By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
Parallel translations
- WEB Of these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in their nations.
- BSB From these, the maritime peoples separated into their territories, according to their languages, by clans within their nations.
- NKJV From these the coastland peoples of the Gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.
- NASB From these the people of the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.
- NLT Their descendants became the seafaring peoples that spread out to various lands, each identified by its own language, clan, and national identity.
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
From these the coastland peoples spread into their lands, each by its language, clan, and nation. Humanity divides into distinct nations and tongues.
Overview
This verse summarizes how Japheth's line dispersed into separate territories, each with its own language and identity, anticipating the events at Babel. The diversity of nations and languages is part of God's ordering of the world. This diversity is not erased but redeemed in Christ, as people of every tongue are united in worship of the Lamb.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Zeph 2:11The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
- Jer 2:10For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
- Isa 42:4He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
- Gen 10:20These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.
- Jer 25:22And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea,
- Isa 40:15Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
- Isa 42:10Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
- Isa 41:5The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.
- Isa 49:1Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
- Isa 60:9Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
- Ps 72:10The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
- Isa 24:15Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.
- Gen 10:25And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
- Isa 51:5My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.
- Isa 59:18According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.
- Gen 11:1–9And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
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 10:5 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.