What Does Genesis 10:22 Mean in the King James?

The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

Genesis 10:22 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Shem’s Hebrew name ⁨שֵׁם⁩ (shem), meaning “name,” is followed by five names that carry his line forward.

THE MEANING

Your identity is not only a label standing alone: this verse places a name inside a continuing line of names. Shem’s name carries forward through five branches, presenting belonging as something held through relation and continuity.

THE ROOT

בְּנֵי

benei

GROWS FROM

בנה

b-n-h

Build, establish by building.

The phrase “children of Shem” uses ⁨בְּנֵי⁩ (benei), “sons” or “children,” from the ben/b-n-h word family associated with building. English can make descendants sound like a count; this root carries the image of a family structure built forward. Shem (⁨שֵׁם⁩, shem) means “name,” so the verse holds identity in both a name and the line that continues it.

ALSO GROWS

ben: Son, child.

בֵּן

This is the singular word behind the verse’s “children,” placing each descendant within a family line.

banah: To build.

בָּנָה

Its association with “son” brings a building image to the lineage: each generation carries the family forward.

binyan: Building, structure.

בִּנְיָן

This related form makes the structural image explicit: the names in the verse form a line held together across generations.

THE PATTERN

A line of names carries identity forward through generations.

This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

Genesis 5:1 · KJVThe account presents identity through a named line of generations.

Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,

Ruth 4:18 · KJVA name opens into the next links of a family line.

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew 1:1 · KJVThe opening names place one life within a continuing lineage.

THE THREAD

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

Genesis 16:2 · KJV

The Hebrew behind “obtain children” uses the same building root, ⁨בנה⁩ (b-n-h), and can be heard as “be built up.” Beside Shem’s descendants here, it reveals lineage as a structure carried forward through children.

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