What is the meaning of Genesis 11:10? This is the account of Shem. • The phrase signals a fresh “toledot” (family record) in Genesis, moving the narrative focus from Noah to his son Shem (Genesis 2:4; 5:1; 10:1). • By opening with genealogy, Scripture highlights God’s ongoing faithfulness to His promise that the earth would be repopulated through Noah’s sons (Genesis 9:1). • Shem’s line is singled out because it will eventually lead to Abraham (Genesis 11:26) and, through him, to the Messiah (Luke 3:34–36). Two years after the flood, • This time-stamp anchors the genealogy in real history, linking it directly to the cataclysmic judgment recorded in Genesis 6–9. • It underscores God’s mercy: judgment did not end His plan; life continues on the renewed earth (Genesis 8:21–22). • The detail helps trace the post-flood timeline, matching other chronological notes (Genesis 7:11; 8:13). When Shem was 100 years old, • Shem’s age marks him as a mature patriarch, affirming the longevity common before Babel (compare Genesis 5:32; 11:11). • The verse shows Shem’s life span bridging two eras—pre- and post-flood—underscoring continuity of God’s covenant with his family (Genesis 9:8–9). • His century of life before fatherhood highlights God’s sovereign timing in raising each generation. He became the father of Arphaxad. • Arphaxad is the key link from Shem to Abraham (Genesis 10:22; 11:12–26). • By naming him, Scripture traces the promised “seed” line that will bless all nations (Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:16). • The birth points to God’s purposeful design: every descendant, recorded by name, moves salvation history forward (1 Chronicles 1:17; Luke 3:36). summary Genesis 11:10 is more than a genealogical footnote; it deliberately anchors post-flood humanity in Shem’s line, time-stamps God’s ongoing plan, emphasizes the reality of historical events, and sets the stage for Abraham and ultimately Christ. In a single verse, God’s word testifies that His promises survive judgment, His timing guides generations, and His redemptive plan moves forward through specific, traceable individuals. |
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