Genesis – Chapter 10

Old Testament32 Verses

1These are the generations of the sons of Noe: Sem, Cham, and Japheth: and unto them sons were born after the flood.

2The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Thubal, and Mosoch, and Thiras.

3And the sons of Gomer: Ascenez and Riphath and Thogorma.

4And the sons of Javan: Elisa and Tharsis, Cetthim and Dodanim.

5By these were divided the islands of the Gentiles in their lands, every one according to his tongue and their families in their nations.

6And the Sons of Cham: Chus, and Mesram, and Phuth, and Chanaan.

7And the sons of Chus: Saba, and Hevila, and Sabatha, and Regma, and Sabatacha. The sons of Regma: Saba, and Dadan.

8Now Chus begot Nemrod: he began to be mighty on the earth.

9And he was a stout hunter before the Lord. Hence came a proverb: Even as Nemrod the stout hunter before the Lord.

10And the beginning of his kingdom was Babylon, and Arach, and Achad, and Chalanne in the land of Sennaar.

11Out of that land came forth Assur, and built Ninive, and the streets of the city, and Chale.

12Resen also between Ninive and Chale: this is the great city.

13And Mesraim begot Ludim, and Anamim and Laabim, Nephthuim.

14And Phetrusim, and Chasluim; of whom came forth the Philistines, and the Capthorim.

15And Chanaan begot Sidon his firstborn, the Hethite,

16And the Jebusite, and the Amorrhite, and the Gergesite.

17The Hevite and Aracite: the Sinite,

18And the Aradian, the Samarite, and the Hamathite: and afterwards the families of the Chanaanites were spread abroad.

19And the limits of Chanaan were from Sidon as one comes to Gerara even to Gaza, until thou enter Sodom and Gomorrha, and Adama, and Seboim even to Lesa.

20These are the children of Cham in their kindreds and tongues, and generations, and lands, and nations.

21Of Sem also the father of all the children of Heber, the elder brother of Japheth, sons were born.

22The sons of Sem: Elam and Assur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

23The sons of Aram: Us, and Hull, and Gether; and Mes.

24But Arphaxad begot Sale, of whom was born Heber.

25And to Heber were born two sons: the name of the one was Phaleg, because in his days was the earth divided: and his brother's name Jectan.

26Which Jectan begot Elmodad, and Saleph, and Asarmoth, Jare,

27And Aduram, and Uzal, and Decla,

28And Ebal, and Abimael, Saba,

29And Ophir, and Hevila, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Jectan.

30And their dwelling was from Messa as we go on as far as Sephar, a mountain in the east.

31These are the children of Sem according to their kindreds and tongues, and countries in their nations.

32These are the families of Noe, according to their people and nations. By these were the nations divided on the earth after the flood.

Reflection for Today

Genesis Chapter 10, known as the Table of Nations, presents the descendants of Noah's three sons and the origins of the world's peoples. Catholic tradition understands this chapter as affirming the unity of the human race—all peoples descend from one family and share a common dignity. The Catechism teaches that this fundamental unity grounds the Church's commitment to human rights and social justice (CIC 360-361).

The Church Fathers saw in this genealogy a preparation for the universal mission of the Church. Just as humanity was scattered into many nations, so the Church would gather all peoples back into one family through the Gospel. The reversal of Babel at Pentecost, when people of every nation heard the apostles in their own languages, fulfills the promise implicit in this chapter.

Catholic biblical scholarship recognizes that this chapter combines historical memory with theological purpose. The number seventy (or seventy-two in some traditions) nations became significant in Jewish and Christian thought—Jesus sends out seventy disciples (Luke 10), symbolizing the universal scope of His mission. This chapter reminds us that God's plan of salvation encompasses all humanity. The Church's missionary mandate flows from this vision of gathering all nations into the one People of God, united not by ethnicity but by faith in Christ.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

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