Genesis 10:4
Genesis 10:4 in Multiple Translations
And the sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites.
And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
And the sons of Javan: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
And the sons of Javan: Elishah and Tarshish, the Kittim and the Dodanim.
The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
Also the sonnes of Iauan, Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
And sons of Javan [are] Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
The sons of Javan were: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
And the sons of Javan: Elisa and Tharsis, Cetthim and Dodanim.
The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 10:4
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
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Genesis 10:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וּ/בְנֵ֥י
יָוָ֖ן
אֱלִישָׁ֣ה
וְ/תַרְשִׁ֑ישׁ
כִּתִּ֖ים
וְ/דֹדָנִֽים
וּ/בְנֵ֥י
bên
H1121
son
Conj | N-mp
יָוָ֖ן
Yâvân
H3120
Greece
N-proper
אֱלִישָׁ֣ה
ʼĔlîyshâh
H473
Elishah
N-proper
וְ/תַרְשִׁ֑ישׁ
Tarshîysh
H8659
Tarshish
Conj | N-proper
כִּתִּ֖ים
Kittîy
H3794
Cyprus
N-proper
וְ/דֹדָנִֽים
Dôdânîym
H1721
Dodanim
Conj | N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 10:4
וּ/בְנֵ֥י
bên
H1121
"son"
Conj | N-mp
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
יָוָ֖ן
Yâvân
H3120
"Greece"
N-proper
Refers to Greece or the Greeks, descended from Javan, a son of Joktan. This term is used to describe the country and its people, as seen in the KJV translation of Javan.
Definition: § Javan = "Ionia" or "Greece" 1) Greece, Ionia, Ionians 2) location of descendants of Javan
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: Javan. See also: Genesis 10:2; Ezekiel 27:13; Isaiah 66:19.
אֱלִישָׁ֣ה
ʼĔlîyshâh
H473
"Elishah"
N-proper
Elishah was a son of Javan, a descendant of Noah, and is mentioned in the Bible as an ancestor of the Aeolians. His name means God of the coming one, signifying a connection to the divine. Elishah is also linked to the island of Cyprus.
Definition: Elishah = "God of the coming (one)" descendant of Noah, son of Javan; perhaps ancestor of the Aeolians Another name of kit.ti (כִּתִּי "Cyprus" H3794H)
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: Elishah. See also: Genesis 10:4; 1 Chronicles 1:7; Ezekiel 27:7.
וְ/תַרְשִׁ֑ישׁ
Tarshîysh
H8659
"Tarshish"
Conj | N-proper
Tarshish was a place on the Mediterranean, also the name of a Persian and an Israelite, and a term for a merchant vessel, as mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:10.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.10; son of: Bilhan (H1092H); brother of: Jeush (H3266H), Benjamin (H1144H), Ehud (H0164H), Chenaanah (H3668H), Zethan (H2133) and Ahishahar (H0300) § Tarshish or Tharshish = "yellow jasper" 1) son of Javan 2) a Benjamite, son of Bilhan 3) one of the wise men close to king Ahasuerus of Persia 4) a city of the Phoenicians in a distant part of the Mediterranean Sea to which the prophet Jonah was trying to flee 1a) perhaps in Cyprus or Spain 5) a city somewhere near and accessible to the Red Sea to which ships constructed at Ezion-geber on the Elanitic Gulf on the Red Sea were to sail
Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: Tarshish, Tharshish. See also: Genesis 10:4; Isaiah 23:1; Psalms 48:8.
כִּתִּ֖ים
Kittîy
H3794
"Cyprus"
N-proper
This word refers to the island of Cyprus or its inhabitants. In the Bible, it is also used to describe other islanders in the Mediterranean, including the Greeks and Romans. The KJV translates it as 'Chittim' or 'Kittim'.
Definition: § Chittim or Kittim = "bruisers" a general term for all islanders of the Mediterranean Sea
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: Chittim, Kittim. See also: Genesis 10:4; Isaiah 23:12; Isaiah 23:1.
וְ/דֹדָנִֽים
Dôdânîym
H1721
"Dodanim"
Conj | N-proper
The Dodanim were a group of people descended from Javan, a son of Noah. They are also known as the Rodanim and are mentioned in the book of Genesis and 1 Chronicles.
Definition: People descended from Dodan(?) of the Greeks, first mentioned at Gen.10.4; descended from Javan (H3120); along with Elishah (H0473), Tarshish (H8659) and Kittim (H3794); also called Rodanim or Rodanites at 1Ch.1.7; § Dodanim or Rodanim = "leaders" sons or descendants of Javan
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: Dodanim. See also: Genesis 10:4; 1 Chronicles 1:7.
