Genesis 10:19 kjv

And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.

Genesis 10:19 nkjv

And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.

Genesis 10:19 niv

and the borders of Canaan reached from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, as far as Lasha.

Genesis 10:19 esv

And the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon in the direction of Gerar as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.

Genesis 10:19 nlt

and the territory of Canaan extended from Sidon in the north to Gerar and Gaza in the south, and east as far as Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, near Lasha.

Genesis 10 verses

Genesis 10 19 Meaning

Genesis 10:19 meticulously defines the geographical extent of the Canaanite territory, stretching from Sidon in the north, along the coastal plains through Gerar and reaching as far as Gaza in the southwest, and then turning inland towards the ill-fated cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, extending finally to an uncertain location called Lasha in the east/southeast. This verse provides a divinely outlined blueprint of the land that would later become crucial in the redemptive history of God's chosen people, Israel, establishing the boundaries of the land they would contend for and ultimately inherit.

Genesis 10 19 Context

Genesis chapter 10, often referred to as the "Table of Nations," provides a genealogical and geographical account of the descendants of Noah's three sons—Japheth, Ham, and Shem—following the Great Flood. Its primary purpose is to trace the lineage of all the peoples known to the ancient Israelites and demonstrate their common origin from Noah, underscoring God's universal sovereignty and the unity of humanity.

Verse 19 specifically details the geographical boundaries of the Canaanites, descendants of Ham's son, Canaan (Gen 10:6). This delineation is profoundly significant as these are the people and this is the land that will later form the nucleus of God's covenantal promises to Abraham and his descendants. The mention of Sidon in the north, Gerar and Gaza in the west, and Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim in the east (cities notoriously associated with wickedness and future divine judgment) not only maps a historical region but also prophetically sets the stage for future narratives of conquest and divine intervention. It lays the groundwork for understanding the 'Promised Land' from an early, pre-Abrahamic perspective, outlining the land inhabited by those whom God would later dispossess for Israel.

Genesis 10 19 Word Analysis

• The border: Hebrew gəḇūl (גְּבוּל). This term signifies a defined boundary or frontier. It is more than just a vague outline; it denotes a distinct and measurable territory, emphasizing the precision of this biblical record. It highlights God's purposeful and organized division of the earth.
• of the Canaanites: These are the descendants of Canaan, who was cursed by Noah (Gen 9:25) for his disrespect toward his father Ham. The naming of their territory here immediately foreshadows the future conflict and dispossession by Israel, tying this geographical mapping directly to the unfolding redemptive narrative.
• extended from Sidon: Hebrew Tsidon (צִידֹן). Sidon was a significant maritime city and a prosperous port on the Phoenician coast (modern-day Lebanon), marking the northern reach of Canaanite influence. It was known for its trade and maritime power. The phrase implies a starting point for defining the territorial expanse.
• toward Gerar: Hebrew Gerar (גְּרָר). An ancient city in the Philistine plain in the southern coastal region of Canaan. It later became associated with Philistine kings whom Abraham and Isaac interacted with (Gen 20, 26). Its mention marks the westward extension, moving south from Sidon along the coast or coastal plain.
• as far as Gaza: Hebrew Azzah (עַזָּה). A major city and key strategic location on the southern Mediterranean coast of Canaan, forming a significant Philistine stronghold. It signifies the southwestern extent of the Canaanite land. Its mention here indicates its ancient status as a prominent geographical marker.
• and then toward Sodom: Hebrew Sedom (סְדֹם). One of the "Cities of the Plain," notorious for its extreme wickedness and later divine destruction. Its inclusion is highly significant. It transitions the boundary description from the west/southwest to the southeast/east, outlining the interior reaches.
• Gomorrah: Hebrew ʿAmorah (עֲמֹרָה). Another of the Cities of the Plain, irrevocably linked with Sodom due to their joint destruction.
• Admah: Hebrew Admah (אַדְמָה). A third city mentioned as part of the plain cities, sharing the same fate of destruction by fire and brimstone.
• and Zeboiim: Hebrew Tzəvoyim (צְבוֹיִם). The fourth city typically grouped with Sodom, Gomorrah, and Admah, likewise destroyed. The explicit naming of these four cities that would later be obliterated highlights God's pre-knowledge and ultimate authority over the land and its inhabitants, long before the judgment recorded in Genesis 19. It establishes that even these infamous locations were part of the initially established Canaanite sphere.
• as far as Lasha: Hebrew Lasha (לָשַׁע). The precise location of Lasha remains unknown to modern archaeology but is generally presumed to be somewhere to the east or southeast of the Dead Sea. It marks the easternmost or southeasternmost boundary point of the Canaanite territory, completing the large, irregular arc that defined their domain. Its obscurity might signify that this boundary was less well-known or stable than the prominent western coastal cities.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The border of the Canaanites extended from...": This phrasing establishes a divinely recognized, comprehensive geographical outline of the entire region belonging to Canaan's descendants. It indicates an ordered system of land distribution under God's oversight.
• "...Sidon toward Gerar, as far as Gaza...": This describes a long, crescent-shaped western and southwestern boundary, following the productive coastal and lowland plains. These were fertile and strategically important areas, indicative of the richness of the land promised to Israel.
• "...and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.": This transitions the boundary description from west to east/southeast, encircling the southern end of the Jordan Valley. The specific mention of the "Cities of the Plain" not only defines geographical points but also foreshadows future divine intervention and judgment upon human wickedness within this divinely observed territory. It suggests that even lands subject to devastating judgment fall within the scope of God's foreordained history and distribution among nations.

