Genesis 10:21

“Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.”

King James Version (KJV)

Other Translations for Genesis 10:21

ΒΆ Unto Shem also the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Iaphet the elder, euen to him were children borne.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan

Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, {and} the older brother of Japheth, children were born.
- New American Standard Version (1995)

And unto Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born.
- American Standard Version (1901)

And Shem, the older brother of Japheth, the father of the children of Eber, had other sons in addition.
- Basic English Bible

And to Shem -- to him also were [sons] born; he is the father of all the sons of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder.
- Darby Bible

To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.
- Webster's Bible

To Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born.
- World English Bible

As to Shem, father of all sons of Eber, brother of Japheth the elder, he hath also begotten:
- Youngs Literal Bible

And unto Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born.
- Jewish Publication Society Bible

Bible Commentary for Genesis 10:21

Wesley's Notes for Genesis 10:21


10:21 Two things especially are observable in this account of the posterity of Shem. The description of Shem, #Ge 10:21|, we have not only his name, Shem, which signifies a name; but two titles to distinguish him by. He was the father of all the children of Eber. Eber was his great grandson, but why should he be called the father of all his children, rather than of all Arphaxad's or Salah's? Probably because Abraham and his seed, not only descended from Heber, but from him were called Hebrews. Eber himself, we may suppose, was a man eminent for religion in a time of general apostasy; and the holy tongue being commonly called from him the Hebrew, it is probable he retained it in his family in the confusion of Babel, as a special token of God's favour to him. He was the brother of Japheth the elder; by which it appears, that though Shem be commonly put first, yet he was not Noah's first - born, but Japheth was elder. But why should this also be put as part of Shem's description, that he was the brother of Japheth, since that had been said before? Probably this is intended to signify the union of the Gentiles with the Jews in the church. He had mentioned it as Shem's honour, that he was the father of the Hebrews; but lest Japheth's seed should therefore be looked upon as shut out from the church, he here minds us, that he was the brother of Japheth, not in birth only, but in blessing, for Japheth was to dwell in the tents of Shem. The reason of the name of Peleg, #Ge 10:25|, because, in his days, (that is, about the time of his birth) was the earth divided among the children of men that were to inhabit it; either when Noah divided it, by an orderly distribution of it, as Joshua divided the land of Canaan by lot, or when, upon their refusal to comply with that division, God, in justice, divided them by the confusion of tongues.


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