Genesis 10:26 kjv

And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,

Genesis 10:26 nkjv

Joktan begot Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

Genesis 10:26 niv

Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

Genesis 10:26 esv

Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

Genesis 10:26 nlt

Joktan was the ancestor of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

Genesis 10 verses

Genesis 10 26 Meaning

Genesis 10:26 introduces Peleg and Joktan, two sons of Eber, emphasizing Peleg's name as a prophetic or commemorative sign that "in his days was the earth divided." This verse is a crucial genealogical link within the "Table of Nations," specifying the lineage through which a significant event—the division of humanity—occurred. The "division" here refers primarily to the linguistic and national fragmentation of peoples rather than a geological split of the earth's continents, strongly prefiguring or occurring in conjunction with the events at the Tower of Babel.

Genesis 10 26 Context

Genesis chapter 10, often called the "Table of Nations," meticulously lists the descendants of Noah's three sons—Japheth, Ham, and Shem—after the Great Flood. Its primary purpose is to account for the repopulation and geographical distribution of all the peoples of the earth from a single family. This verse falls within the segment detailing Shem's lineage, which is the line of promise from which Abraham and ultimately the Messiah would descend. The "Table of Nations" presents a world in the process of re-establishing itself, detailing the origins of various ethnic groups and nations as the family of humanity expands. The mention of the "earth divided" within this genealogical record serves as a pivotal explanatory note, highlighting a key event that shaped the subsequent history and ethno-linguistic diversity of mankind. It prepares the reader for the detailed account of this division provided immediately after, in Genesis chapter 11, with the story of the Tower of Babel.

Genesis 10 26 Word analysis

• And Eber (וּלְעֵבֶר - ū-lə‘Ēḇer):

  • Word: עֵבֶר ('Ever). Signifies "the region beyond," "across," or "one who passes over."
  • Significance: This name is of profound importance, as it is the etymological root of "Hebrew" ('Ivri), identifying Abraham and his descendants as "those who crossed over" (either the Euphrates or symbolically into a new way of life/faith). It firmly roots the chosen people within the broader human family lineage after the Flood, establishing their place among the nations but also hinting at their distinctive calling.

• had two sons (יֻלַּד שְׁנֵי בָנִים - yūllaḏ šənēy ḇānīm):

  • Significance: A standard genealogical formulation. This phrase emphasizes the continuation of the family line and the beginning of distinct branches from Eber.

• the name of the one was Peleg (שֵׁם הָאֶחָד פֶּלֶג - šēm hā’eḥāḏ Peleḡ):

  • Word: פֶּלֶג (Peleg). Means "division," "stream," "channel," "partition."
  • Significance: The name itself is directly explained in the subsequent phrase, indicating a divinely inspired or prophetically given name. It signals a major historical turning point during this individual's lifetime, serving as a constant reminder of the division of humanity.

• for in his days (כִּי בְיָמָיו - kī ḇəyāmāw):

  • Word: כִּי (kī). Connective meaning "for," "because," providing the reason or explanation.
  • Word: בְיָמָיו (bəyāmāw). Means "in his days" or "in his lifetime."
  • Significance: This precise phrase strongly links Peleg's existence to the event, making it contemporaneous. The "in his days" can imply either that the event occurred during his life or that he was named in anticipation or commemoration of it. Scholars lean towards the former, connecting it directly to the Tower of Babel event (Gen 11) where humanity's language was confused, leading to their dispersion.

• was the earth divided (נִפְלְגָה הָאָרֶץ - nīp̄ləḡāh hā’āreṣ):

  • Word: נִפְלְגָה (niphl'gāh). Niphal perfect form of פּלג (palag), meaning "to be divided," "to be split apart." The Niphal stem denotes a passive or reflexive action.
  • Word: הָאָרֶץ (hā’āretz). "The land," "the earth."
  • Significance: This is the core interpretative phrase of the verse. Given the context of the "Table of Nations" and the immediate follow-up in Genesis 11, "the earth divided" is widely understood to mean the division of humanity into distinct linguistic groups, nations, and territories. This is God's sovereign act to diversify and disperse humanity after their unified rebellion at Babel, preventing a consolidated, anti-God human empire. It is not generally interpreted as a geological separation of continents by Christian scholars. The division relates to the boundaries of nations, tribes, and their languages, emphasizing a purposeful separation ordered by God.

• and his brother's name was Joktan (וְשֵׁם אָחִיו יָקְטָן - wəšēm ’āḥı̄w Yoqtan):

  • Word: יָקְטָן (Yoqtan). The name is thought to derive from a root meaning "to be small," "to be lessened," or perhaps "he (God) will make small."
  • Significance: Joktan’s extensive lineage is listed immediately after (Gen 10:27-30), focusing primarily on tribes that settled in the southern Arabian peninsula. While his name doesn't carry the same direct explanatory force as Peleg's, his large family demonstrates another aspect of the earth's repopulation and the diversity of nations originating from Eber's line.

Genesis 10 26 Bonus section

The naming of Peleg offers a crucial chronological anchor. The phrasing "in his days" suggests that the scattering described in Gen 11 was either an event Peleg witnessed or one that took place during his lifetime. This implies that the confusion of languages and the subsequent dispersal happened relatively soon after the Flood and prior to the proliferation of all the distinct groups listed in Genesis 10. This timing underscores the immediate impact of human rebellion (at Babel) on God's initial plan for human unity and expansion. The careful preservation of the Shemitic lineage through Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, and Terah ultimately leads directly to Abram, God's chosen instrument for establishing a new, distinct nation from which blessing would flow back to all the dispersed families of the earth. This verse, therefore, acts as a subtle yet significant pointer to the divine purpose in separating peoples, setting the stage for the redemptive story that unfolds through Israel.

Genesis 10 26 Commentary

Genesis 10:26 serves as an explanatory bridge within the vast genealogical framework of the Table of Nations. By explicitly linking Peleg's birth to the "division of the earth," the author provides the historical context and timing for the pivotal event of humanity's dispersal, fully elaborated in Genesis 11 with the Tower of Babel narrative. This isn't merely a naming convention; it reflects a theological truth: God is actively involved in ordering human history and geography. The divine act of dividing the "earth"—understood as mankind's unified linguistic and social structure—was a judgment on their unified pride and an act of dispersion. Yet, it also fulfilled God's earlier command to fill the earth (Gen 9:1), albeit in diverse groups rather than a monolithic one. The careful lineage tracing through Eber also lays the groundwork for Abraham, highlighting God's faithfulness in preserving a chosen line amidst the universal dispersion, a line through which redemption for all the divided nations would eventually come.