Preface: Genesis 10 is often called the Table of Nations. These are the descendants from Shem, Ham and Japheth, which descendants define for us ancient history.

This should be the most extensive examination of Genesis 10 available, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text.

However, on this chapter, I think I want to take another attempt at it and try to make it more organized.

Outline of Chapter 10:

Introduction

         v.       1              Title and Introduction

         vv.     2–5           The Descendants of Japheth

         vv.     6–20         The Descendants of Ham

         vv.    21–31         The Descendants of Shem

         v.       32            Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Introduction         What is the Purpose of the Bible?

         Introduction         The Principals of Genesis 10

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Genesis 10

         v.       1              The Doctrine of Toledoth

         v.       2              The NET Bible Footnotes for Genesis 10:2

         v.       3              The NET Bible Footnotes for Genesis 10:3

         v.       4              The NET Bible Footnotes on Genesis 10:4

         v.       4              The Sons of Japheth and their Ancestors

         v.       7              The NET Bible Footnotes on Genesis 10:7

         v.       7              Hamite Descendants by Tim Osterholm

         v.      10              The NET Bible Footnotes on Genesis 10:10

         vv.    11–12         The NET Bible Footnotes on Genesis 10:11–12

         vv.    13–14         The NET Bible Footnotes on Genesis 10:13–14

         vv.    15–18         The NET Bible Footnotes on Genesis 10:15–19

         v.      19              Ham and his Descendants (who Primarily Occupy Southwest Asia and Africa)

         v.      19              A Map of the Descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth

         v.      22              The NET Bible Footnotes on Genesis 10:22

         vv.    26–29         The NET Bible Footnotes on Genesis 10:26–29

         v.      30              The Descendants of Shem who Occupy the Middle East

         v.      30              The Descendants of Adam (Chart)

         v.      32              The Map of Noah’s Son’s Sons

         v.      32              Noah, His Descendants, and their Distribution

         Summary            Chapter Summary

         Summary            An Abbreviated Exegesis of Genesis 10

         Summary            The Breakdown of Genesis 10

         Summary            The Descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth (a map)

         Addendum          A Modern Map of Iraq and Iran (which includes the journey of Noah’s Family)

         Addendum          The 5 Divine Institutions

         Addendum          Attacks Against the Divine Institutions

         Addendum          Josephus’ History of this Time Period

         Addendum          Edersheim Summarizes Genesis 10

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Genesis 10

         Addendum          Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Genesis 10

         Addendum          Word Cloud from the Kukis Paraphrase of Genesis 10

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Genesis 10

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An Introduction to Genesis 10

I ntroduction: Like anyone else, my earliest response to Genesis 10 was to ignore it. Much of this and the next chapter is just a bunch of names. In my failed attempts to read the entire Bible, when I came to this and the next chapter, I just skimmed it. Whether it took me 1 minute or 5, I could not have told you anything about this chapter after reading it except perhaps Noah had the 3 sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. Hopefully, after reading this exegetical study, you will not feel as if you have simply been reading lists of names.

Genesis 10 gives us a complete breakdown of the peoples of the earth, and who was descended from whom. I am unaware of any ancient historical book which does this. This would be the ultimate ancient document on beginning genealogy. This chapter also defines nationalism, which is the fifth of the divine institutions. However, it is in Genesis 11 when we find out why mankind split up into nations. In this chapter, we have the fact of man splitting up into nations; and in the next, we will find out why. Chapter 10 tells us where all these peoples ended up; chapter 11 tells us what might have been, had God not interfered.

There is a reason why these genealogies would be known. Shem, Ham and Japheth, as we will see after the flood will live to be about 600 years old (about 500 years after the flood—Genesis 11:11). It was also typical for a man to father a child around age 30 (Genesis 11:12, 14, 16, 18, 20). So, whereas we might be about to, in our own lifetimes, see 3 or 4 generations of our own seed, Shem, Ham and Japheth would have seen nearly 20 generations of their own seed. In Genesis 11, we follow a particular line, Shem’s line to Abraham. So, we are not necessarily only keeping track of the oldest male child in each family. Let’s just say that one of these original 3 has 10 children (which was very common in the early United States)—5 males and 5 females. In generation 1, that is 2 people (say, Shem and his wife); in generation 2, that would be 12 people (Shem, his wife and 10 children); in generation 3, that would be 62 people (12+50); generation 4 would be 62+500; generation 5 would be 562+5000; generation 6 would be 5562+50,000; generation 7 would be 55,562+500,000; generation 8 is 555,562+5 million; generation 9 is 5,555,562+50 million; etc. So, you see how there is a great potential for population growth in Shem’s line, which all takes place while Shem is still alive. Therefore, this is how it is possible for Shem to keep track of his line in his lifetime, to a point where he is speaking of a people as opposed to a few grandkids. This is all taking place while Shem is still alive.

There is a brain capacity issue, which I have mentioned in the past. We write things down in order to remember them. Many of us have a to-do list for the day or the week (or a calendar); and without this list, we might not know what to do with ourselves. Let me submit to you that, for Shem, Ham and Japheth, this was not necessarily an issue. Just as mankind degenerated physically, mankind would have also degenerated mentally. Early man was able to keep track of a lot of stuff—it would not shock me if Shem was able to keep track of much of his line, at least to the point where he knew that this large group of people in this or that location were all descended from him; and he knew all of these peoples and all of their locations.

Most grandparents, if they had to, could list all of their children and all of their children. They might, as my mother does, call me by the wrong name from time to time, but this is not a difficult task. Imagine having a great increased ability to think and retain information—Shem could very likely keep track of 5 or 6 generations and know all of their names (remember, we are talking in the thousands at this point); and he would no doubt know the peoples and the groups who had come from him.

Therefore, let me suggest to you, that, if the Bible is true along with all of these logical premises, then a chapter in the Bible like this would logically occur. That Shem, Ham and Japheth could keep track of their own lines (and that one of them would be able to keep track of the lines of his brothers) is possible, logical and likely to happen. This is not some random chapter just thrown in here, as in, “Hey, let’s just talk about some genealogies for awhile.” This is the beginnings of the history of mankind; and the fact that we have several generations for each of Noah’s sons followed out to the point where we are speaking of a people, rather than of just a family, is exactly what would make sense to occur.

In other words, what we have come to is the most logical, likely chapter of the Bible, even though it appears, on the surface, as if someone just thought, one day, to throw in a genealogy into the midst of everything.

And, as you will see, we are able to take our knowledge of ancient history and integrate it with this chapter of Scripture. This is not some imaginative writer who sat down one day and just started making up names and wrote them down. We will actually take a few names and show how this is done. It would become quite boring for most people if we did this to most of the names in this chapter; but a few are good in order to illustrate how well this jives with what we know on our end (Shem, for instance, is on one end of history, and we are at the other end).

Let me add that there is something else which takes place which can be deduced from the Bible, but is not clearly laid out. We are told that Lehabim settled northern Libya (I could have chosen any of the names from this chapter for this illustration). The top guy, Lehabim, his sons, their sons, their sons, and several generations of sons after that were all alive together up until the time of Abraham (or a little bit before). Something very unusual is happening all over the world, when God chooses Abraham and says, “You’re My guy, Abram.” The top guy and about 9 generations following him all die out at the same time, within the same generation, for every group of people which we describe in this chapter. So, in one generation, you have essentially an unbroken line going all the way back to the deluge (or to a son or grandson of Shem, Ham or Japheth); and the next generation, they are all gone! And, God chooses Abraham. I don’t know exactly how these sets of facts fit in with one another, but I have a few ideas.

Authorship: There are two possibilities for authors here: Noah, recording the generations which follow him (as he lived to see Abram) or Shem (who also lived to see Abram). Genesis 10:1a (And these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. LTHB) and Genesis 11:10a (These are the generations of Shem. LTHB) both begin with a genealogy, which could signify the change of authors (Noah followed by Shem; or Shem followed by Abraham). Many believe that the book of Genesis has had several authors [see Authorship in the Introduction to the Book of Genesis (HTML) (PDF) (WPD)]. It is possible the Noah wrote most of Genesis 10 and that Shem wrote much of Genesis 11; or, it is even more likely that Shem recorded Genesis 10 and Abraham recorded Genesis 11. As has been mentioned previously, I do not mean that they necessarily wrote anything down, but that they committed this genealogical lines to memory and passed them along. I do not say this dogmatically, as authorship here is simply speculation, but it is more reasonable for Shem and Abraham to be the authors rather than Moses. In any case, as R. B. Thieme, Jr. would always say, It is not the man but the message which is important. Authorship of a portion of God's Word is a matter of interest and sometimes is helpful in terms of isagogics; however, what is recorded in God's Word is what is important.

In this lesson, I am going to do something which I rarely do, I will quote many additional sources for much of the information contained in the next few lessons. Like much of the Bible, this is a phenomenal chapter but rarely appreciated.

There has been a lot of speculation concerning these lines—that there has been some skipping of several generations. There would be two reasons for this. If a line is mentioned in retrospect, perhaps the more well-known of the ancestral line are mentioned. However, when the lines are recorded by a contemporary, recall that in early history, men lived for a long time and they might live with their grandsons, and great grandsons in a way which would be not unlike living with one's son. However, there is no reason to suppose that this occurred continually in each line of descendants recorded. There are some definite instances of it in the NT genealogies and in the 1Chronicles take on these genealogies; but that does not mean that we should read several generations between each father and son. That has come about because it is wrongly presumed that man dates back a million years in time and this would be a way to slip in a few additional years. However, that is not necessarily so (in fact it is very doubtful) and, as I have pointed out before, mathematically (HTML) (PDF), the population of the earth today does not put the flood and the repopulating of the earth too far back. Estimates of 5-6000 years ago are reasonable and, 15,000 years ago is probably too far back.

This also would be a very likely reason for ancestral worship or ancestral veneration (which has found its way into several cultures) because the oldest living ancestor would date back several generations and have a very good perspective of life.

This is a unique period of time in human history, and a unique which I realize will not be appreciated by many who are skeptical as to some of these things which have occurred. Many people look at much of Genesis, and if it does not line up with their perception or beliefs, then they reject it, or they believe that it is fantasy or some sort of representative reality, that perhaps grew out of true events that became mythologized

Personally, I take Genesis on its own terms and believe that these are real historical events and they occur exactly as presented.

Here is what I mean by unique: these first people to step off the ark—Shem, Ham and Japheth—all lived for a very long time. They lived much longer, because of their genetic makeup, than did their sons or grandsons. In fact, they lived for as many as 10 to 20 generations. This occurs only during the history of man, described in this and the next chapter.

These are the only people who have knowledge of what happened before the flood; they are the only ones alive who knew about what life was like before the flood, which would have been amazing to their sons, grandson, great grandsons, etc. Also, these 3 men knew all human history from the flood forward. They knew every historical event in human history for the next 500 or so years. Can you imagine that? For a half a millennium, you know essentially every event that happened in human history. You lived through it. Their minds would have been quite able to hold all of this knowledge as well.

This helps to explain a custom known in some Asian cultures: ancestor worship. This made little sense to me. We nearly all go through the mistaken notion that our parents all old fuddy duddies who don’t know very much; and then, somewhere in our 30's or 40's, we begin to recognize their wisdom and love. This happened at this period of time when these ancestors lived such a long period of time when all of their descendants eventually recognized the brilliance of Shem, Ham and Japheth. So, it would make sense for ancestor worship to come out of this. Not necessarily that this was practiced then, but for the respect of ancestors to be greater than it has ever been before.

C. I. Scofield: This chapter contains the earliest ethnological table in the literature of the ancient world, compiled centuries before the Homeric writings. In this table of nations there is a remarkable perception of the ethnic and linguistic situation of the age of Noah and his descendants. Virtually all the names here have been found in archaeological discoveries of the past century.

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Title and Introduction

1Chronicles 1:4

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:                       Note: I compare the Hebrew text to English translations of the Latin, Syriac and Greek texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation; George Lamsa’s translation, and Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton’s translation as revised and edited by Paul W. Esposito, respectively. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.). I often use the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible instead of Brenton’s translation, because it updates the English text.

The Septuagint was the earliest known translation of a book (circa 200 b.c.). Since this translation was made before the textual criticism had been developed into a science and because different books appear to be translated by different men, the Greek translation can sometimes be very uneven.

When there are serious disparities between my translation and Brenton’s (or the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible), I look at the Greek text of the Septuagint (the LXX) to see if a substantive difference actually exists (and I reflect these changes in the English rendering of the Greek text). I use the Greek LXX with Strong’s numbers and morphology available for e-sword. The only problem with this resource (which is a problem for similar resources) is, there is no way to further explore Greek verbs which are not found in the New Testament. Although I usually quote the Complete Apostles’ Bible here, I have begun to make changes in the translation when their translation conflicts with the Greek and note what those changes are.

The Masoretic text is the Hebrew text with all of the vowels (vowel points) inserted (the original Hebrew text lacked vowels). We take the Masoretic text to be the text closest to the original. However, differences between the Masoretic text and the Greek, Latin and Syriac are worth noting and, once in a great while, represent a more accurate text possessed by those other ancient translators.

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Bracketed portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls are words, letters and phrases lost in the scroll due to various types of damage. Underlined words or phrases are those in the Dead Sea Scrolls but not in the Masoretic text.

The Targum of Onkelos is actually the Pentateuchal Targumim, which are The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel. On the Pentateuch With The Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum From the Chaldee by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. Take from http://targum.info/targumic-texts/pentateuchal-targumim/ and first published in 1862.

Targum of Onkelos                These are the generations of the sons of Noach, and (of the) sons (who) were born to them after the deluge.

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

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And these [are] the generations [genealogies, families, history, origin] of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth. And were born to them sons after the flood.

Peshitta (Syriac)                    NOW these are the descendants of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and to them were sons born after the flood.

Septuagint (Greek)                Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and sons were born to them after the flood.

Significant differences: 

Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

Common English Bible           These are the descendants of Noah's sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, to whom children were born after the flood.

Contemporary English V.       After the flood Shem, Ham, and Japheth had many descendants.

Easy English                          Noah's sons were Shem, Ham and Japheth. This is their families' history. They had sons after the flood.

Easy-to-Read Version            Noah’s sons were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. After the flood, these three men became the fathers of many more sons. Here is a list of the sons that came from Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Good News Bible (TEV)         These are the descendants of Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. These three had sons after the flood.

The Message                         This is the family tree of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. After the flood, they themselves had son.

New Century Version             Nations Grow and Spread

This is the family history of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah. After the flood these three men had sons.

New Living Translation           This is the account of the families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the three sons of Noah. Many children were born to them after the great flood.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          Now, these are the generations of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and JaPheth. And these are the sons that were born to them after the Downpour:...

New American Bible (R.E.)    Table of the Nations.*

hese are the descendants of Noah's sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, to whom children were born after the flood.

NIRV                                      A List of Nations

Here is the story of Shem, Ham and Japheth. They were Noah's sons. After the flood, they too had sons.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Ancient Roots Translinear      These are the progeny of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their sons begotten to them after the flood:...

Bible in Basic English             Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: these are the sons which they had after the great flow of waters.

Complete Jewish Bible           Here is the genealogy of the sons of Noach - Shem, Ham and Yefet; sons were born to them after the flood.

The Expanded Bible              Nations Grow and Spread

This is the family history [^LThese are the generations; 2:4] of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah. After the flood ·these three men had sons [^Lsons were born to them]..

Ferar-Fenton Bible                 History of Noah’s Sons.

Now these are the registers of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth; for they had sons born to them after the deluge.

HCSB                                     These are the family records of Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They also had sons after the deluge.

JPS (Tanakh—1985)               These are the lines of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah: sons were born to them after the Flood.

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

NET Bible®                             The Table of Nations

This is the account [The title אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת (’elle tolÿdot, here translated as “This is the account”) here covers 10:1–11:9, which contains the so-called Table of Nations and the account of how the nations came to be dispersed.] of Noah's sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons [Sons were born to them. A vertical genealogy such as this encompasses more than the names of sons. The list includes cities, tribes, and even nations. In a loose way, the names in the list have some derivation or connection to the three ancestors.] were born [It appears that the Table of Nations is a composite of at least two ancient sources: Some sections begin with the phrase “the sons of” (בְּנֵי, bÿne) while other sections use “begot” (יָלָד, yalad). It may very well be that the “sons of” list was an old, “bare bones” list that was retained in the family records, while the “begot” sections were editorial inserts by the writer of Genesis, reflecting his special interests. See A. P. Ross, “The Table of Nations in Genesis 10 – Its Structure,” BSac 137 (1980): 340-53; idem, “The Table of Nations in Genesis 10 – Its Content,” BSac 138 (1981): 22-34.] to them after the flood. When it comes to making an actual material change to the text, the NET Bible® is pretty good about indicating this. Since most of these corrections will be clear in the more literal translations below and within the Hebrew exegesis itself, I will not continue to list every NET Bible® footnote.

NIV – UK                                The table of nations

This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah's sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

International Standard V        .

Catholic Bibles (those having the Imprimatur):

The Heritage Bible                 .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Kaplan Translation                 .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

Kretzmann’s Commentary    .

Lexham English Bible            .

Translation for Translators     .

The Voice                               .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

The Amplified Bible                This is the history of the generations (descendants) of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The sons born to them after the flood were:...

Concordant Literal Version    And these are the genealogical annals of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons are being born to them after the deluge.

Context Group Version          Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, [ namely ], of Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and to them were sons born after the flood.

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

The Geneva Bible                  Now these [are] the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. These generations are here recited, partly to declare the marvellous increase, and also to set forth their great forgetfulness of Gods grace towards their fathers.

NASB                                     Descendants of Noah

Now these are the records of the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood.

New King James Version       Nations Descended from Noah

Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood.

New RSV                               These are the descendants of Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth; children were born to them after the flood.

World English Bible                Now this is the history of the generations of the sons of Noah and of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

Young's Literal Translation     And these are births of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and born to them are sons after the deluge.

The gist of this verse:          The title for Genesis 11 is: These are the Genealogies of Shem, Ham and Japheth, the Sons of Noah. The italicized text which follows is, Sons were born to them after the flood.

Translation: These are the generations [genealogies, families; history, origin] of the sons of Noah:...

Noah had 3 sons who accompanies him on the ark. This chapter chronicles their families and the peoples who arose out of their families.

Gen 10:1a Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Generations is the Hebrew word tôwl^edôth (תּוֹלְדֹת) [pronounced tohl^e-DOHTH], which means generations, results, proceedings, genealogies, course of history. We find this word used in conjunction with the genealogies (e.g., Genesis 5:1 6:9 Exodus 6:16). Strong’s #8435 BDB #410. Dr. Robert Dean calls these the toledot sections (which is the singular, vocabulary form of this word, transliterated into English). Dr. Dean simplifies the translation to This is what happened to the sons of Noah: [to] Shem, Ham and Japheth. Although this is clearly more of an interpretation than translation, it conveys what is going on with a more common, English phrase.

Translation: ...Shem, Ham and Japheth.

These are Noah’s 3 sons, and this chapter will be all about following the line or genealogy of each son.

As noted in the introduction, what follows, assuming that the Bible is true, is possible, logical and likely. That is, given the intelligence of these men (which would have been greater than our intelligence), it would be possible for them to keep track of their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc. for many generations. Furthermore, it is logical that each of these men would do so; or that one of these men would take an interest in genealogy from the beginning and keep track of these things. And just as the doting grandparent keeps track of his or her grandchildren; it would be likely that Shem, Ham, and/or Japheth would keep track of theirs.

Noah is only said to have 3 sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. For all we know, he could have had 10 sons, but only 3 went with him into the ark. What seems to be clearly the case is, Noah has no more children after the flood, as we will examine the descendants only of those who come from his 3 sons. From these 3, the entire earth was populated. In the previous 2 lessons, we studied Ham and Japheth. This is the 3^rd son, Shem, in whose tents, Japheth would dwell (indicating a spiritual link between Shem and Japheth).

Translation: Sons were born to them after the flood.

This is logical that these sons of Noah would have children. This particular sentence appears to be parenthetical or a subtitle of sorts.

These are the generations [genealogies, families; history, origin] of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood. This first verse is a title for what is to come, The first phrase is a series of nouns, conjunctions and an adjective; there are no verbs. We do not have a verb until the verb for born which occurs at the end of the verse. It is in the Niphal imperfect—that is a passive stem—and it can function as an adjective in that respect. The action can be in progress at the time of writing, and, in this case, it is still in progress. The generations of these three continue until today.

Genesis 10:1 These are the generations [genealogies, families; history, origin] of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Genesis 10:1 What follows are the family lines for Shem, Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah; along with a list of the children born to them after the deluge. (Kukis paraphrase)

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The Descendants of Japheth

1Chronicles 1:5–7

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:

Targum of Onkelos                The sons of Japheth, Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Thubal, and Meshek, and Thiras. And the names of their provinces, Afriki, and Germania, and Medi, and Makadonia, and Iatinia, and Asia, and Tharki.

