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And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.
Genesis 10:18 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad.
  • BSB the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Later the Canaanite clans were scattered,
  • ESV the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the clans of the Canaanites dispersed.
  • NKJV the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were dispersed.
  • NASB the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite; and afterward the families of the Canaanite were spread abroad.
  • NLT Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. The Canaanite clans eventually spread out,

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

After listing more Canaanite clans, the text notes that the Canaanite families spread abroad. The descendants of Canaan multiplied across the region.

Overview

The final Canaanite groups are named, and the verse observes how these families dispersed throughout the land. This spreading sets the geographic stage for Israel's later entry into Canaan. The account reminds us that even the dispersion of nations lies within God's providence as He moves history toward redemption in Christ.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 10

  • Josh 18:22And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel,
  • 2 Kgs 17:30And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,
  • 2 Kgs 17:24And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.
  • Num 34:8From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad:
  • Isa 10:9Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?
  • Ezek 47:16–17Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazarhatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran.
  • 2 Chr 13:4And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;
  • Ezek 27:8The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners: thy wise men, O Tyrus, that were in thee, were thy pilots.
  • Zech 9:2And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.
  • 2 Sam 8:9When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (6)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Genesis videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Genesis 10:18YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on GenesisMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.

How Genesis 10:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.