Genesis 10:28 — Word Study
WLCוְאֶת־ עוֹבָ֥ל וְאֶת־ אֲבִֽימָאֵ֖ל וְאֶת־ שְׁבָֽא׃
BSAObalʻÔwbâl△ [a son of Joktan] AbimaelʼĂbîymâʼêl [my father is God] ShebaShᵉbâʼ [a region in southern Arabia]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| עוֹבָ֥ל | Obal | Noun proper masculine |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| אֲבִֽימָאֵ֖ל | Abimael | Noun proper masculine |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| שְׁבָֽא׃ | Sheba | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Obal, Abimael, Sheba, |
| KJV | And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, |
| ASV | and Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, |
| YLT | and Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, |
| WEB | Obal, Abimael, Sheba, |
| BBE | And Obal and Abimael and Sheba |
All translations agree on the names listed in this verse.
The verse consists of a simple list of names, with no additional clauses or complex structure.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 6 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 10:28
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Descendants of Joktangenerated
Genesis 10:28 lists the names of Obal, Abimael, and Sheba as part of the genealogy of Joktan, who is a descendant of Shem. This genealogy provides insight into the early nations and tribes that emerged from the descendants of Noah, illustrating the spread of humanity after the flood. The names mentioned here are significant in tracing the lineage and heritage of various groups in the ancient Near East.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 25:3 | Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites. |
| 2 | 1 Kings 10:1 | Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 1:20–28 | And Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עוֹבָ֥ל, o.Valgenerated
The name עוֹבָל (Obal) is a proper noun referring to a son of Joktan. It is derived from a root meaning 'stripped bare', which may suggest a connection to a particular characteristic or event in the life of this figure.
Obal is mentioned only once in the Hebrew Bible, which emphasizes his role in the genealogy rather than his individual story. His mention alongside his brothers highlights the importance of family lineage in the biblical narrative.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible, and all translations agree on the names listed: Obal, Abimael, and Sheba.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is straightforward, consisting of a series of noun phrases connected by the conjunction וְ (and). The finite verb is absent, as the focus is on listing the names of Joktan's descendants.
Each name is presented as a separate noun phrase, indicating a simple enumeration of individuals that belong to the same family line.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the names are translated as Obal, Abimael, and Sheba, using the Greek equivalents. The choice of αβιμεηλ for אֲבִֽימָאֵ֖ל shows a direct transliteration rather than a translation of meaning.
This suggests that the translators aimed to preserve the original names rather than interpret them, indicating their significance in the genealogy.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 10:28 lists three names: Obal, Abimael, and Sheba. These are sons of Joktan, who is part of the genealogy that traces back to Noah. Each name represents a branch of the family tree and reflects the early nations that descended from these patriarchs.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Obal means 'stripped bare' and is a name associated with a son of Joktan.
Abimael means 'my father is God' and indicates a connection to divine heritage.
Sheba refers to a region in southern Arabia, known for its wealth and trade.
Genealogy in the Bible helps establish lineage, inheritance, and the fulfillment of God's promises through specific families.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from the names and their meanings in this genealogy?
- How does understanding the lineage of Joktan help us comprehend the broader narrative of the Bible?
- In what ways do genealogies provide insight into God’s plan for humanity?
- How might these ancient names connect to modern cultural or familial identities?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 10:28 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba. The first of these, Obal, or Aubal, as the Arabs pronounce, Bochart (t) is obliged to make his posterity pass over the straits of the Arabian Gulf out of Arabia
Read John Gill on Genesis 10 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, Obal - or Ebal (1 Chronicles 1:22), supposed by Bochart to be identified with the Avalitae, a troglodyte tribe, who, emigrating from East Africa, settled in Southern
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 10 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleA different person from him , and the father of another people, having only the same name with him.
Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 10 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(26-31) Joktan.—“The little one,” as being a younger son. Of the thirteen divisions of his family, few are of any importance, though several of the names are curious from their connection with the Arabic language. The Joktanite country was Arabia Felix, or Yemen, and as the people led a pastoral life without founding cities, the traces of their tribal names are insignificant. Those worth noting are Almodad, because it has the full form of the article, retained as Al in Arabic, but shortened in Hebrew into Ha. Hazarmaveth, “the court of death,” so called because of the unhealthiness of its climate, is now Hadramaut. Abimael means “the father of Mael.” While in Hebrew and Syriac men took the…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 10 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges28. Obal] In 1 Chronicles 1:22 Ebal, where LXX Cod. B omits. Here several MSS. of the LXX omit the name. Sheba] See also Genesis 10:7 : presumably the Sabeans of south-west Arabia whose extant inscriptions shew that at one time they must have been a prosperous and civilized community. For the Queen of Sheba, see 1 Kings 10. For its exports of frankincense cf. Isaiah 60:6, Jeremiah 6:20. Its merchandise is mentioned in Job 6:19, Ezekiel 27:22, Psalms 72:10.
Read Cambridge on Genesis 10 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible28. Obal — Not identified. Abimael — Father of Mael. An Arabic style of naming. Among the Arabs a man is sometimes named from his son, as among the Hebrews from his father.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 10 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
Tyndale line
And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
and Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
and Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba;
And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
Strictly literal
and Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
and Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
and Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba.
Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
From the Latin
And Ebal, and Abimael, Saba,
Simplified
Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
And Obal and Abimael and Sheba
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text lists the names as וְאֶת־ עוֹבָ֥ל וְאֶת־ אֲבִֽימָאֵ֖ל וְאֶת־ שְׁבָֽא׃. The Septuagint matches four of the six words, while the Samaritan Pentateuch differs by using עיבל instead of עוֹבָל.
וְאֶת־ עוֹבָ֥ל וְאֶת־ אֲבִֽימָאֵ֖ל וְאֶת־ שְׁבָֽא׃
4 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ואת עיבל ואת אבימאל ואת שׁבא
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: עיבל (Obal)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 10:28
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
עוֹבָל (Owbal) refers to Obal, a descendant of Joktan and a figure from the time of the Patriarchs, mentioned in Genesis 10:28. The entries indicate that he is associated with Arabian people and is noted as the founder of an Arab tribe. The name is also linked to the term meaning 'stripped bare.'
H5745 עוֹבָל, עֵיבָל Arabian people, descended from Joktan
5745 `Owbal o-bawl'
of foreign derivation; Obal, a son of Joktan:--Obal.
עוֹבָל (o.val) — Obal.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.28;
son of: Joktan (H3355);
brother of: Almodad (H0486), Sheleph (H8026), Hazarmaveth (H2700), Jerah (H3392), Hadoram (H1913A), Uzal (H0187), Diklah (H1853), Abimael (H0039), Sheba (H7614H), Ophir (H0211), Havilah (H2341I) and Jobab (H3103)
Also named: e.val (עֵיבָל "Obal" H5858A)
§ Obal = "stripped bare"
a son of Joktan and the founder of an Arab tribe
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
o'-bal.
See EBAL, 1.
Obal
Stripped, the eight son of Joktan (Gen. 10:28); called also Ebal (1 Chr. 1:22).
(stripped bare), son of Joktan, and, like the rest of family, apparently the founder of an Arab tribe. (Genesis 10:28) In (1 Chronicles 1:22) the name is written EBAL.
inconvenience of old age
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
אֲבִימָאֵל (Abiyma'el) refers to a man from the time of the Patriarchs, specifically the son of Joktan. The name means 'my father is El (God)' and is associated with various brothers mentioned in Genesis 10:28. The word is built from elements meaning 'father' and a possibly foreign term, indicating its South Arabian roots.
אֲבִימָאֵל n.pr.m. (a father is Ēl; South-Arab. name) son of Jokatan
base
H39 אֲבִימָאֵל son of Jokatan
39 'Abiyma'el ab-ee-maw-ale'
from 1 and an elsewhere unused (probably foreign) word;
father of Mael (apparently some Arab tribe); Abimael, a son of
Joktan:--Abimael.
