land that God promised to Abraham's descendants. It confirms the diverse and widespread nature of the Canaanite presence.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the Arvadite and the Zemarite and the Hamathite; after that the families of the Canaanites went far and wide in all directions;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite; and afterwards have the families of the Canaanite been scattered.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the Aradian, the Samarite, and the Hamathite: and afterwards the families of the Chanaanites were spread abroad.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. And afterwards the families of the Canaanites spread themselves abroad.

Context

This verse concludes the detailed listing of Canaan's descendants, providing a capstone statement about their subsequent spread. It concludes the comprehensive account of the Hamitic family. This final detail regarding their dispersion sets the geographical stage for understanding the full extent of the Canaanite presence before the summary of Ham's lineage.

v.17and the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,

v.18This passage

v.19And the border of the Canaanite was from Sidon, as thou goest toward Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest toward Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, unto Lasha.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 10:9

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

  • Numbers 34:8

    from mount Hor ye shall mark out unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings out of the border shall be at Zedad;

  • 2 Kings 17:30

    And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,

  • Ezekiel 47:16

    Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazer-hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran.

  • Ezekiel 27:8

    The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were thy rowers: thy wise men, O Tyre, were in thee, they were thy pilots.

  • 2 Samuel 8:9

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

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