31 These are the sons of Shem by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.
31 These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
31 These are the sons of Shem, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations.
31 These are the descendants of Shem by family, language, country, and nation.
31 These were the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands, according to their nations.
31 These were the descendants of Shem, identified by clan, language, territory, and national identity.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 10:31
Commentary on Genesis 10:15-32
(Read Genesis 10:15-32)
The posterity of Canaan were numerous, rich, and pleasantly seated; yet Canaan was under a Divine curse, and not a curse causeless. Those that are under the curse of God, may, perhaps, thrive and prosper in this world; for we cannot know love or hatred, the blessing or the curse, by what is before us, but by what is within us. The curse of God always works really, and always terribly. Perhaps it is a secret curse, a curse to the soul, and does not work so that others can see it; or a slow curse, and does not work soon; but sinners are reserved by it for a day of wrath Canaan here has a better land than either Shem or Japheth, and yet they have a better lot, for they inherit the blessing. Abram and his seed, God's covenant people, descended from Eber, and from him were called Hebrews. How much better it is to be like Eber, the father of a family of saints and honest men, than the father of a family of hunters after power, worldly wealth, or vanities. Goodness is true greatness.