Genesis 10:31
What does Genesis 10:31 mean?
A plain-English look at Genesis 10:31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Genesis 10:31 means
This verse serves as a concluding summary for the Shemitic branch of Noah's descendants, reiterating that these are the sons of Shem, organized by their families, tongues, lands, and nations. This statement emphasizes the distinct identity and widespread geographical distribution of these peoples. It reinforces the chapter's comprehensive approach to detailing each of Noah's sons before moving to the final summary. This acts as a clear textual marker, concluding one major section of the 'Table of Nations.'
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
KJV
King James Version · 1611These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949These, with their families and their languages and their lands and their nations, are the offspring of Shem.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862These <FI>are<Fi> sons of Shem, by their families, by their tongues, in their lands, by their nations.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752These are the children of Sem according to their kindreds and tongues, and countries in their nations.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
Context
This verse acts as a concluding summary for the entire Shemitic section, mirroring the summaries given for Japheth and Ham. It provides a natural break point and reinforces the chapter's structured approach to categorizing nations. This allows the reader to process the extensive list of Shem's descendants, particularly significant due to the line of Abraham, before the final comprehensive chapter conclusion.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 17:26
and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;
- Genesis 10:5
Of these were the isles of the nations divided in their lands, every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
- Genesis 10:20
These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, in their nations.
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