Genesis 10:18 kjv

And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.

Genesis 10:18 nkjv

the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were dispersed.

Genesis 10:18 niv

Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites. Later the Canaanite clans scattered

Genesis 10:18 esv

the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the clans of the Canaanites dispersed.

Genesis 10:18 nlt

Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. The Canaanite clans eventually spread out,

Genesis 10 verses

Genesis 10 18 Meaning

Genesis 10:18 concludes the specific listing of Canaan's descendants, naming the Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. It then generalizes that "afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad," signifying their expansion and settlement across various regions. This verse marks the full demographic extent of the Canaanite peoples following the global dispersion.

Genesis 10 18 Context

Genesis 10, often called the "Table of Nations," provides a comprehensive genealogy of the descendants of Noah's three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—after the great flood. Its purpose is to show how all the nations of the earth descended from this single family and to establish the geographical and linguistic distribution of humanity. Specifically, Genesis 10:6-20 focuses on the descendants of Ham, through his son Canaan. This section lists various tribal and city-state groups who came to inhabit the region later known as the Promised Land.

Verse 18 concludes this detailed list, mentioning the last few groups by name (Arvadites, Zemarites, Hamathites) before providing a concluding summary statement that "the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad." This concluding phrase signifies their complete geographical dispersal and settlement across the land, laying the demographic groundwork for later biblical narratives concerning Abraham, the Patriarchs, the Exodus, and the Israelite conquest of Canaan. Historically, these nations were well-known entities to the original audience, some of them being major city-states or maritime powers in the ancient Near East, especially within the Levant. The meticulous listing sets the stage for God's redemptive plan involving Israel, who would later interact, often in conflict, with these very groups occupying the land promised to Abraham.

Genesis 10 18 Word analysis

Word-by-word analysis:

• Arvadites: (Hebrew: הָאַרְוָדִ֗י hāʾArvādî) - Descendants of Arvad. Arvad was a significant Phoenician island-city on the Mediterranean coast (modern Ruad, Syria), known for its naval power and maritime trade. Its inclusion signifies the expansion of Canaanite peoples even to prominent coastal locations.
• Zemarites: (Hebrew: הַצְּמָרִי֙ haṣ-Ṣəmārî) - Descendants of Zemar. Likely refers to Sumur (Simyra), an important coastal city in northern Phoenicia, south of Arvad. Its inclusion further maps the coastal stretch of Canaanite influence.
• Hamathites: (Hebrew: וְהַחֲמָתִֽי׃ wəhaḥămāṯî) - Descendants of Hamath. Hamath was a major Aramean city-state on the Orontes River, far north in modern Syria. It represents the northernmost extent of what was considered Canaanite territory or influence, although it later became a major independent kingdom. Its listing here highlights its original inclusion within the broader Canaanite family group from Noah's lineage.
• and afterward: (Hebrew: וְאַחַר֙ wəʾaḥar) - Indicates a sequence, a subsequent event or natural progression following the detailed enumeration. It implies that the listed nations continued to expand.
• were the families of the Canaanites: (Hebrew: נָפֹ֙צוּ֙ מִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ות הַכְּנַעֲנִֽי׃ nāfōṣū mišpəḥōṯ hakKəna‘ănî) - Refers to the collective clans and extended family units descended from Canaan. The term "Canaanite" here encompasses all the subgroups previously listed.
• spread abroad: (Hebrew: נָפֹ֙צוּ֙ nāfōṣū) - From the root נָפַץ (napatz), meaning "to scatter," "to break up," "to disperse," or "to spread out." This verb is often used to describe populations dispersing across land, fulfilling the divine command to fill the earth. It can sometimes carry a connotation of disunity or being broken up, but in this context, it primarily indicates territorial expansion and settlement, bringing a close to the specific list of tribes originating from Canaan. It suggests their natural demographic growth led to widespread habitation.

Words-group analysis:

• Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites: These three groups collectively illustrate the northern and coastal expansion of the Canaanite descendants. Arvad and Zemar represent prominent Phoenician cities, indicative of maritime power and trade. Hamath, further inland to the north, signifies a more extensive land occupation. This comprehensive geographical sweep underscores the full habitation of a region central to later Israelite history.
• and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad: This concluding statement moves from specific groups to a broader overview. "Spread abroad" encapsulates the dynamic of population growth and territorial expansion. It reinforces the theme of Genesis 10 that humanity dispersed to fill the earth (Gen 9:1, 7; 10:32). However, given the prior curse on Canaan (Gen 9:25), this dispersion and widespread settlement also sets the stage for the future conflict with God's chosen people, who are later commanded to dispossess these very Canaanite nations due to their idolatry and wickedness. The verse thus subtly highlights a divinely orchestrated demographic development preparing the scene for redemptive history.

Genesis 10 18 Bonus section

The detailed and widespread enumeration of the Canaanite tribes in Genesis 10, particularly their final "spreading abroad" documented in verse 18, holds significant theological implications. This "Table of Nations" can be seen not just as a historical or anthropological record, but as a providential setting of the stage for God's redemptive plan. The divine arrangement of nations, even those destined for judgment, speaks to God's sovereignty over all human history. The placement of the Hamathites at the northernmost border often served as a significant landmark in later Israelite texts (e.g., in describing the extent of the promised land), cementing this verse's importance in establishing the parameters of future events. Furthermore, this meticulously presented demographic context highlights the enormity of the task set before Israel in dispossessing these peoples, underscoring their utter reliance on God for the promised victory and land.

Genesis 10 18 Commentary

Genesis 10:18 culminates the specific enumeration of Canaan's descendants, effectively drawing the geographical boundaries of this cursed lineage. The named peoples—Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites—represent crucial components of the greater Canaanite presence across the Levant, stretching from maritime city-states like Arvad to prominent northern inland centers like Hamath. This detailed listing not only serves as an ancient ethnographic and historical record for the original audience, who would recognize these names and their locations, but also subtly foreshadows future interactions. The phrase "and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad" marks the completed settlement and demographic density of these tribes.

This "spreading abroad" has dual significance. On one hand, it indicates the natural fulfillment of the divine command to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Gen 9:1, 7). On the other, considering the curse on Canaan, it describes the broad establishment of peoples who would become significant obstacles to Israel's occupation of the Promised Land. The meticulous record ensures that when Abraham later enters the "land of the Canaanites" (Gen 12:6), the audience understands exactly who inhabits it and why their dispossession becomes a central theme of subsequent biblical history, reflecting God's judgment upon a people ripe for their eventual removal due to their wickedness (Gen 15:16). This verse, therefore, is not merely a dry list but a strategic preamble to the unfolding drama of covenant, promise, and conquest.