Genesis 10:12 kjv

And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.

Genesis 10:12 nkjv

and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (that is the principal city).

Genesis 10:12 niv

and Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah?which is the great city.

Genesis 10:12 esv

Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city.

Genesis 10:12 nlt

and Resen (the great city located between Nineveh and Calah).

Genesis 10 verses

Genesis 10 12 Meaning

Genesis 10:12 identifies "Resen" as a significant city established by Nimrod within the Mesopotamian region. It specifies its geographical location, "between Nineveh and Calah," and labels it a "great city," signifying its considerable size, population, or importance within Nimrod's developing kingdom. This verse provides additional detail about Nimrod's ambitious city-building endeavors in Assyria, contributing to the understanding of the early post-Flood world's societal and political development.

Genesis 10 12 Context

Genesis chapter 10, often called the "Table of Nations," meticulously details the descendants of Noah's three sons—Japheth, Ham, and Shem—after the Great Flood. Its primary purpose is to trace the origins of various peoples and nations known to ancient Israel. This chapter is not merely a genealogy but a proto-history, establishing the geographical and ethnic framework of the post-Flood world. Verses 8-12 specifically focus on Nimrod, a descendant of Ham, portraying him as a powerful figure, a "mighty hunter," and crucially, the founder of significant cities and a kingdom. The narrative highlights Nimrod's pioneering role in establishing early urban centers and consolidated political power in Mesopotamia (both Shinar/Babylon and Assyria). Verse 12 adds Resen to the list of these foundational cities (Babel, Erech, Accad, Calneh, Nineveh, Rehoboth), underscoring the expansion and scope of his influential domain.

Genesis 10 12 Word analysis

• And Resen (וְרֶסֶן - wĕ·Resen):

  • "And" (וְ - wĕ): Connects this city to the previous list, indicating it is another part of Nimrod's extensive building projects.
  • "Resen": This is a proper noun, referring to a specific city. Its exact archaeological identification is debated, but some scholars suggest it may correspond to the ruins of Karimlesh, located east of Nineveh and generally fitting the described location. Its mention among well-known cities like Nineveh and Calah indicates its historical significance, even if lesser known today.

• between Nineveh and Calah:

  • "between": This precise geographic locator places Resen within a known Mesopotamian landscape, confirming the narrator's intimate knowledge of the region. This phrase forms a key point of reference, like coordinates on a map.
  • "Nineveh": Hebrew נִינְוֵה (Nînwêh). An exceedingly great city, capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Its mention here anchors Nimrod's narrative within the early development of Assyrian power, centuries before its peak.
  • "and Calah": Hebrew וְכָלַח (wĕ·Ḵālakh). Also known as Nimrud, it was a significant ancient Assyrian city, serving at times as the capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, south of Nineveh. These cities represented formidable centers of power and influence.

• the same is a great city:

  • "the same is": An idiomatic phrase in Hebrew (often הִיא - hi - "she," or "it"), confirming the identification and emphasizing its description.
  • "a great city": Hebrew עִיר גְּדֹלָה (’iyr gĕdôlāh).
    • עִיר (’iyr): Refers to a city, fortified town, or inhabited area.
    • גְּדֹלָה (gĕdôlāh): The feminine adjective for "great," indicating size, importance, significance, or possibly even population. This descriptor highlights the city's stature. In the context of the Ancient Near East, a "great city" would typically possess large walls, a substantial population, and considerable economic or military power. This designation often points to centers of human achievement, ambition, and power, which in the biblical narrative, can sometimes contrast with divine authority or lead to hubris (as seen in the story of Babel or the subsequent fall of great empires). The recurring biblical motif of "great cities" (e.g., Nineveh, Babylon, Jerusalem) highlights their human potential and also their eventual destiny under divine providence.

Genesis 10 12 Bonus section

The mention of cities like Nineveh and Calah, whose remains have been extensively unearthed and confirm their massive scale and strategic importance, lends historical weight to the Genesis narrative. While Resen's precise identification remains less certain than its counterparts, its inclusion strengthens the biblical account's geographical and historical claims. This meticulous listing of cities in Nimrod's kingdom contrasts human efforts to establish impressive, self-sustaining power centers with God's ultimate sovereignty. The theme of "great cities" built by human hands frequently recurs in scripture, often ending in divine judgment (e.g., Babylon, Nineveh in Nahum). This subtly positions Nimrod's "great cities" as the archetype for human enterprises seeking renown and power, which ultimately stand under God's watchful eye and judgment.

Genesis 10 12 Commentary

Genesis 10:12 functions as a concluding detail to the description of Nimrod's formidable kingdom. After establishing Babel as the genesis of his rule, the narrative shifts to his expansion into Assyria, listing major urban centers like Nineveh and Calah, and then specifying Resen as another prominent "great city" situated between them. This verse subtly emphasizes the scale and nature of Nimrod's ambition—not merely building, but building on a grand scale, founding "great cities" that became the epicenters of burgeoning empires. This early consolidation of human power and construction of large, independent urban centers foreshadows future empires that would later rise against or interact with God's people. The term "great city" here not only denotes physical size but implicitly suggests centers of human-directed organization, economy, and power, highlighting a trajectory of human civilization independent of explicit divine command, sometimes hinting at self-reliance or pride.