Genesis 10:20

20 These [are] the descendants of Ham, according to their families and their languages, in their lands, and in their nations.

Genesis 10:20 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 10:20

These are the sons of Ham
His sons and grandsons, which some reckon to be thirty, others thirty one, if the Philistines are taken in:

after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, [and] in
their nations:
families of the same language joined together and dwelt in the same country, (See Gill on Genesis 10:5) all Africa and a considerable part of Asia were possessed by the four sons of Ham and their posterity; Mizraim had Egypt, and Phut all the rest of Africa; and Cush and Canaan had a large portion in Asia.

Genesis 10:20 In-Context

18 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad.

19 And the territory of the Canaanites [was] from Sidon {in the direction of} Gerar as far as Gaza, and {in the direction of} Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.

20 These [are] the descendants of Ham, according to their families and their languages, in their lands, and in their nations.

21 And to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the older brother of Japheth, [children] were also born.

22 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "sons" ("descendants" was chosen since the proper names in this section are gentilic in form--that is, they indicate one's place of origin--and have the definite article)