Study Notes — Genesis 10:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Genesis 10:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Genesis 10:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 10:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 10:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 10:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 10:4
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 10:4
- Cambridge Bible on Genesis 10:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 10:4
- Sermons on Genesis 10:4
Context — The Japhethites
2The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
3The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.
4And the sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites.
5From these, the maritime peoples separated into their territories, according to their languages, by clans within their nations. 6The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel 11:30 | Ships of Kittim will come against him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and rage against the holy covenant and do damage. So he will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. |
| 2 | Isaiah 23:12 | He said, “You shall rejoice no more, O oppressed Virgin Daughter of Sidon. Get up and cross over to Cyprus— even there you will find no rest.” |
| 3 | Numbers 24:24 | Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.” |
| 4 | Isaiah 23:1 | This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus. |
| 5 | Ezekiel 27:25 | The ships of Tarshish carried your merchandise. And you were filled with heavy cargo in the heart of the sea. |
| 6 | Ezekiel 27:12 | Tarshish was your merchant because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares. |
Genesis 10:4 Summary
Genesis 10:4 lists the sons of Javan, including Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites, who were likely seafaring nations that descended from Javan. This verse helps us understand the spread of humanity after the flood, as described in Genesis 9:1 and Genesis 10:32. The diversity of nations in Genesis 10, including the sons of Javan, reminds us of God's plan to fill the earth, as stated in Genesis 1:28, and to create a multitude of nations, each with their own languages and cultures, as seen in Acts 17:26-27. By studying this verse, we can gain a deeper appreciation for God's wisdom and creativity in creating humanity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Javan in the Bible?
Javan was a son of Japheth, as mentioned in Genesis 10:2, and his descendants are listed in Genesis 10:4, including Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites.
What were the Kittites and Rodanites?
The Kittites and Rodanites were likely seafaring nations that descended from Javan, as they are mentioned alongside other maritime peoples in Genesis 10:5, and their locations and activities can be inferred from other biblical references, such as Genesis 10:5 and 1 Chronicles 1:7.
How do the sons of Javan fit into the larger biblical narrative?
The sons of Javan, as listed in Genesis 10:4, contribute to our understanding of the Table of Nations in Genesis 10, which describes the spread of humanity after the flood, as seen in Genesis 9:1 and Genesis 10:32.
What can we learn from the diversity of nations in Genesis 10?
The diversity of nations in Genesis 10, including the sons of Javan, reminds us of God's plan to fill the earth, as stated in Genesis 1:28 and Genesis 9:1, and to create a multitude of nations, each with their own languages and cultures, as seen in Genesis 10:5 and Acts 17:26-27.
Reflection Questions
- How does the listing of the sons of Javan in Genesis 10:4 help you understand God's plan for humanity?
- What can you learn from the fact that the Kittites and Rodanites were likely seafaring nations, and how does this relate to your own life and ministry?
- In what ways do the descendants of Javan, as listed in Genesis 10:4, contribute to the rich tapestry of human culture and experience?
- How does the diversity of nations in Genesis 10, including the sons of Javan, point to God's wisdom and creativity in creating humanity?
- What does the biblical account of the sons of Javan teach you about the importance of family, heritage, and cultural identity?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 10:4
And the sons of Javan,.... Another son of Japheth; four sons of Javan are mentioned, which gave names to countries, and are as follow: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim; the first of these,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 10:4
And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. The sons of Javan; Elishah. Since the descendants of Javan populated Greece, we must seek "Elishah" in some part of that country.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 10:4
Elishah, the father of the Grecians properly so called, who have preserved his name and remembrance in the cities Elis and Elissus, in a tract of ground called Elias, and in the Elysian fields. And from these came the Æolians, a people of the Lesser Asia, where many of the Grecian colonies were seated. Tarshish was father of the Cilicians, from whom their chief city Tarsus, in Hebrew Tarshish, took its name; see ; and from whom the whole Mediterranean Sea is called Tarshish, because the Cilicians were in a great degree masters of that sea. Kittim, or, Chittim, the father of the Macedonians, and Italians too, as may be gathered from hence, because both their countries are called by the name of Chittim; Macedonia, /APC 1Ma 1:1 8:5, and Italy, . See also . Besides that there are other evidences in profane writers that the Italians came from the Grecians. Dodanim is called also Rodanim, . See Riphath in. His posterity is uncertain. Most probably he was seated near his brethren in some part of Greece.
And the Greeks seem to have worshipped him under the name of Jupiter Dodonaeus, whose famous oracle was in the city Dodona.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 10:4
Genesis 10:4 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.Ver. 4. Elishah.] Whence the Eolians. Tarshish.] Whence the Cilicians, where Tarsus (Paul’ s country) was. Kittim.] Whence the Macedonians. Dodanim.] Whence the Epirotes (Scanderberg’ s country), where stands the city Dodaena.
