Genesis 10:6

¶ And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.

And the sons {H1121} of Ham {H2526}; Cush {H3568}, and Mizraim {H4714}, and Phut {H6316}, and Canaan {H3667}.

The sons of Ham were Kush, Mitzrayim, Put and Kena‘an.

The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

And the sons of Ham: Cush, and Mizraim, and Put, and Canaan.

Commentary

Context

Genesis chapter 10, often referred to as the "Table of Nations," provides a comprehensive genealogy detailing the descendants of Noah's three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—who repopulated the earth after the global flood. This chapter serves as a foundational text for understanding the origin and spread of various peoples and nations across the ancient world. Verse 6 specifically begins the enumeration of the primary sons of Ham, setting the stage for the identification of key ancient civilizations and geographical regions. This genealogical record highlights God's plan for humanity to "be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth" (Genesis 9:1).

Key Themes

  • Genealogy and Origin of Nations: This verse, like the rest of the chapter, underscores the biblical view that all human populations originated from a common ancestor, Noah, and subsequently diversified into the various nations known in antiquity.
  • Geographical and Ethnic Identification: The names listed are not merely individuals but represent the progenitors of significant ancient peoples and the regions they inhabited, providing a biblical framework for world geography and ethnography.
  • Ham's Legacy: The lineage of Ham, particularly through Canaan, plays a crucial role in subsequent biblical narratives, setting the stage for future interactions and conflicts, such as the curse pronounced by Noah upon Canaan.

Linguistic Insights and Identification

The names of Ham's sons in this verse are historically significant, representing major branches of humanity in the ancient Near East and Africa:

  • Cush (כּוּשׁ, Kush): Often identified with ancient Nubia or Ethiopia, south of Egypt. The descendants of Cush populated regions including parts of northeast Africa and Arabia.
  • Mizraim (מִצְרַיִם, Mitzrayim): This is the standard Hebrew name for Egypt. The plural form suggests the "two lands" of Upper and Lower Egypt.
  • Phut (פּוּט, Put): Generally associated with ancient Libya or other parts of North Africa, west of Egypt.
  • Canaan (כְּנַעַן, Kena'an): The progenitor of the Canaanites, who inhabited the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, a region that would later become the Promised Land for Israel.

Practical Application

Understanding Genesis 10:6 and the "Table of Nations" offers several insights for believers today:

  1. Common Humanity: It reinforces the biblical truth that all people, regardless of ethnicity or nationality, share a common ancestry in Noah, highlighting our fundamental unity in diversity. This promotes respect and understanding among different cultures.
  2. God's Sovereignty in History: The detailed account shows God's meticulous oversight in the spread and development of human societies and nations from the earliest times.
  3. Context for Future Narratives: This verse provides essential background for understanding the geographical and ethnic landscape of the Bible, particularly the origins of peoples who would interact with Israel, such as the Egyptians and Canaanites. It helps us appreciate the historical depth of God's covenant with Abraham and the subsequent history of Israel.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Chronicles 1:8 (3 votes)

    The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

  • 1 Chronicles 1:16 (3 votes)

    And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.

  • Isaiah 11:11 (2 votes)

    And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

  • Psalms 78:51 (2 votes)

    And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of [their] strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

  • 1 Chronicles 4:40 (2 votes)

    And they found fat pasture and good, and the land [was] wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for [they] of Ham had dwelt there of old.

  • Psalms 106:22 (2 votes)

    Wondrous works in the land of Ham, [and] terrible things by the Red sea.

  • Ezekiel 27:10 (2 votes)

    They of Persia and of Lud and of Phut were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness.