What does Genesis 10:17 mean?

Question

Accepted Answer

Genesis 10:17 lists three groups—the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite—as descendants of Canaan, who was a son of Ham. This verse is part of a genealogy that traces the origins of various peoples and nations after the flood. The book of Genesis is recounting the family lines that spread out after Noah’s time, with these names representing ancient peoples or tribes. The focus here is on Canaan’s descendants, and the verse is part of a larger section often called the “Table of Nations,” which explains where different groups in the ancient world came from according to the biblical account.

Genesis 10:17 (KJV)