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 10:4
(4) Javan has four main divisions:— 1. Elishah, a maritime people of Greece. Traces of the name occur in Aeolis and in Elis, a district of the Peloponessus. Some boldly identify with Hellas. The isles of Elishah are mentioned in Ezekiel 27:7.2. Tarshish. At so early a period this could scarcely be Tartessus, but is more probably the Tyrseni, or Tyrrheni, a race once powerful in Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, and finally in Spain. Probably Tartessus, at the mouth of the Guadalquiver, in Spain, was founded by them, and took from them its name. At this time they; were apparently a small tribe of the Javanites; but while Elishah followed the sea-coast and colonised Greece, Tarshish took a course so far inland to the north of the Danube that it did not reach the sea until it had come to the northern districts of Italy. 3. Kittim.
A plural, like Madai. The Kittim were a maritime race, who colonised Cyprus, the chief city of which was Kitium, and probably other islands and coast-districts of the Mediterranean. There was a Kitium also in Macedonia; and Alexander is called King of the Kittim in 1Ma 1:1. 4. Dodanim. Another plural. The right reading is probably Rodanim, as in many MSS. in 1 Chronicles 1:7 and in the LXX., and the Samaritan here. R and D are so constantly interchanged in proper names. owing to the similarity of their shape, that no dependence can be placed upon the reading. The Rodanim would be the Rhodians.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 10:4
Verse 4. Elishah] As Javan peopled a considerable part of Greece, it is in that region that we must seek for the settlements of his descendants; Elishah probably was the first who settled at Elis, in Peloponnesus. Tarshish] He first inhabited Cilicia, whose capital anciently was the city of Tarsus, where the Apostle Paul was born. Kittim] We have already seen that this name was rather the name of a people than of an individual: some think by Kittim Cyprus is meant: others, the isle of Chios; and others, the Romans; and others, the Macedonians. Dodanim.] Or Rodanim, for the ד and ר may be easily mistaken for each other, because of their great similarity. Some suppose that this family settled at Dodona in Epirus; others at the isle of Rhodes; others, at the Rhone, in France, the ancient name of which was Rhodanus, from the Scripture Rodanim.
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 10:4
4. the sons of Javan] The names here mentioned are evidently geographical. Javan’s sons are well-known Greek colonies and settlements or communities. This example will serve to illustrate the composition of the genealogical list. Elishah] Mentioned in Ezekiel 27:7 as a place from which there was a trade in purple. Josephus identified it with the Ζolians. Other conjectures have been Hellas, Elis, Sicily, and Carthage. Possibly, it is Alasa, the modern Cyprus. Tarshish] Probably the ancient commercial town of Tartessus, at the mouth of the river Guadalquivir. It is classed with the isles in Psalms 72:10, Isaiah 60:9. Its trade is mentioned in Ezekiel 27:12.
On “the ships of Tarshish” in King Solomon’s time, see 1 Kings 10:22; 1 Kings 22:48. There were Greek settlements at Tartessus. Cf. Herodotus, i. 163. Kittim] Usually identified with Cyprus and its inhabitants. The chief town was Κιτίον, the modern Larnaca, and was probably occupied at an early time by Greek-speaking people. The name “Kittim” became transferred from Cyprus to other islands. Cf. Jeremiah 2:10; Ezekiel 27:6. Dodanim] In 1 Chronicles 1:7, Rodanim.
The LXX and Sam. agree with 1 Chronicles 1:7; and this reading is generally preferred, Rodanim being identified with the island of Rhodes. In Ezekiel 27:15, “the men of Dedan” similarly appear in LXX as ῥόδιοι, i.e. the Rhodians trafficking with the city of Tyre.
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 10:4
4. Sons of Javan — Rather, Yavan, the Ionian families. Elishah — The AEolians, (Elis,) who occupied three fourths of Greece, and spread to the coasts and isles of Asia Minor.
Sermons on Genesis 10:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Object of Prophecy by John Nelson Darby | John Nelson Darby emphasizes that the common interpretation of prophecy, which equates the church with Israel, is fundamentally flawed. He argues that God's ultimate purpose is cen |
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(The Word for Today) Isaiah 23:1 - Part 1 by Chuck Smith | The video begins by discussing the importance of family and the breakdown of the family unit in society. It introduces Pastor Chuck Smith's Marriage and Family Bible Study as a res |
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Isaiah and the Nations by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson emphasizes the significance of understanding Isaiah's prophecies in the context of the surrounding nations that influenced Israel's history. He explains how Judah and |
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Isaiah Chapter 5 Isaiah and the Nations by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson emphasizes the significance of understanding the geopolitical context of Isaiah's prophecies, particularly the neighboring nations that influenced Israel and Judah. He |