Genesis 10:20

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 10:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, in their nations.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, in their nations.
Genesis 10:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, in their nations.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“These are the sons of Ham, etc.] His sons and grandsons, which some reckon to be thirty, others thirty one, if the Philistines are taken in: after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, [and] in their nations: families of the same language joined together and dwelt in the same country, (see Gill on “<011005>Genesis 10:5”) all Africa and a considerable part of Asia were possessed by the four sons of Ham and their posterity; Mizraim had Egypt, and Phut all the rest of Africa; and Cush and Canaan had a large portion in Asia.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“- XXXII. Ham 6. מצרים mı̂tsrayı̂m, “Mitsraim.” מצר mētser, “straitness, limit, pressure.” מצור mātsôr, “distress, siege, mound, bulwark; Egypt.” מצרים mı̂tsrayı̂m, “perhaps double Egypt, lower and upper.” פוּט pûṭ, “Put, troubled.” 7. סבא sebā', “Seba, drinking (man, Ethiopian).” סבתה sabtâh, “Sabtah.” רעמה ra‛mâh, “Ra‘mah, shaking, trembling.” סבתכא sabtekā', “Sabtekha.” שׁבא shēbā', “Sheba, captive?” דדן dedān, “Dedan, going slowly?” 8. נמרד nı̂mrod, “Nimrod, strong, rebel.” 10. בבל bābel, “Babel; related: pour, mingle, confound.” ארך 'erek, “Erek, length.” אכד 'akad, “Akkad, fortress.” כלנה kalneh, “Kalneh.” שׁנער shı̂n‛ār, “Shin‘ar.” 11. נינוה nı̂ynevēh, “Nineveh,…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification