Genesis 10 29

Genesis 10:29 kjv

And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.

Genesis 10:29 nkjv

Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.

Genesis 10:29 niv

Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.

Genesis 10:29 esv

Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan.

Genesis 10:29 nlt

Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were descendants of Joktan.

Genesis 10 29 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Gen 2:11"The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;"Links Havilah with gold, possibly distinct or a larger region.
Gen 10:1"Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth:"Establishes the framework of the Table of Nations.
Gen 10:7"The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca..."Notes another Havilah (Hamitic branch), demonstrating multiple Havilahs.
Gen 10:25"To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan."Joktan's direct father and significance.
Gen 10:26-28"Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah... Sheba, and Ophir."The immediate preceding verses listing Joktan's other sons.
Gen 10:30"Their dwelling place extended from Mesha in the direction of Sephar to the hill country of the east."Defines the geographical scope of Joktan's descendants.
Gen 10:32"These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations; and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood."Concluding statement of the Table of Nations.
Gen 11:10-26"These are the generations of Shem. When Shem was 100 years old..."Continues the Shemite genealogy to Terah and Abram.
Gen 25:18"They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria."Points to another geographical Havilah associated with Ishmaelites.
1 Kgs 9:28"They sailed to Ophir and brought 420 talents of gold from there to King Solomon."Links Ophir with great wealth (gold) and Solomon's trade.
1 Kgs 10:11"Moreover, the fleet of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir a very great amount of almug wood and precious stones."Further emphasizes Ophir's connection to precious commodities.
1 Kgs 22:48"Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber."Mentions attempts to reach Ophir for its gold.
1 Chr 1:20"These were the sons of Joktan: Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,"Direct parallel record of Joktan's sons, confirming the list.
1 Chr 1:21"Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan."Full repetition of Gen 10:26-29, confirming biblical genealogy.
1 Chr 29:4"three thousand talents of gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver..."Gold of Ophir listed among valuable offerings for the temple.
Job 22:24"and cast your gold into the dust, and the gold of Ophir into the stones of the torrent-bed,"Used metaphorically to denote great wealth, but of lesser value than God.
Job 28:16"It cannot be weighed against gold of Ophir, against precious onyx or sapphire."Ophir's gold represents extreme value and rarity.
Ps 45:9"daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir."Poetic reference, illustrating the highest quality and beauty.
Isa 13:12"I will make people scarcer than fine gold, and mankind scarcer than the gold of Ophir."Prophetic image, using Ophir's gold to represent extreme preciousness and rarity.
Ezek 27:22"Haran, Canneh, Eden, merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad traded with you."Links with Arabian traders who brought wealth, consistent with Joktanite areas.
Acts 17:26-27"And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling places..."Theological underpinning for the Table of Nations; God's sovereign hand over the nations.
Rom 1:20"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen..."God's creative power evident in the orderly creation and subsequent dispersal of mankind.

Genesis 10 verses

Genesis 10 29 Meaning

Genesis 10:29 concludes the enumeration of the sons of Joktan, explicitly naming Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab as part of this lineage. This verse finalizes the detailed account of Joktan's thirteen descendants, who primarily settled in the regions of the Arabian Peninsula. It identifies these specific tribal progenitors, solidifying their place within the broader Shemite branch of humanity's post-Flood expansion. The listing serves to map the early spread of nations, highlighting geographical locations and acknowledging diverse peoples, all originating from a common ancestor as orchestrated by God.

Genesis 10 29 Context

Genesis chapter 10, often referred to as the "Table of Nations," provides a comprehensive genealogical account of the descendants of Noah's three sons—Japheth, Ham, and Shem—who repopulated the earth after the Flood. This chapter is a pivotal transition, bridging the primeval history (creation to Flood) with the patriarchal narratives that follow. It establishes the ethnic and geographical relationships among the various peoples and nations known to the ancient Israelites.

Verse 29 is embedded within the section detailing the lineage of Shem, specifically the sons of Joktan (verses 26-29). Joktan is the brother of Peleg, through whom the line of Abraham will ultimately come. The "Table of Nations" functions not just as a historical record but also as a theological statement. It asserts a unified origin for all humanity from a single family, dispelling polytheistic or fragmented creation myths common in the ancient Near East. The careful listing of distinct peoples demonstrates God's sovereign ordering of humanity's dispersion, ensuring that each group finds its designated dwelling place (Gen 10:30, 32; Acts 17:26). The inclusion of names like Ophir and Havilah, known for their resources or significant locations, grounds this divinely guided expansion in recognizable geography for the original audience.

Genesis 10 29 Word Analysis

  • Ophir (אוֹפִיר - 'Ôphîr): This name is strongly associated with a place renowned for its high-quality gold and other valuable commodities. Its frequent mention alongside wealth in other biblical texts (e.g., 1 Kgs 9:28; Job 22:24; Ps 45:9) highlights its significance as a source of precious metals. The specific location of Ophir has been widely debated by scholars, with proposals ranging from Southwest Arabia, East Africa (e.g., Somalia), to India. Its inclusion among Joktan's sons generally points to a location within or near the Arabian Peninsula, implying that a wealthy trading region descended from Joktan. This places some of Joktan's progeny among economically powerful entities.
  • Havilah (חֲוִילָה - Chawîlāh): This name appears elsewhere in the Bible, notably in Gen 2:11 as a land of gold associated with the Pishon river, and in Gen 25:18 related to Ishmaelite territory. The Havilah mentioned here as a son of Joktan is understood to be in the Arabian Peninsula, likely a broad region. Its connection to gold in Gen 2 may suggest that Joktan's Havilah also encompassed valuable resources or served as a trade route for such goods. The existence of multiple locations bearing the same name highlights either a very extensive region or the naming practice in the ancient world.
  • Jobab (יוֹבָב - Yôbāv): Less is known about Jobab than Ophir or Havilah. He is the last son listed from Joktan's immediate family. While other individuals named Jobab appear in later biblical texts (e.g., an Edomite king in 1 Chr 1:44), this Jobab specifically identifies a lineage within the Joktanite tribes. His name signifies a "howler" or "desert dweller," aligning with the known settlements of Joktan's descendants in the Arabian wilderness. He represents another distinct tribal progenitor within the Arab peoples.
  • All these (כָּל־אֵ֑לֶּה - kōl-’êlleh): This phrase serves as a summarizing conclusion to the preceding list of Joktan's thirteen sons (Gen 10:26-29). It functions to group them together and emphasizes that this complete list constitutes all the sons mentioned, solidifying the scope of Joktan's direct offspring and the lineages stemming from them. It marks the end of this specific genealogical segment.
  • were the sons of Joktan (בְנֵ֥י יׇקְטָֽן׃ - bənê yoqṭān): This statement unequivocally identifies the paternity of Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab (and the preceding names). It clearly delineates their lineage, linking them directly to Joktan, who in turn traces back through Eber to Shem and ultimately to Noah. This paternal designation is crucial for tracing the intricate network of the Table of Nations, asserting an ordered, single point of origin for all these distinct peoples.

Genesis 10 29 Bonus Section

  • The thoroughness of Genesis 10, including details down to specific named individuals like those in verse 29, underscores the biblical narrative's assertion of a shared human heritage. Every nation, regardless of its distinct cultural development, ultimately traces its origins back to Noah and, further, to Adam.
  • The precise identification of the Joktanite tribes with southern and southwestern Arabia (implied by the cumulative list of his sons) connects them to peoples known for the spice and frankincense trade routes, which later became economically vital to the broader ancient world. This indicates an early establishment of significant commercial networks among these diverse populations.

Genesis 10 29 Commentary

Genesis 10:29 concludes a significant section within the "Table of Nations," completing the detailed roster of Joktan's sons. By listing Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab, the verse concretely maps three more foundational peoples or geographical regions descended from Joktan. This lineage predominantly settled in Southern Arabia, a region known historically for its extensive trade networks, aromatic resins, and mineral wealth. The explicit mention of Ophir, a name synonymous with prime gold (e.g., 1 Kgs 9:28), signifies the early association of this Shemite branch with economic power and distant connections, hinting at widespread human dispersal and resourceful development guided by divine providence. The naming of Havilah, found elsewhere in connection with gold and specific geographic locales, underscores the importance of identifying resources and territories within the ancient world. The precision of these names, despite the distance of their origins from Israel, confirms the Bible's commitment to presenting an ordered and discernible human history from a single post-Flood source. This orderly account stands in contrast to common chaotic or mythical origin stories of surrounding cultures, quietly affirming God's structured oversight of the nations' formation. It sets the stage for God's redemptive plan, narrowing the focus to one family, knowing that all families and nations originated from Him.