Genesis 11:10 kjv

These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:

Genesis 11:10 nkjv

This is the genealogy of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old, and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood.

Genesis 11:10 niv

This is the account of Shem's family line. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad.

Genesis 11:10 esv

These are the generations of Shem. When Shem was 100 years old, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood.

Genesis 11:10 nlt

This is the account of Shem's family. Two years after the great flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad.

Genesis 11 verses

Genesis 11 10 Meaning

Genesis 11:10 marks the pivotal transition in the biblical narrative from the broader history of post-Flood humanity to the focused lineage through which God's redemptive plan would unfold. It introduces the generations descending from Shem, setting the stage for the specific covenant line that leads to Abram (Abraham). This verse establishes the precise age of Shem at the birth of his first son, Arphaxad, and places this event chronologically in relation to the global Flood, underscoring the orderly and divinely purposed progression of history.

Genesis 11 10 Context

Genesis 11:10 follows the significant narrative of the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9) and immediately precedes the detailed genealogy of Shem's descendants that leads directly to Abram (Gen 11:11-26). Within the broader structure of Genesis, it belongs to the toledot (generations) section of Shem (introduced by 10:1 but detailed here). After the universal scope of the dispersion of nations following Babel (Chapter 10 outlines them), this verse signals a deliberate narrowing of God's focus to a single, chosen lineage through which His promises would be maintained and His plan of redemption for humanity initiated. Historically and culturally, such detailed genealogies were vital in ancient Near Eastern societies for establishing identity, legal rights, and inheritance. In the biblical context, this specific lineage is set apart, demonstrating divine election and providence in a world prone to rebellion and idolatry.

Genesis 11 10 Word analysis

• These are: A standard introductory phrase often used to begin a genealogical record or a significant historical section.
• the generations (Hebrew: תּוֹלְדֹת, toledot): This key structural word in Genesis signifies an account of origins or descendants, indicating a lineage and often a historical progression derived from the preceding narrative. It points to a continuation and a new focus point in the divine plan.
• of Shem: Refers to one of Noah's three sons, distinguished for his righteousness and through whom God's chosen covenant people would descend. He was blessed by Noah as the one whose God is Yahweh (Gen 9:26).
• Shem: His name means "name" or "renown," fitting his crucial role as the bearer of the divine covenant line. He represents the lineage of faith and devotion to God.
• was 100 years old: Emphasizes the great age, typical of patriarchs in early Genesis, serving to establish precise chronology and validate the authenticity of the record. This age specifically references the time when his first son was born.
• and begot: Indicates direct fatherhood, emphasizing the unbroken line of descent and the continuation of the family name and heritage.
• Arphaxad: Shem's son and the next in the direct messianic line. His name means "I shall heal/release" or possibly "border fortress."
• two years after the flood: Provides a crucial chronological anchor. It means Arphaxad was born very early in the post-Flood era, affirming that the patriarchal line began to multiply quickly to re-inhabit the earth, shortly after humanity exited the ark. This specific temporal marker underscores the historical reliability of the account.

Words-Group analysis:

• "These are the generations of Shem": This phrase functions as a new section heading, refocusing the narrative onto a specific line after the general accounts of nations and the Tower of Babel. It establishes a redemptive thread in history.
• "Shem was 100 years old, and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood": This phrase concisely provides precise biographical and chronological details. It highlights the divine ordering of time and lineage, ensuring continuity of the family line post-cataclysm and providing foundational data for later biblical chronologies. The mention of "two years after the flood" directly connects this vital birth to the major event of the global Flood, ensuring no gaps or ambiguities in the record leading to the chosen people.

Genesis 11 10 Bonus section

• The toledot structure: This verse is a prime example of the "generations of..." (Hebrew toledot) literary device in Genesis. This structural element divides Genesis into distinct sections, each marked by a descendant or a group of descendants, highlighting the book's interest in lineage and the unfolding of God's purposes through specific family lines, leading to Abraham and ultimately Israel. It forms a framework of divine order against perceived chaos.
• Chronological precision: The specific "two years after the flood" provides crucial chronological information, aiding biblical scholars in constructing a timeline of early biblical history. This detail also serves to demonstrate the Bible's commitment to historical accuracy and precision in its record-keeping, a contrast to the often vague timelines found in other ancient Near Eastern myths.
• Polemical function: The ordered and precise genealogical record of Shem stands as an implicit polemic against ancient Near Eastern mythologies that often presented chaotic, multi-divine, and morally ambiguous accounts of origins and divine lineages. The biblical account stresses one God, an ordered creation, and a planned progression through human history, especially via chosen lines.
• Preparation for a covenant nation: The entire emphasis on Shem's lineage here is teleological—it is all building toward the formation of God's covenant people, Israel, through Abram, who will become the bearer of God's blessing to all nations (Gen 12:3).

Genesis 11 10 Commentary

Genesis 11:10 is far from a mere listing; it acts as a precise theological and historical bridge. Following the chaos and divine judgment at the Tower of Babel, where humanity's unified rebellion led to linguistic confusion and global dispersion, this verse redirects the reader's attention from the universal to the particular. It deliberately narrows the narrative focus onto a single individual, Shem, chosen to be the progenitor of a special lineage. This focus is consistent with God's pattern throughout Scripture of choosing a remnant or a specific individual through whom His redemptive purposes will be actualized. The meticulous detail concerning Shem's age and the timing of Arphaxad's birth ("two years after the flood") not only grounds the narrative in concrete historical reality but also highlights God's sovereign oversight of time and genealogy. It prepares the reader for the eventual call of Abram and the establishment of the covenant that will unfold from this very lineage, providing a foundational anchor for Israel's identity and, ultimately, for the arrival of the Messiah. It implicitly teaches that despite human rebellion and scattering, God steadfastly pursues His plan through a chosen, faithful seed.