Introduction to Genesis 10:1
Genesis 10:1 serves as an introduction to the Table of Nations, listing the descendants of שֵׁם, חָם, וָיָפֶת (Shem, Ḥam, and Yafet), the sons of נֹחַ (Noaḥ), who repopulated the earth after the Flood. This verse features significant grammatical elements, including the Niphal verb וַיִּוָּלְד֥וּ, which expresses passive action in Biblical Hebrew. Understanding the Niphal stem and how Hebrew genealogical formulas function provides insight into the structure and theological significance of biblical lineage records.
וְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ תֹּולְדֹ֣ת בְּנֵי־נֹ֔חַ שֵׁ֖ם חָ֣ם וָיָ֑פֶת וַיִּוָּלְד֥וּ לָהֶ֛ם בָּנִ֖ים אַחַ֥ר הַמַּבּֽוּל׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
1. וְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ תֹּולְדֹ֣ת (ve’eleh toledot) – “And these are the generations of” (genealogical formula)
2. בְּנֵי־נֹ֔חַ (bene Noaḥ) – “The sons of Noah” (construct chain)
3. שֵׁ֖ם חָ֣ם וָיָ֑פֶת (Shem, Ḥam, and Yafet) – The three sons of Noah
4. וַיִּוָּלְד֥וּ לָהֶ֛ם בָּנִ֖ים (vayyiwaldu lahem banim) – “And sons were born to them” (Niphal verb)
5. אַחַ֥ר הַמַּבּֽוּל (aḥar ham-mabul) – “After the Flood”
Explanation of Grammatical Function
1. The Niphal Passive Verb וַיִּוָּלְד֥וּ (Vayyiwaldu)
The verb וַיִּוָּלְד֥וּ (vayyiwaldu) is a Niphal wayyiqtol form of יָלַד (yalad, “to give birth, to be born”).
– Stem: Niphal, indicating passive voice.
– Root: יָלַד (yalad, “to give birth”).
– Person & Number: 3rd person masculine plural.
– Meaning: “They were born” rather than “they gave birth.”
This passive construction emphasizes that sons were born to Noah’s sons rather than portraying them as active agents.
2. The Genealogical Formula וְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ תֹּולְדֹ֣ת (Ve’eleh Toledot)
The phrase וְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ תֹּולְדֹ֣ת (ve’eleh toledot, “and these are the generations of”) introduces a genealogical record, a pattern used multiple times in Genesis.
– תֹּולְדֹ֣ת (toledot, “generations, descendants”) comes from יַלַד (yalad, “to bear, beget”), reflecting ancestry and historical continuity.
– This phrase often signals a transition to genealogical or historical accounts.
3. The Construct Chain בְּנֵי־נֹ֔חַ (Bene Noaḥ)
The phrase בְּנֵי־נֹ֔חַ (bene Noaḥ, “the sons of Noah”) follows a construct chain:
– בְּנֵי (bene, “sons of”) is the construct form of בָּנִים (banim, “sons”).
– נֹחַ (Noaḥ) is the absolute noun, which determines the phrase’s meaning: “the sons belonging to Noah.”
This construct structure is common in genealogical texts.
4. The Prepositional Phrase אַחַ֥ר הַמַּבּֽוּל (Aḥar ha-Mabul)
The phrase אַחַ֥ר הַמַּבּֽוּל (aḥar ham-mabul, “after the Flood”) provides a temporal reference, marking the historical period after the destruction and renewal of human civilization.
– אַחַ֥ר (aḥar) – Preposition meaning “after.”
– הַמַּבּֽוּל (ham-mabul) – “The Flood,” referring to Noah’s Flood.
This time marker contextualizes the births within the post-diluvian world.
The Role of the Niphal in Genealogical Narratives
The Niphal verb וַיִּוָּלְד֥וּ in Genesis 10:1 highlights that the birth of Noah’s grandchildren was a passive event from their perspective, emphasizing divine providence rather than human agency. The toledot formula introduces a structured genealogical account, reinforcing themes of continuity, divine blessing, and the fulfillment of God’s plan after the Flood. The grammatical structure of this verse exemplifies how Biblical Hebrew expresses genealogical records and historical transitions.
