Genesis 10:28

Summary

Genesis 10:28 continues the genealogical list of the sons of Joktan, naming three descendants: Obal, Abimael, and Sheba. The verse consists entirely of proper names joined by conjunctions, with no verbs or additional description.

Key words

• ve ("and", H9002) — the conjunction repeated three times, linking each name in a paratactic chain typical of genealogical lists in this chapter.
• 'Et ("", H0853) — the direct object marker, appearing before each name; it signals that these names are the objects of a verb from a previous verse (likely "begot" or "had"), not restated here.
• o.Val ("Obal", H5745) — a proper name, grammatically a masculine singular noun functioning as the object of the implied verb.
• 'a.vi.ma.'El ("Abimael", H0039) — a proper name, masculine singular, structurally parallel to the other two names in the list.
• she.Va' ("Sheba", H7614H) — a proper name, masculine singular, the final item in this three-part sequence.

What the text says

The Hebrew verse has no independent verb; it is a continuation of the syntactic structure established earlier in the genealogy (likely governed by a verb such as "begot" in verse 26, which introduces the sons of Joktan). Each name is preceded by the direct object marker 'Et (H0853), which in Hebrew grammar marks a definite direct object but carries no independent lexical meaning — it simply confirms that Obal, Abimael, and Sheba are objects being listed, not subjects performing an action. The repeated conjunction ve (H9002) before each name creates a simple additive chain: "and Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba." This paratactic style — listing items with repeated "and" rather than using a single conjunction before the last item — is common in Hebrew genealogical records and produces a rhythmic, enumerative effect rather than a narrative one.

Differences between versions

The Hebrew text lists three names: o.Val ("Obal"), 'a.vi.ma.'El ("Abimael"), and she.Va' ("Sheba"). The Vulgate renders the first name as "Ebal" rather than "Obal," a variation in transliteration of the same Hebrew consonants. The Septuagint text provided (LXXSWETE) shows only two names, "Ἀβιμεἠλ" (Abimael) and "Σαβεῦ" (Sheba), omitting an equivalent for "Obal" in this particular textual witness. The Hebrew direct object marker 'Et (H0853) has no equivalent in Greek or Latin, as neither language grammatically requires such a marker for direct objects.