Jerusalem targum                  The sons of Japheth, Gomer; and the name of their provinces, Afriki, and Garmania, and Madai, and Mokdonia, and Yatania, and Asia, and Tharki.

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

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        Sons of Japheth: Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras.

Peshitta (Syriac)                    The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Mongolia, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

Septuagint (Greek)                The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Elisa, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

Significant differences: 

Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

Common English Bible           Japheth's sons: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

Contemporary English V.       Japheth's descendants had their own languages, tribes, and land. They were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. Gomer was the ancestor of Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. Javan was the ancestor of Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim, who settled along the coast.

Good News Bible (TEV)         The sons of Japheth---Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras---were the ancestors of the peoples who bear their names.

New Century Version             Japheth's Sons

The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          JaPheth's sons were Gamer, Magog [the Scythians], Madoi [the Medes], Jovan, EliSa, Thobel [of Tubal], Mosoch [possibly Moscow of Russia], and Thiras [Islands of the Aegean Sea].

New American Bible (R.E.)    The descendants [1Chr 1:5-10.] of Japheth: Gomer,* Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras. Gomer: the Cimmerians; Madai: the Medes; Javan: the Greeks. 1 Chr 1:5-10.

NIRV                                      The Japhethites

The sons [Sons may mean descendants or successors or nations; also in verses 3, 4, 6, 7, 20-23, 29 and 31.] of Japheth:

Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Ancient Roots Translinear      The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, North-Iran, Greece, East-Turkey, West-Turkey, and Tyre (city).

Complete Jewish Bible           The sons of Yefet were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Yavan, Tuval, Meshekh and Tiras.

The Expanded Bible              Japheth's Sons

The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai [^Cancestor of the Medes], Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

Ferar-Fenton Bible                 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, and Madai, and Ion, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Thiras.

New Advent Bible                  The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Thubal, and Mosoch, and Thiras.

NIV – UK                                The Japhethites

The sons[a] of Japheth:

Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras....

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

International Standard V        .

Catholic Bibles (those having the Imprimatur):

The Heritage Bible                 .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Kaplan Translation                 .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

Kretzmann’s Commentary    .

Lexham English Bible            .

Translation for Translators     .

The Voice                               .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

Concordant Literal Version    The sons of Japheth: Gomer and Magog and Media and Javan and Elisha, and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras.

The Geneva Bible                  The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and b Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. Of Madai and Javan came the Medes and Greeks.

New RSV                               The descendants of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

Syndein/Thieme                     {The Japhetic People}

The sons of Japheth . . .

Gomer {his line includes the Samaritans (people who settled in France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Northern Italy and Northern Spain): Celts (Irish and Galls/Galatians and Chur-de-ton-ie in Spain and the Bri-thons in England and Scots), Teutons (Germans, Goth, Vandals, Visigoths, Austra-Goths), one branch of Sideans, and the Kurds - a tall blonde segment of the Armenians},

Magog {his line includes most of the Slavic People and the rest of the Sid-eans they settled in Western Russia, Polls, Checks, Serbs, on and on} {SideNote: Gog of Magog will come from this part of Eastern Europe in Armageddon campaign},

Madai {his line of descendents are called the Meads and some Persian tribes and the Aryans of India (Parsees - blonde with blue eyes - conquered India and spoke

Sanscrit)},

Javan {his line of descendents are the original Greeks and Romans Greeks - A-kee-an, Dorian, Ionian, Cre-tian (Caf-terines and Philistines - Greek Sea peoples), and the Aeolian Greeks, Macedonians, Frig-ians, I-pyer-ians, Romans - Villanovans, Sabeans (NOT Etruscans)},

Tubal {his line of descendents are the Ti-ber-inie. Who they are is a mystery today per R. B. THIEME, JR.},

Meshech {his line of descendents are some of the Frig-ian type Greek also},

{and} Tiras {his line of descendents are the Greek Thracians and A-lear-ians}. As you will notice in these notes, many of these groups are misspelled, as is true with my notes of this era as well. I have been able to correct some of them.

World English Bible                The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

Young's Literal Translation     Sons of Japheth are Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.

The gist of this verse: 

Translation: The sons of Japheth [were]: Gomer, Magog,...

Japheth appears to be the father of all of the Caucasoid peoples. Given the construction of his name, he is thought to be the father of the Greek peoples.

Chris is a pleasant name for a male or a female. Gomer is also a male or a female name, although it would not be my first choice for anyone that I liked. Historians have determined that his progeny are the Cimmerians (the Akkadian name is gimmirrai and the Greek is Kimmerioi) and the Cimbri, from who come the Celts. For awhile, they occupied Southern Russia and were forced out by the Scythians and they moved into Asia Minor at the end of the 8th century b.c. In the 7th century b.c., they conquered Urartus, Phrygia and Lydia and battled Greek cities on the West Coast. The Scythians that they did battle with are probably descended from Magog, his brother (according to Josephus). They occupied the territory North of the Black Sea, which would put them in Western Russia and Poland. Magog figures into prophecy quite heavily in Ezekiel 38:2 39:6 and Revelation 20:8.

These are the descendants of Japheth, the lighter-skinned son of Noah.

The information below was taken from http://creation.com/the-sixteen-grandsons-of-noah which was accessed August 26, 2009 (I have italicized the direct quotations).

Gomer, his first named son, moved northward (Ezekiel 38:6), and some of his descendants probably settled Galatia. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus records that the people who were called Galatians or Gauls in his day (c. AD 93) were previously called Gomerites.

They also migrated westward to what are now called France and Spain. For many centuries France was called Gaul, after the descendants of Gomer. North-west Spain is called Galicia to this day.

Some of the Gomerites migrated further to what is now called Wales. The Welsh historian, Davis, records a traditional Welsh belief that the descendants of Gomer `landed on the Isle of Britain from France, about three hundred years after the flood'. He also records that the Welsh language is called Gomeraeg (after their ancestor Gomer).

Magog

The next grandson mentioned is Magog. According to Ezekiel, Magog lived in the north parts (Ezekiel 38:15 39:2). Josephus records that those whom he called Magogites, the Greeks called Scythians. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the ancient name for the region which now includes part of Romania and the Ukraine was Scythia.

Translation: ...Madai, Javan,...

From Madai comes one of the most famous of the ancient peoples: the Medes. They are Indo-European peoples who populated northwestern Iran and were later absorbed by the Persians. Except for words of theirs taken by other nations, their language has disappeared in antiquity and the records of their distribution are found in the documents of Assyrian rulers who fought against them. It appears that they might have been allied with the Cimmerians and protected from the Scythians in that alliance.

The next grandson is Madai. Along with Shem's son Elam, Madai is the ancestor of our modern-day Iranians. Josephus says that the descendants of Madai were called Medes by the Greeks. Every time the Medes are mentioned in the Old Testament, the word used is the Hebrew word Madai. After the time of Cyrus, the Medes are always (with one exception) mentioned along with the Persians. They became one kingdom with one law-`the law of the Medes and Persians' (Daniel 6:8, 12, 15). Later they were simply called Persians. Since 1935 they have called their country Iran. The Medes also `settled India'.

