And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber.
Parallel translations
- WEB Children were also born to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth.
- KJV Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.
- NKJV And children were born also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder.
- NASB Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, and the older brother of Japheth, children were born.
- NLT Sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth. Shem was the ancestor of all the descendants of Eber.
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
Children were also born to Shem, the ancestor of all the children of Eber. Shem's line is introduced as especially significant.
Overview
Shem is highlighted as the father of Eber's descendants, from whom the Hebrews and the line of promise come. This emphasis signals that the redemptive thread runs through Shem. The verse points forward to Abraham and the covenant people, and ultimately to Christ, who descends from the line of Shem and Eber.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Num 24:24Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.”
- Gen 11:10–26This is the account of Shem. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 10:21 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.