Genesis 9:19 kjv

These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.

Genesis 9:19 nkjv

These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated.

Genesis 9:19 niv

These were the three sons of Noah, and from them came the people who were scattered over the whole earth.

Genesis 9:19 esv

These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed.

Genesis 9:19 nlt

From these three sons of Noah came all the people who now populate the earth.

Genesis 9 verses

Genesis 9 19 Meaning

Genesis 9:19 serves as a pivotal summary statement, affirming that the three sons of Noah—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—were the sole progenitors of all humanity following the Great Flood. From these three lineages, the entire post-diluvian earth was repopulated and subsequently spread across the globe. This verse establishes a fundamental truth about the common ancestry and unity of all peoples.

Genesis 9 19 Context

Genesis 9:19 stands as a pivotal verse bridging the flood narrative (Genesis 6-8) with the subsequent dispersion of humanity (Genesis 10-11). It appears immediately after Noah's three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—are explicitly named in verse 18 as having emerged from the ark. This verse functions as a concluding summary to Noah's post-flood family life and also as an anticipatory statement, setting the stage for the detailed "Table of Nations" in Chapter 10, which elaborates on how these three lineages populated different regions of the earth. Historically and culturally, ancient Near Eastern genealogies were vital for establishing identity, social structure, and claims to land. This verse highlights the re-establishment of a unified human lineage after a catastrophic global judgment, preparing the reader for the eventual rise of nations and the divine call to Abraham that would follow.

Genesis 9 19 Word analysis

• These three: (Hebrew: שְׁלֹשָׁה אֵלֶּה, sh'loshah elleh) – The demonstrative "these" and the specific number "three" emphasize the precise, limited group from whom all post-flood humanity derives. This leaves no room for other ancestral lines, underscoring the completeness and finality of Noah's family as the source. It implicitly combats ideas of multiple independent origins for humanity after the flood.
• were the sons of Noah: (Hebrew: בְּנֵי נֹחַ, b'nei Noach) – This phrase explicitly names Noah as the patriarchal head from whom all subsequent humanity descends, reaffirming the continuation of the human family through his lineage after the flood. It confirms the identity of Shem, Ham, and Japheth as the chosen progenitors.
• and from these: (Hebrew: וּמֵאֵלֶּה, u'me'elleh) – The conjunction "and" links directly to the preceding statement, confirming that the origin point for the global population is solely and exclusively these three individuals. The preposition "from" highlights the causative and foundational role of their offspring.
• the whole earth: (Hebrew: כָּל־הָאָרֶץ, kol-ha'arets) – This phrase denotes universality, indicating that all regions of the populated world, and by extension all peoples on earth, ultimately traced their lineage back to Noah's sons. The term "earth" (אָרֶץ, arets) can mean land or earth, but in this global flood context, it clearly signifies the entire planet.
• was populated: (Hebrew: נָפְצָה, naf'tza) – This is the Niphil perfect of the verb פּוּץ (putz), which means "to spread out," "to be dispersed," or "to be scattered." While "populated" accurately conveys the result, the underlying Hebrew carries the nuance of active dissemination rather than simple filling. This is a crucial detail that foreshadows the dispersion at Babel in Genesis 11. It implies a divinely ordained, albeit initially unified, spreading out of humanity, preparing the reader for the detailed account of their subsequent settlement and division into nations.

Genesis 9 19 Bonus section

The assertion of all humanity originating from Noah's family, especially through his three sons, forms the basis for the theological concept of monogenism (descent from a single ancestral group) within biblical anthropology. This is crucial for understanding the universal impact of Adam's sin (Romans 5:12) and the equally universal scope of Christ's redemption (Acts 17:26; Rev 7:9). The narrative thus inherently critiques any worldview that posits disparate origins for different ethnic groups, reinforcing a shared human dignity and a common fallenness, which ultimately points to a unified hope found only in God's redemptive plan that extends to all tribes, tongues, and nations. The linguistic precision of "was populated" as "spread out" in Hebrew highlights a providential dispersal that prepares the world for distinct nation-states while maintaining an underlying genetic and theological unity.

Genesis 9 19 Commentary

Genesis 9:19 is a concise yet profound statement, foundational to the biblical understanding of humanity. It definitively links all post-flood people groups to the lineage of Noah's three sons, emphasizing a shared human origin. This verse transitions the narrative from the universal judgment of the flood to the repopulation and differentiation of humanity, paving the way for the "Table of Nations" in Genesis 10 and the Tower of Babel incident in Genesis 11. The Hebrew term naf'tza, translated "was populated," hints at the dispersion to come, indicating that this populating was not merely an increase in number but a geographical scattering, part of God's broader sovereign plan. This shared ancestry has deep theological implications, asserting the unity of the human race in creation, sin, and the need for a common Redeemer, breaking down any basis for racial or ethnic superiority and providing the backdrop for God's universal plan of redemption for all peoples through Abraham and ultimately, Christ.