Javan is the Jewish word for Greeks. Javan's famous descendants include the Ionians, who lived in the West Coast of Asia Minor, Greece, Macedonia and Syria. Isaiah (in Isaiah 66:19) associates Javan with the far-off nations to whom Yahweh's messengers will be dispatched. This associates him with the far-western nations with respect to the Jews at that time. Ezekiel tells us that Javan contributed to the wealth of Tyre (Ezekiel 27:13). Daniel associates Javan with Alexander's Greco-Macedonian empire.

The name of the next grandson, Javan, is the Hebrew word for Greece. Greece, Grecia, or Grecians appears five times in the Old Testament, and is always the Hebrew word Javan. Daniel refers to `the king of Grecia' (Daniel 8:21), literally `the king of Javan'. Javan's sons were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim (Genesis 10:4), all of whom have connections with the Greek people. The Elysians (an ancient Greek people) obviously received their name from Elishah. Tarshish or Tarsus was located in the region of Cilicia (modern Turkey). The Encyclopedia Britannica says that Kittim is the Biblical name for Cyprus. The people who initially settled around the area of Troy worshipped Jupiter under the name of Jupiter Dodonaeus, possibly a reference to the fourth son of Javan, with Jupiter a derivative of Japheth. His oracle was at Dodena. The Greeks worshipped this god but called him Zeus.

Translation: ...Tubal, Meshech and Tiras.

Tubal is mentioned several times throughout the Bible and his descendants are thought to have populated the area south of the Black Sea, in what is today Turkey, but then it was called southern Anatolia. The Assyrian empire began to expand to the North and East and began to be in conflict with the tribes of Anatolia from the rise of Ashurnasirpal (circa 870 b.c.) to onslaught of the Scythians in 679 b.c. Their strength and tenacity in battle is shown by resisting these forces for several centuries, remaining in continual, bitter conflict with the Assyrians. The Bible ascribes to Tubal the trading of slaves and metals.

Next is Tubal. Ezekiel mentions him along with Gog and Meshech (Ezekiel 39:1). Tiglath-pileser I, king of Assyria in about 1100 b.c. refers to the descendants of Tubal as the Tabali. Josephus recorded their name as the Thobelites, who were later known as Iberes. ‘Their land, in Josephus’ day, was called by the Romans Iberia, and covered what is now (the former Soviet State of) Georgia whose capital to this day bears the name Tubal as Tbilisi. From here, having crossed the Caucasus mountains, this people migrated due north-east, giving their tribal name to the river Tobol, and hence to the famous city of Tobolsk.’

Meschech is often mentioned in conjunction with Tubal and Magog in Biblical and secular literature alike. Some believe that they were Indo-European peoples who populated central Asia Minor, but were later pushed by their enemies southeast of the Black Sea. Many think that these three are the source of the modern Russians. Ezekiel refers to them as traders of slaves and bronze (Ezekiel 27:13); when castigating Egypt, Ezekiel tells them that they will inhabit Sheol with uncircumcised barbarians like Meshech and Tubal (Ezekiel 32:26); they are grouped again with Tubal in Ezekiel 38 and 39 as the anti-God forces from the land of Magog.

Meshech, the name of the next grandson, is the ancient name for Moscow. Moscow is both the capital of Russia, and the region that surrounds the city. To this day, one section, the Meschera Lowland, still carries the name of Meshech, virtually unchanged by the ages.

Tiras is thought to be the progenitor of the Thracians, and later the Tyrsenoi, a people which occupied the coastal area of the Aegean Sea. There is some disagreement here and others see them as being related to Tarsus and Tarshish and possibly as the ancestor of the Etruscans.

Genesis 10:2 The sons of Japheth [were]: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Genesis 10:2 Japheth had 7 sons: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras. (Kukis paraphrase)

According to Josephus, the descendants of grandson Tiras were called Thirasians. The Greeks changed their name to Thracians. Thrace reached from Macedonia on the south to the Danube River on the north to the Black Sea on the east. It took in much of what became Yugoslavia. World Book Encyclopedia says: `The people of Thrace were savage Indo-Europeans, who liked warfare and looting.' Tiras was worshipped by his descendants as Thuras, or Thor, the god of thunder.

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Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:

Targum of Onkelos                And the sons of Gomer, Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarma.

Jerusalem targum                  And the sons of Gomer, and the name of their provinces, Asia and Pharkui (Phrygia?) and Barberia.

Latin Vulgate                          And the sons of Gomer: Ascenez and Riphath and Thogorma.

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah.

Peshitta (Syriac)                    And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Diphar, and Togarmah. .

Septuagint (Greek)                And the sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

Significant differences: 

Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

Common English Bible           Gomer's sons: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

Good News Bible (TEV)         The descendants of Gomer were the people of Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

The Message                         The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, Togarmah.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          Gamer's sons were AshKenaz [Germans], Riphath [of Northwestern Asia Minor], and Thorgama [the Armenians].

New American Bible (R.E.)    The descendants of Gomer: Ashkenaz,* Diphath and Togarmah. Ashkenaz: an Indo-European people, which later became the medieval rabbinic name for Germany. It now designates one of the great divisions of Judaism, Eastern European Yiddish-speaking Jews.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Ancient Roots Translinear      The sons of Gomer: Armenia, Romania, and Georgia.

The Expanded Bible              The sons of Gomer [^Cancestor of the Cimmerians] were Ashkenaz [^Cancestor of the Scythians], Riphath, and Togarmah.

Ferar-Fenton Bible                 And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Thorgarmah.

New Advent Bible                  And the sons of Gomer: Ascenez and Riphath and Thogorma.

NIV, ©2011                             The sons of Gomer:

Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

International Standard V        .

Catholic Bibles (those having the Imprimatur):

The Heritage Bible                 .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Kaplan Translation                 .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

Kretzmann’s Commentary    .

Lexham English Bible            .

Translation for Translators     .

The Voice                               .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

New King James Version       The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath [Spelled Diphath in 1 Chronicles 1:6], and Togarmah.

Syndein/Thieme                     The sons of Gomer . . . Ashkenaz {Tutonic Groups}, Riphath {Celtic tribes}, {and} Togarmah {Kurds}.

World English Bible                The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

Young's Updated LT              And sons of Gomer are Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.

The gist of this verse:          Gamer has 3 sons of note: Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah

Translation: Gomer’s sons [are] Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

Ashkenaz apparently did not stray too far. According to Jer. 51:27, they lived in Ararat and Armenia during Jeremiah's time. Extra-Biblical Jewish literature indicates that Ashkenaz later became a synonym for Germany. Just as Jews in Spain and Portugal were called Sephartic Jews, Jews in Germany were called Ashkenazim. According to the Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia they likely became the Scythians who were allied with the Manneans in battle against the Assyrians. Their name became a synonym for Barbarian as they were a crude and warlike people who caused unrest in the Assyrian empire. Herodotus recorded their conquest of the Cimmerians (Gomer).

