Genesis 10:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom the Philistines came), and Caphtorim.

NIV: Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.

NASB: Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines), and Caphtorim.

CSB: Pathrus, Casluh (the Philistines came from them), and Caphtor.

NLT: Pathrusites, Casluhites, and the Caphtorites, from whom the Philistines came.

KJV: And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.

NKJV: Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and Caphtorim).

This and the previous verse list the sons of Egypt (or Mizraim). In Old Testament Hebrew, the only word used for this person, or the nation who came after him, is Misra'yim. This later became the nation of Egypt, and since that his how typical English speakers define that land today, most modern English translations stick to "Egypt" whenever this term arises.

Egypt was one of the sons of Ham, the son of Noah. Following the Tower of Babel, the descendants of Egypt generally settled in and around the lands that make up what would become known as the great nation of Egypt. Israel's relationship with Egypt would be long and complicated. Early on, they would be kind and supportive to the people of Israel (Genesis 50:1–14), but this would soon turn into subjection and slavery (Exodus 1:1–14).

Israel would also have a long and conflicted relationship with the Philistines, though there is some question as to whether the Philistines mentioned here are the same ones Israel fought in the time of David. Many scholars believe that this passage refers only to the Philistine people passing through an area, not necessarily originating in it.

Genesis 10:6–20 details the descendants of Noah's son, Ham. The majority of these tribes settled in the regions south and east of the Promised Land. While Ham's son Canaan was cursed (Genesis 9:24–25), many of Ham's descendants established powerful nations. One of these is Mizraim, also known as Egypt. Though Canaan's sons were destined to fall to the sons of Shem, other sons of Ham would hold Israel captive for more than 400 years. This passage also contains an interesting aside about one particular man: Nimrod.

Genesis 10 is sometimes called the table of nations. It describes, in three sections, the peoples that descended from Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Japheth's people settled mostly to the north of what would be Israel. Ham's people became great nations in the region of the Middle East, including the people that would settle in the Promised Land before Israel drove them out. Shem's line would lead to Abraham and the Israelites.

Genesis 9 described events that happened between God, Noah, and his three sons after the flood. Genesis 11 will tell the story of the Tower of Babel and the dispersal of the nations. Between them, Genesis 10 is a table of the nations that come from Japheth, Ham, and Shem after God divides and disperses humanity.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.