Genesis 10 19 Bonus Section

• The meticulous detailing of Canaanite boundaries in Genesis 10 serves as a "divine property deed" of sorts, marking out the future inheritance of Israel. It asserts God's ultimate authority over land distribution, pre-empting any claims that Israel's later conquest was arbitrary or unjust, but rather a fulfillment of a divinely orchestrated plan from the earliest post-Flood period.
• The inclusion of the cities of the plain (Sodom, Gomorrah, etc.) within Canaan's territory before their destruction signifies that even condemned lands, those whose future judgment is sealed, fall within the comprehensive scope of this global ethnographic and geopolitical table. This demonstrates the Bible's historical precision interwoven with its prophetic foreshadowing.
• From a theological standpoint, this verse, as part of the Table of Nations, underpins the universality of humanity's descent from Noah, countering any ancient ethnocentric views that might isolate Israel from the wider human family while simultaneously justifying Israel's unique calling and inheritance within that larger context.

Genesis 10 19 Commentary

Genesis 10:19 is more than just a dry geographical listing; it's a foundational theological statement deeply integrated into the narrative of redemptive history. It acts as an ancient, divinely inspired map, detailing the initial settlements of the descendants of Canaan, Ham's cursed son. By meticulously outlining these borders from Sidon in the north to Gaza in the southwest and the infamous Cities of the Plain to the southeast (Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim) to the enigmatic Lasha, the verse establishes the spatial context for future biblical events.

This description provides the physical scope of what would later become the "Promised Land" to Abraham's descendants (Gen 12:7; 15:18-21). The Canaanites were depicted as early occupants, destined for dispossession due to their iniquity (Gen 15:16). The inclusion of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim is particularly profound; it not only sets their geographical location but subtly hints at their imminent destruction (Gen 19) well before that event occurs in the biblical timeline. This demonstrates God's foreknowledge and ultimate sovereignty over human territories and destinies. He establishes the initial boundaries, yet reserves the right to reshape them based on human conduct, particularly regarding the severity of sin.

The detail reflects the narrator's emphasis on God's deliberate planning for His chosen people and the precise boundaries of their inheritance, outlining the challenging populations they would eventually confront. It’s a precise pre-Israelite mapping of Israel's future domain, emphasizing that the Lord God has the final word on national and territorial allocation.