The parallel passage in 1Chronicles calls Riphath, Diphath. In Hebrew, this is an R: ר and this is a D: ד. There is obviously very little difference. Why wasn't this error caught? The Scribe who copied Genesis is not necessarily the same Scribe who copied 1Chronicles; even if it was, they would likely not have caught the error that they made. Any Scribe who caught the error later was not permitted to change it. However, we do have several manuscripts plus the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate which read Riphath in both passages. Scofield notes that Riphath and Togarmah were both inhabitants of Asia Minor. The ZPEB gives several possibilities, identifying them with the Ripheaean mountains and the river Rhebas in Bithynia and with the Rhibii, a people who lived eastward of the Caspian Sea which would be in Southern Russia. All of these could be true as it is not necessary for a family to all remain in the same geographical area for the rest of their lives. Certainly there are groups who break off and others who intermarry. What we are examining is general trends.

Togarmah is described by Ezekiel as a nation which traded with Tyre, providing them with Mules, horses and horsemen (Ezekiel 27:14). They are called allies of Magog and associated with Gomer, Persia, Cush and Put in Ezekiel 38:6. Josephus believed them to be the Phrygians but Assyrian inscriptions refer to a Til-garimmu (Tegarama in Hittite) which could refer to Togarmah. That city was in East Cappadocia, so this would place them possibly North of Palestine and southeast of the Black Sea. This city was destroyed by the Assyrians in 695 b.c.

Harold Hunt with Russell Grigg: Other members of their clan settled along the way, including in Armenia. The sons of Gomer were `Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah' (Genesis 10:3). Encyclopedia Britannica says that the Armenians traditionally claim to be descended from Togarmah and Ashkenaz. Ancient Armenia reached into Turkey. The name Turkey probably comes from Togarmah. Others of them migrated to Germany. Ashkenaz is the Hebrew word for Germany.

Genesis 10:3 Gomer’s sons [are] Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Genesis 10:3 Gomer’s sons include Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah. (Kukis paraphrase)

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Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:

Targum of Onkelos                And the sons of Javan, Elisha, Alas, and Tarsas, Akazia, and Dordonia.

Jerusalem targum                  And the sons of Javan, Elisha, and the name of their provinces, Alastarasom, Italia, and Dordonia.

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

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And sons of Javan: Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim.

Peshitta (Syriac)                    And the sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, China, and Doranim.

Septuagint (Greek)                And the sons of Jovan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

Significant differences: 

Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

Easy English                          Javan's sons were Elishah, Tarshish, the people called Kittim and the people called Dodanim.

Good News Bible (TEV)         The descendants of Javan were the people of Elishah, Spain, Cyprus, and Rhodes;...

New Century Version             The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim [Kittim His descendants were the people of Cyprus.], and Rodanim.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          Jovan's sons were EliShah [of Tyre], Tarshish [of Spain], Cetian [Of Cypress], and Rhodes [of Rhodes].

Christian Community Bible     Javan’s sons: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittim, the Dananites.

New American Bible (R.E.)    The descendants of Javan: Elishah,* Tarshish, the Kittim and the Rodanim. Elishah: Cyprus; the Kittim: certain inhabitants of Cyprus; the Rodanim: the inhabitants of Rhodes.

New Jerusalem Bible             Javan's sons: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittim, the Dananites..

Today’s NIV                          The sons of Javan:

Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites [Some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text and Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Septuagint and 1 Chron. 1:7); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text Dodanites].

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Ancient Roots Translinear      The sons of Greece: Ephesus (city), Tarsus (city), Cyprus (island), and Rhodes (island).

Complete Jewish Bible           The sons of Yavan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim.

The Expanded Bible              The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim [^Cancestor of the people of Cyprus], and ·Rodanim [^LDodanim; see 1 Chr. 1:7].

Ferar-Fenton Bible                 And the sons of Javan (Ion) Elishah, and Tharshish, Kittim, and the Dodanim.

New Advent Bible                  And the sons of Javan: Elisa and Tharsis, Cetthim and Dodanim.

NIV – UK                                The sons of Javan:

Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites [Some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text and Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Septuagint and 1 Chron. 1:7); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text Dodanites].

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

International Standard V        .

Catholic Bibles (those having the Imprimatur):

The Heritage Bible                 .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Kaplan Translation                 .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

Kretzmann’s Commentary    .

Lexham English Bible            .

Translation for Translators     .

The Voice                               .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

Concordant Literal Version    And the sons of Javan: Elishah and Tharshish, Kittim and Rodanim.

Context Group Version          And the sons of Javan: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.

LTHB                                     And Javan's sons were Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

New RSV                               The descendants of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

Syndein/Thieme                     The sons of Javan . . . Elishah {Aeolians} , Tarshish {Dorian pirates}, Kittim {Ionians of Cyprus}, {and} Dodanim {Dorians and probably connected with the Trojans}.

Young's Literal Translation     And sons of Javan are Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

The gist of this verse:          The sons of Javan includec Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim.

Translation: The sons of Javan: Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim.

Josephus identified Elishah with the Æolians, a Greek peoples and others have associated them with Carthage, a nation in Northern Africa because the name of the Tyrian princess who, according to tradition, founded Carthage had a similar name: Elissa. The ZPEB concludes that due to their supplying purple dyes to the Tyrians and their association with Greece and Kittam, they were likely the inhabitants of islands out in the Aegean Sea or of Sicily and Southern Italy.

Tarshish was the name of a city in the West Mediterranean region near Gibralter in Spain and it is likely equivalent to Tartessus, where Jonah fled when he was told to evangelize Nineveh. They could have also been associated with sea ports around southwestern Italy as Tarshish is closely associated with sea vessels and sea ports. This reputation would have allowed them to occupy a spread-out area like this. When Tarshish is used in connection with ships, it likely does not refer to a geographical origin or destination but to the ships themselves; their large size and sea worthiness.

You will note the im endings for the next two names. In the Hebrew, this indicates a plural noun.

Kittim is associated with the Island of Cyprus, which Herodotus claims was colonized by the Phœnicians (Shem), the Ethiopians (Ham) and the Greeks (Japheth), which is not unlike what happened on the Isle of Crete. Josephus ties Kittam to a city on the southeast coast of Cyprus, Cition. Jeremiah uses Kittam to refer to generally the seafaring West which would exert dominance over the East. Daniel's reference to the ships of Kittam could refer to the Romans who defeated Antiochus Epiphanes in Egypt in 169 b.c. In fact, the Septuagint, instead of reading ships of Kittam reads Romans. The Apocryphal and Pseudopigraphal literature associate Kittam with the Grecian empire.

Dodanim could very likely be Rodanim (as it is rendered in 1Chronicles 1:7), in which case they are associated with the inhabitants of the island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea, right off the coast of Turkey, a stepping stone to Crete and the Mediterranean Sea. If Dodanim is the correct rendering, then we have no idea as to who these people are.

