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.
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.
- KJV By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, 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.
- 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 2:11Yahweh will be awesome to them, for he will famish all the gods of the land. Men will worship him, everyone from his place, even all the shores of the nations.
- Jer 2:10For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see; and send to Kedar, and consider diligently; and see if there has been such a thing.
- Isa 42:4He will not fail nor be discouraged, until he has set justice in the earth, and the islands will wait for his law.”
- Gen 10:20These are the sons of Ham, after their families, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations.
- Jer 25:22and all the kings of Tyre, and all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the isle which is beyond the sea;
- Isa 40:15Behold, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on a balance. Behold, he lifts up the islands like a very little thing.
- Isa 42:10Sing to Yahweh a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the islands and their inhabitants.
- Isa 41:5The islands have seen, and fear. The ends of the earth tremble. They approach, and come.
- Isa 49:1Listen, islands, to me. Listen, you peoples, from afar: Yahweh has called me from the womb; from the inside of my mother he has mentioned my name.
- Isa 60:9Surely the islands will wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of Yahweh your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you.
- Ps 72:10The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
- Isa 24:15Therefore glorify Yahweh in the east, even the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea!
- Gen 10:25To Eber were born two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. His brother’s name was Joktan.
- Isa 51:5My righteousness is near. My salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples. The islands will wait for me, and they will trust my arm.
- Isa 59:18According to their deeds, he will repay as appropriate, wrath to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; he will repay the islands their due.
- Gen 11:1–9The 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.