Genesis 10:17 kjv

And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,

Genesis 10:17 nkjv

the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite;

Genesis 10:17 niv

Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,

Genesis 10:17 esv

the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,

Genesis 10:17 nlt

Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,

Genesis 10 verses

Genesis 10 17 Meaning

Genesis 10:17 states that the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite were further descendants from Canaan, the son of Ham. This verse continues the detailed genealogy of nations, specifically listing more of the tribal groups who originated from Canaan and primarily inhabited the coastal and northern regions historically considered part of the broader Canaanite sphere. It highlights their ancestral connection to Canaan within the Table of Nations.

Genesis 10 17 Context

Genesis 10 is known as the "Table of Nations," detailing the descendants of Noah's three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, after the great flood. This chapter serves a crucial literary purpose by explaining the origin of various nations, establishing the common ancestry of humanity, and setting the stage for the specific covenant made with Abraham, who would descend from Shem. Verse 17, along with the surrounding verses (Gen 10:15-19), lists the various tribal groups and cities that arose from Canaan, the son of Ham. This extensive list maps out the geographical extent of the land later promised to Abraham and his descendants, known as the land of Canaan. Historically and culturally, these groups formed the populace of the Levant (modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan), characterized by distinct languages, religions (often polytheistic, with Baal worship being prominent), and geopolitical rivalries with neighboring empires. The mention of these specific groups within a genealogical framework serves not merely as a historical record but also to define the boundaries of the future inheritance of Israel and implicitly, the peoples who would be dispossessed or with whom Israel would interact.

Genesis 10 17 Word analysis

• Arvadite (Hebrew: הָאַרְוָדִי hā’arwādī):

  • Significance: This name refers to the inhabitants of Arwad (Aradus in Greek), an ancient Phoenician city situated on an island off the coast of Syria, in the northern part of the Levant.
  • Meaning: Their inclusion highlights the coastal reach of Canaanite peoples to the north. Arwad was a significant maritime and trading power in antiquity, known for its strong naval capabilities. Their presence in this list establishes a biblical basis for their ancestral lineage and connection to the broader Canaanite ethnic and geographic identity.

• Zemarite (Hebrew: הַצְּמָרִי haṣṣəmarī):

  • Significance: Refers to the inhabitants of Zemar (or Sumur/Ṣumur), a city located on the Syrian coast north of Byblos, often identified with modern Sumra.
  • Meaning: Zemar was also a strategically important city, mentioned in the Amarna letters as a significant center in ancient Syria-Palestine. Its inclusion reinforces the biblical geographical understanding of the extent of Canaanite settlement, particularly in the northern coastal areas. Like the Arvadites, they represent the coastal trading civilizations stemming from Canaan.

• Hamathite (Hebrew: הַחֲמָתִי haḥămātī):

  • Significance: Refers to the inhabitants of Hamath (or Hama in modern Syria), a major ancient city situated on the Orontes River in inland Syria.
  • Meaning: Hamath was a powerful and influential city-state that bordered the northern reach of Israel's promised land (e.g., Num 34:8, 1 Ki 8:65, 2 Ki 14:28). Its inclusion here signifies the far northern and inland extent of Canaan's descendants, showing a broader genealogical claim than the geographical extent usually applied to "the land of Canaan." This might reflect the maximal borders of a later Israelite sphere of influence or merely a genealogical connection. Hamath eventually became an independent Aramean kingdom, indicating that while listed as a descendant of Canaan here, political and ethnic identities could evolve over time.

Genesis 10 17 Bonus section

• The inclusion of these northern groups in the Canaanite genealogy can be understood in a few ways: either as peoples whose territories constituted the maximal ideal boundaries of the Promised Land (e.g., "from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt" in 1 Ki 8:65), or simply as ethnically linked to the Canaanite stock even if they later formed separate political entities beyond the main area of Israelite occupation.
• The listing of Canaan's descendants, including those in this verse, sets up a theological understanding of God's universal sovereignty over all peoples, even as He chooses a particular lineage for His redemptive plan. It contrasts the widespread idolatry that would develop among these nations with the singular worship commanded to Abraham's lineage.
• While these groups are listed genealogically as "Canaanite," the Hamathites in particular are later often depicted as an independent kingdom interacting with Israel and Judah (e.g., 2 Ki 23:33) or Assyria, highlighting the dynamic nature of ancient Near Eastern identity and political structures over centuries.

Genesis 10 17 Commentary

Genesis 10:17 concisely continues the catalog of peoples descended from Canaan, establishing the genealogical origins of the Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. This verse is not just a bare list of names; it serves to geographically define the extent of the "land of Canaan" from a lineage perspective. These tribes primarily inhabited the coastal regions and the interior further north than the later core Israelite territories. By connecting them ancestrally to Canaan, the Bible implicitly frames them as part of the broader group whose land was later designated for the descendants of Abraham. This genealogical charting provides theological groundwork for subsequent biblical narratives concerning the inheritance of the land (e.g., Lev 18:24-28) and God's dealings with the nations. The diversity of these listed peoples—from maritime traders (Arvadites) to inland city-states (Hamathites)—demonstrates the wide scope of Noah's descendants, setting the stage for the narrative of distinct nations that interact with God's chosen people, Israel. It also underlines the historical rootedness of these names, many of which are attested in ancient Near Eastern inscriptions, reaffirming the reliability of the biblical record.