Genesis 10:4 The sons of Javan: Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Genesis 10:4 The sons of Javan include Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim. (Kukis paraphrase)

As we have seen before, these various lines will be followed out to sons and grandsons; but, one only particular line will be continued to be followed in later Scripture. That is, in a majority of cases, any given line is followed out 2, 3 or maybe even 4 generations. However, only in the rarest of cases are there more generations than these given (the first third of 1Chronicles contains these exceptions, where the lines of the 12 sons of Israel [Jacob] are followed).

What I have not given is some of the justification for this. The various names of these patriarchs are continued in the nations given, and remain significant names—sometimes slightly altered in form—for hundreds and even thousands of years.

Let’s turn to Dr. Robert Dean for this: Gomer, when you take out the vowels is GMR. If the G hardens to a C or a K you have the word CMR. This is related to the Cimerians who were related to the Cythians, the people who inhabited the central part of Turkey in the period right after the flood. Eventually those people moved north and west into Europe. The Assyrians listed them as the Gamaria, and in Greek they were called the Kemarioi. Notice how the G becomes a C and then becomes a K. Also, sometimes when a word goes from one language to another language the consonants will shift. Think about that: GMR, can we think of a country that instead of having as its root consonants GMR it has its root consonants as GRM? Germany! The descendants of Gomer through Ashkenaz (there is a lake Ashkenaz up in northern Germany): the Germanic tribes ultimately derived from the descendants of Gomer, and, of course, many, many others because he is so far back. Other names that are etymologically related to Gomer are Umber in Italy-the G in Gomer softens to O, and then U in Umber. That also shows up in the English North Umberland. Related to Gomer: the Gauls, the Celts, Galatia, etc. Ireland was also known as Ibernai or Hybernia, which again is etymologically related to the word Gomer. All of these are related to Gomer. So we end up with the Irish, the Scots, the Germans, Brits, some tribal groups in northern Italy, the Gauls in France; all are descendants from Gomer. This matching of the sons of Japheth through the Bible, through ancient history and through logistic tools could be done in almost every single case. However, doing so would make your eyes glaze over.

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Genesis 10:5 describes exactly what a nation is.

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:

Targum of Onkelos                From these were distributed the tribes of the islands of the Gentiles, every one according to his language, to his kindred in their nations.

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

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        From these were divided the costal peoples [lit., Goiim], in their land, each to his tongue, to their families, to their peoples.

Peshitta (Syriac)                    It was from these that the people were divided into the Islands of the Gentiles and their main lands; every one after his language, after their families, in their nations.

Septuagint (Greek)                From these were the islands of the Gentiles divided in their land, each according to his tongue, in their tribes and in their nations.

Significant differences: 

Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

Common English Bible           From these the island-nations were divided into their own countries, each according to their languages and their clans within their nations.

Easy English                          The nations spread along the coasts from those families. Each nation got its own language.

Easy-to-Read Version            All the people who lived in the area around the Mediterranean Sea came from these sons of Japheth. Each son had his own land. All the families grew and became different nations. Each nation had its own language.

Good News Bible (TEV)         ...they were the ancestors of the people who live along the coast and on the islands. These are the descendants of Japheth, living in their different tribes and countries, each group speaking its own language.

The Message                         The seafaring peoples developed from these, each in its own place by family, each with its own language.

New Century Version             Those who lived in the lands around the Mediterranean Sea came from these sons of Japheth. All the families grew and became different nations, each nation with its own land and its own language.

New Life Bible                        From these the people who live beside the sea spread out into their lands, each one by his language, family, and nation.

New Living Translation           Their descendants became the seafaring peoples that spread out to various lands, each identified by its own language, clan, and national identity.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          ...[they settled the] islands, which lands were divided by tribe and nation among the ethnics, each according to his own language.

Beck’s American Translation ...by these the coastlands of the gentiles were populated in their separate territories, each with its respective language, its tribes and nations.

Christian Community Bible     These were dispersed and peopled the islands of the nations.

These were Japheth’s sons, according to their countries and each of their languages, according to their tribes and their nations.

God’s Word™                         From these descendants the people of the coastlands spread into their own countries. Each nation had its own language and families.

New American Bible              These are the descendants of Japheth, and from them sprang the maritime nations, in their respective lands - each with its own language - by their clans within their nations.

New American Bible (R.E.)    From these branched out the maritime nations.

These are the descendants of Japheth by their lands, each with its own language, according to their clans, by their nations.

NIRV                                      The people who lived by the sea came from all of them. Their tribes and nations spread out into their own territories. Each tribe and nation had its own language.

New Jerusalem Bible             From these came the dispersal to the islands of the nations. These were Japheth's sons, in their respective countries, each with its own language, by clan and nation.

New Simplified Bible              From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.

Revised English Bible            From these the people of the coasts and islands separated into their own countries, each with their own language, family by family, nation by nation.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Ancient Roots Translinear      These islands and nations segregated in their lands: a man by his tongue in their families and in their nations.

Bible in Basic English             From these came the nations of the sea-lands, with their different families and languages.

The Expanded Bible              Those who lived in the lands around the Mediterranean Sea [^LThe people of the coastlands] ·came [spread] from these sons of Japheth. All the ·families [clans] grew and became different nations, each nation with its own land and its own language.

Ferar-Fenton Bible                 From these they spread themselves over the sea-coasts of the countries of the nations, each with their language amongst the gentile tribes.

HCSB                                     The coastland peoples spread out into their lands. These are Japheth's sons by their clans, in their nations. Each group had its own language.

JPS (Tanakh—1985)               From these the maritime nations branches out. [These are the descendants of Japheth] [compare vv. 20 and 31] by their lands—each with its language—their clans and their nations.

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

NET Bible®                             From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to its language, according to their families, by their nations.

NIV – UK                                (From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.).

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

International Standard V        .

Catholic Bibles (those having the Imprimatur):

The Heritage Bible                 .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Kaplan Translation                 .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

Kretzmann’s Commentary    .

Lexham English Bible            .

Translation for Translators     .

The Voice                               .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

The Amplified Bible                From these the coastland peoples spread. [These are the sons of Japheth] in their lands, each with his own language, by their families within their nations.

Concordant Literal Version    From these are parted the coastlanders of the nations among their lands, each man to his tongue, to their families, in their nations.

Darby Translation                  From these came the distribution of the isles of the nations, according to their lands, every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

Emphasized Bible                  From these, were dispersed the inhabitants of the coastlands of the nations, in their lands, each man by his tongue, by their families in their nations.

English Standard Version      From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations.

The Geneva Bible                  By these were the isles [So do the Jews call all countries which are separated from them by sea, as Greece, Italy etc,]of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

LTHB                                     The coasts of the nations were divided by these in their lands each by his tongue, by their families, in their nations.

New King James Version       From these the coastland peoples of the Gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.

New RSV                               From these the coastland peoples spread. These are the descendants of Japheth [Compare verses 20, 31. Heb lacks These are the descendants of Japheth] in their lands, with their own language, by their families, in their nations.

Syndein/Thieme                     {Divine Institution Number Four - Nationalism}

By these were the isles/countries/regions {'iy} of the Gentile Nations {gowy} divided in their lands {'erets} {geographical segregation of the peoples of the earth}. . . every one after his language/tongue {lashown} {segregation linguistically of the peoples of the earth}, after their families {racial segregation of the peoples of the earth} . . . in their nations {by divine decree of God as witnessed by His Written Word}. {Note: The Fourth Divine Institution is Nationalism. This verse tells us that God decreed that people would be separated by 1) geographically 2) linguistically and then by 3) families/race.} {Note: In typical Hebrew writing style, a subject is mentioned and then later expounded upon. Just as with Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. Here we have the division of the peoples into Nations - each with their own language. This occurs after the tower of Babel incident which will be described in more detail later in Genesis.} {Note: Why did God decree that Nationalism was His Way instead of Internationalism? Answer: To protect the human race. As long as there are strong independent Nations, then evangelists can be sent out to evangelize the rest of the World. If there is one world power, then Satan and his forces can stifle all evangelism - as we have seen large communist governments attempt to do. The only time Internationalism will be authorized is in the Millennium where the ruler of the World is perfect - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.}.

Third Millennium Bible            By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided into their lands, every one after his own tongue, according to their families, into their nations.

A Voice in the Wilderness      From these the regions of the nations were separated into their lands, everyone according to their tongue, according to their families, into their nations.

World English Bible                Of these were the isles of the nations divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in their nations.

Young's Literal Translation     By these have the isles of the nations been parted in their lands, each by his tongue, by their families, in their nations.

The gist of this verse:          Distinct national entities with distinct borders came from these sons of Japheth. Each nation occupied a specific piece of land, each nation spoke their own language, each nation had both a racial continuity along with a cultural similarity.

As we will find out in the next chapter, it was not mankind’s desire to separate himself from one another. At first, men stayed together in one geographical area. God would confuse their languages, and, as a result, they would spread apart into these various nations. The why of this separation will be covered in Genesis 11.

Translation: From these [ancestors] were divided the costal [or, region] peoples [or, national entities] into their lands:...

At the point that this was written, there may not have been a careful designation for the 5^th divine institution, nation. However, we have here, literally, regions of the Goiim. The idea of the masculine plural construct of ʾîy (אִי) [pronounced ee] can include the idea of regions and borders. A goiim is a people; so we have a group of people within a region within a specific border; or a national entity.

Translation: ...each as regarding his language,...

In Genesis 11 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD), God will separate men into various groups by language. God will confuse their language, so, suddenly, instead of all men speaking the same language, men will speak different languages and be unable to communicate with one another. And, when A speaks to B, it will sound as if B is just talking crazy to A. And, in frustration, if A tries to imitate what B is saying, it will sound as if he is making fun of B. This will even be referenced when we get to the line of Shem.

However, key to a national entity is, they speak the same language.

Translation: ...regarding their families,...

Here, we have a similar racial stock; a similar background, genetically speaking. They come from the same families.

Translation:...[and] among their [own] people.

Here, they are among their own peoples.

There was a radio announcer named Michael Savage (a pseudonym), and, when he spoke about immigration, he would say, over and over again, “Language, borders, culture.” The idea was, a national entity has to have its own language, which everyone speaks; clear definable borders which are enforced; and a similar culture, which, in America, we often call this the melting pot. That is, since we have so many people coming from other lands, they bring a little of their own culture with them, but then they allow themselves to be assimilated into American culture (this has changed in the past 20 or so years; I write this in 2013—and there is less assimilation taking place among illegal aliens in particular).

Essentially, this is what this verse of Genesis 10, written 4000 or more years ago: national entities were groups of people who had a well-defined and defended border; they spoke the same language; they had a common racial stock and they had common values (or, a common culture).

Now, this is not earth-shattering information, but, there is a primacy of the divine institutions as defined by God in the Bible; we have, in the United States, moved far away from them. There are some in our culture who want to celebrate and retain antithetical cultures as well as the barrier of different languages. Now, as an individual, I love going nearly anywhere in the United States, and bumping into people who have different skin color, who speak English with a labored accent; some of whom may have been in this country for decades. And, they may have their own family traditions, their own foods which they love and are able to find; and yet, they see themselves as being Americans, through and through.

Gen 10:5 By these were the regions of the nations divided in their lands, every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

Genesis 10:5 From these [ancestors] were divided the costal [or, region] peoples [or national entities] into their lands: each as regarding his language, regarding their families, [and] among their [own] people. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Genesis 10:5 National entities with distinct borders came from these sons of Japheth; each occupies a specific piece of land, each nation spoke their own language, they had a racial continuity along with a cultural similarity. (Kukis paraphrase)

This indicates that the writer of this is recording this information after the Tower of Babel and the confusion of the languages in Genesis 11. This also shows that the distribution of languages was not arbitrary, but God gave each family their own language, so that it would be natural to move off in a group of those they had been raised with, were kin to and who spoke the same language.

The word translated twice as nations is the Hebrew word gôy (יֹ) [pronounced GOH-ee] which most of us recognize as Gentiles. It can refer to a community, a nation or a group of peoples. This is generally, but not always, a word for those who are not Jewish in the Bible and this is its first occurrence.

Borders [or, coastlines] is the Hebrew word ’îy (אִי) [pronounced ee] and it refers to islands, to coast lands and to regions bordered by coast lands (the are seen from the perspective of the person in the water). As you have no doubt noticed, all of these peoples seemed to be associated with islands or with the various seas.

We have an interesting phrase at the end, that these make up the various nations, who are divided by geography, language and family. At this point, there is only one language; however, this verse anticipates the division of man by language. Recall that the Bible is not completely chronological and it is a common Hebraism to give a general statement and then to later follow up that statement with details.

Genesis 10:2–5 Japheth's descendants were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. Gomer's descendants were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. Javan's descendants were the people from Elishah, Tarshish, Cyprus, and Rhodes. From these descendants the people of the coastlands spread into their own countries. Each nation had its own language and families.

From BibleBelievers.org in Australian: History has recorded Japheth's geographical enlargement. The entire Western hemisphere of our globe is settled by Japhetic peoples, and East Indians are of the same stock. The record of Japheth's spread (enlargement) over the earth has been marred consistently by his destruction of the cultures which were already in existence wherever he arrived in sufficient force to achieve dominion. It happened in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia, and only numerical superiority of the native population has hitherto preserved parts of Africa from the same fate. Indeed, in early historic times the pattern of events is repeated again and again, whatever cultural advances the pioneering Hamites had achieved tended to be swallowed up by the succeeding Japhethites. The "enlargement" of Japheth has continued to this day, an enlargement greatly accelerated geographically in the last few centuries-frequently at the expense of the Hamites (or Canaanites) who first possessed the land.

I should point out that, although most of these identifications of Noah’s descendants with the lands they eventually assembled in is reasonably, but not necessarily 100%, accurate. Historians have studied such things for thousands of years without being in complete agreement. I have simply passed along what seems reasonable to me.

To me, it is rather an amazing thing for this ancient book to just lay out all of the principle families, which became peoples and nations. How they came to have their own languages will be discussed in Genesis 11.

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The Descendants of Ham

1Chronicles 1:8–16