What does Genesis 10:13 mean?
ESV: Egypt fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim,
NIV: Egypt was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites,
NASB: Mizraim fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim,
CSB: Mizraim fathered the people of Lud, Anam, Lehab, Naphtuh,
NLT: Mizraim was the ancestor of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites,
KJV: And Mizraim begot Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
NKJV: Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim,
Verse Commentary:
Genesis 10 presents a table of nations, describing the descendants of Noah's three sons, where they settled following the Tower of Babel, and what nations developed from their family lines.
After an aside to describe the life of a mighty man named Nimrod who established his kingdom in Assyria, the chapter returns to the pattern with this verse. Ham's sons included Cush, Put, Canaan, and Egypt (or Mizraim). In the original Hebrew, this particular son's name is Misra'yim. Some English translations use Mizraim here. The Hebrew Old Testament, however, always refers to the nation of Egypt using the word Misra'yim, both in Genesis and the story of the Exodus. For this reason, many translations simply use "Egypt" to avoid confusion.
Mizraim's / Egypt's sons are listed here and in the following verse.
Verse Context:
Genesis 10:6–20 details the descendants of Noah's son, Ham. The majority of these tribes settled in the regions south and east of the Promised Land. While Ham's son Canaan was cursed (Genesis 9:24–25), many of Ham's descendants established powerful nations. One of these is Mizraim, also known as Egypt. Though Canaan's sons were destined to fall to the sons of Shem, other sons of Ham would hold Israel captive for more than 400 years. This passage also contains an interesting aside about one particular man: Nimrod.
Chapter Summary:
Genesis 10 is sometimes called the table of nations. It describes, in three sections, the peoples that descended from Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Japheth's people settled mostly to the north of what would be Israel. Ham's people became great nations in the region of the Middle East, including the people that would settle in the Promised Land before Israel drove them out. Shem's line would lead to Abraham and the Israelites.
Chapter Context:
Genesis 9 described events that happened between God, Noah, and his three sons after the flood. Genesis 11 will tell the story of the Tower of Babel and the dispersal of the nations. Between them, Genesis 10 is a table of the nations that come from Japheth, Ham, and Shem after God divides and disperses humanity.
Book Summary:
The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.
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