see HEBREW for 01
אֲבִימָאֵל (a.vi.ma.el) — Abimael.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.28;
son of: Joktan (H3355);
brother of: Almodad (H0486), Sheleph (H8026), Hazarmaveth (H2700), Jerah (H3392), Hadoram (H1913A), Uzal (H0187), Diklah (H1853), Obal (H5745), Sheba (H7614H), Ophir (H0211), Havilah (H2341I) and Jobab (H3103)
§ Abimael = "my father is El (God)"
son of Joktan, descendant of Shem
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
a-bim'-a-el, ab-i-ma'-el ('abhima'el, "my father is God," or "God is father"): The ninth of the thirteen sons of Joktan, who was descendant of Shem, and son of Eber, and brother of Peleg in whose days the earth was divided (Ge 10:25-29; 1Ch 1:19-23). Like some of the other names in this list, the name is linguistically south Arabian, and the tribes indicated are south Arabians. On the Arabic elements in Hebrew proper names see Halevy, Melanges d'epigraphie et d'archeologie semitiques; ZDMG, especially early in 1883; D. H. Muller, Epigraphie Denkmaler aus Arabien; Glaser, Skizze der Gesch. und Geog. Arabiens; and by index Hommel, Ancient Hebrew Tradition; and Gray, Hebrew Proper Names; and F. Giesebrecht, Die alttestamentliche Schatzung des Gottesnamens.
Willis J. Beecher
Abimael
Father of Mael, one of the sons or descendants of Joktan, in Northern Arabia (Gen. 10:28; 1 Chr. 1:22).
(father of Mael), a descendant of Joktan, (Genesis 10:28; 1 Chronicles 1:22) and probably the progenitor of an Arab tribe (Mali).
a father sent from God
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
שְׁבָא (Shᵉbâ) refers to Sheba, a name associated with several early figures and a region in southern Arabia. It is linked to multiple descendants of patriarchs, including sons of Joktan and Raamah, and is noted for its meaning of 'seven' or 'an oath.' The entries indicate that Sheba can refer to both individuals and a nation.
שְׁבָא n.pr.gent. et terr. Shᵉbâ, in SW. Arabia
base
H7614 שְׁבָא Shᵉbâ, in SW. Arabia
7614 Shba' sheb-aw'
of foreign origin; Sheba, the name of three early progenitors
of tribes and of an Ethiopian district:--Sheba, Sabeans.
שְׁבָא (she.va) — Sheba.
A man of the Cushites living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.7;
son of: Raamah (H7484);
brother of: Dedan (H1719B); also called Sabean at Job.1.15; 3x
§ Sheba = "seven" or "an oath"
1) son of Joktan and a descendant of Seth
2) son of Raamah, grandson of Cush, and a descendant of Ham
3) son of Jokshan, the son of Abraham by Keturah
4) a nation in southern Arabia
שְׁבָא (she.va) — Sheba.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.28;
son of: Joktan (H3355);
brother of: Almodad (H0486), Sheleph (H8026), Hazarmaveth (H2700), Jerah (H3392), Hadoram (H1913A), Uzal (H0187), Diklah (H1853), Obal (H5745), Abimael (H0039), Ophir (H0211), Havilah (H2341I) and Jobab (H3103)
§ Sheba = "seven" or "an oath"
1) son of Joktan and a descendant of Seth
2) son of Raamah, grandson of Cush, and a descendant of Ham
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Sheba
An oath, seven. (1.) Heb. shebha, the son of Raamah (Gen. 10:7), whose descendants settled with those of Dedan on the Persian Gulf.
(2.) Heb. id. A son of Joktan (Gen. 10:28), probably the founder of the Sabeans.
(3.) Heb. id. A son of Jokshan, who was a son of Abraham by Keturah (Gen. 25:3).
(4.) Heb. id. A kingdom in Arabia Felix. Sheba, in fact, was Saba in Southern Arabia, the Sabaeans of classical geography, who carried on the trade in spices with the other peoples of the ancient world. They were Semites, speaking one of the two main dialects of Himyaritic or South Arabic. Sheba had become a monarchy before the days of Solomon. Its queen brought him gold, spices, and precious stones (
one of the towns of the allotment of Simeon, (Joshua 19:2) probably the same as Shema. (Joshua 15:26)
1. Son of Raamah, Ge 10:7. His posterity is supposed to have settled near the head of the Persian Gulf. See CUSH and RAAMAH.
2. Son of Joktan, of the race of Shem, Ge 10:28. See SABEANS 2.
3. Son of Jokshan, and grandson of Abraham by Keturah, Ge 25:3. He is supposed to have settled in Arabia Deserta.
4. A turbulent Benjamite, who after the death of Absalom made a fruitless effort to excite a rebellion in Israel against David. Being pursued, and besieged in Abel-beth-maachah, near the southern part of Lebanon, he was beheaded by the people of the city, 2Sa 20:1-26.
captivity; old man; repose; oath