Genesis 9:19

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 9:19 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “These three were the sons of Noah: and of these was the whole earth overspread.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

These three were the sons of Noah: and of these was the whole earth overspread.
Genesis 9:19 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
19These three were the sons of Noah: and of these was the whole earth overspread.

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 three sons of Noah, etc.] And his only ones; and if he had any more, they left no posterity behind them, since it follows, and of them was the whole earth overspread, with inhabitants, by them and their posterity only: Berozus f493 indeed says, that Noah, after the flood, begat more sons, and giants; and his commentator, Annius, talks of seventeen of them, among whom was Tuiscon, the father of the Germans; and the author of Juchasin f494 ascribes a fourth son to Noah, whose name he calls Joniko, who taught astronomy in the world, and taught Nimrod the art of war; but these are fabulous stories, and contrary to the sacred Scriptures, which speak of three sons of Noah, and no…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“- XXX. The Prophecy of Noah 18. כנען kena‛an, “Kena‘an, bowed down.” 19. נפץ nāpats, “break, scatter, spread.” פוּץ pûts, “break, scatter, flow.” 20. כרם kerem, “orchard, vineyard.” 21. יין yayı̂n, “wine; related: ferment.” After the blessing on the new heads of the human race has been pronounced, and the covenant with them renewed, we are prepared for a new development of human action. This appears, however, in the form of an event which is itself a meet preliminary to the subsequent stage of affairs. The prophecy of Noah, delivered in the shape of a solemn paternal doom, pronounced upon his three sons, sketches in a few striking traits the future history of the separate families of…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification