Genesis 11:10

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ These [are] the generations of Shem: Shem [was] an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:

Complete Jewish Bible:

Here is the genealogy of Shem. Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpakhshad two years after the flood.

Berean Standard Bible:

This is the account of Shem. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad.

American Standard Version:

These are the generations of Shem. Shem was a hundred years old, and begat Arpachshad two years after the flood:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

These are the generations{H8435} of Shem{H8035}: Shem{H8035} was an hundred{H3967} years{H8141} old{H1121}, and begat{H3205} Arphaxad{H775} two years{H8141} after{H310} the flood{H3999}:

Cross-References (KJV):

1 Chronicles 1:17

  • The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.

1 Chronicles 1:27

  • Abram; the same [is] Abraham.

Genesis 11:27

  • ¶ Now these [are] the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.

Luke 3:34

  • Which was [the son] of Jacob, which was [the son] of Isaac, which was [the son] of Abraham, which was [the son] of Thara, which was [the son] of Nachor,

Luke 3:36

  • Which was [the son] of Cainan, which was [the son] of Arphaxad, which was [the son] of Sem, which was [the son] of Noe, which was [the son] of Lamech,

Genesis 10:21

  • ¶ Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were [children] born.

Genesis 10:22

  • The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

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Commentary for Genesis 11:10

Genesis 11:10 is part of the Table of Nations section in the Book of Genesis, which outlines the descendants of Noah's sons after the Great Flood. The verse specifically introduces the lineage of Shem, one of Noah's three sons, and provides a chronological note that Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arphaxad, two years after the flood. This verse is significant as it begins the genealogy that leads to Abraham, a pivotal figure in the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions.

The historical context of this verse is rooted in the early post-diluvian era, a time when humanity was repopulating the earth after the catastrophic flood described in Genesis 6-9. This period is characterized by the dispersion of peoples and the establishment of new nations, as reflected in the subsequent verses detailing the descendants of Shem's line.

Themes present in this verse and its broader context include:

1. **Divine Providence**: The narrative underscores God's oversight in the re-establishment of human society after the flood, with the lineage of Shem eventually leading to the chosen people of Israel.

2. **Genealogy**: The importance of familial lineage and heritage is a central theme, as the genealogies serve to connect the post-flood world with the ancestors who were divinely chosen to carry forward God's covenant.

3. **Human Origins and Diversity**: The Table of Nations illustrates the biblical explanation for the diversity of languages and peoples, which is further explained in the story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9).

4. **Covenant Continuity**: Shem's lineage is significant because it leads to Abraham, with whom God makes a covenant that establishes the Israelites as His chosen people, a theme that is central to the Hebrew Bible.

5. **Chronology**: The precise dating of Shem's age at the birth of Arphaxad reflects an interest in chronological order, which is a recurring feature in the Book of Genesis, serving to anchor the narrative in a historical framework.

This verse serves as a bridge between the story of the flood and the subsequent narratives focused on the patriarchs, setting the stage for the stories of Abraham and his descendants, which are foundational to the biblical narrative.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H8435
    There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: תּוֹלְדָה
    Transliteration: tôwlᵉdâh
    Pronunciation: to-led-aw'
    Description: or תֹּלְדָה; from יָלַד; (plural only) descent, i.e. family; (figuratively) history; birth, generations.
  2. Strong's Number: H8035
    There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֵׁם
    Transliteration: Shêm
    Pronunciation: shame
    Description: the same as שֵׁם; name; Shem, a son of Noah (often includ. his posterity); Sem, Shem.
  3. Strong's Number: H3967
    There are 512 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מֵאָה
    Transliteration: mêʼâh
    Pronunciation: may-aw'
    Description: or מֵאיָה; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction; hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore.
  4. Strong's Number: H8141
    There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁנֶה
    Transliteration: shâneh
    Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
    Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly).
  5. Strong's Number: H1121
    There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֵּן
    Transliteration: bên
    Pronunciation: bane
    Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
  6. Strong's Number: H3205
    There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָלַד
    Transliteration: yâlad
    Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
    Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
  7. Strong's Number: H775
    There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אַרְפַּכְשַׁד
    Transliteration: ʼArpakshad
    Pronunciation: ar-pak-shad'
    Description: probably of foreign origin; Arpakshad, a son of Noah; also the region settled by him; Arphaxad.
  8. Strong's Number: H310
    There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אַחַר
    Transliteration: ʼachar
    Pronunciation: akh-ar'
    Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.
  9. Strong's Number: H3999
    There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מַבּוּל
    Transliteration: mabbûwl
    Pronunciation: mab-bool'
    Description: from יָבַל in the sense of flowing; a deluge; flood.