Who was Almodad in the Bible?

Almodad was a son of Joktan and a descendant of Shem, Noah's son. He is listed in the genealogies of the nations that spread out after the Tower of Babel (Genesis 10:26; 1 Chronicles 1:20).

What is the significance of Almodad?

Almodad's significance is primarily genealogical, representing one of the clans or peoples that descended from Shem. His inclusion shows the fulfillment of God's command for Noah's descendants to be fruitful and fill the earth (Genesis 9:1).

What key events was Almodad part of?

The Bible records no specific events in Almodad's life. His mention is part of the Table of Nations, documenting the spread of humanity and the origins of various people groups following the events at Babel (Genesis 10).

Almodad

Old TestamentPatriarchsMaleSon

Almodad was a son of Joktan and a descendant of Shem, listed in the genealogies of the nations. (Gen.10.26; 1Ch.1.20)

Almodad

Biography

Almodad was the firstborn son of Joktan and a descendant of Shem, Noah's son, through the line of Eber (Genesis 10:26; 1 Chronicles 1:20). Joktan was one of the two sons of Eber, the other being Peleg, from whose line Abraham descended, and Joktan's thirteen sons, including Almodad, are associated with the settlement of ancient Arabia. Almodad is listed first among Joktan's sons, possibly suggesting seniority or prominence within the Arabian tribal grouping. Ancient traditions have attempted to identify Almodad with specific Arabian tribes or regions, with some scholars connecting his name to the ancient south Arabian world. His precise geographical and ethnic identification remains uncertain, but his place in the Table of Nations (Genesis 10) establishes him as a progenitor of one of the Semitic peoples of the ancient Near East.

Significance

Almodad's inclusion in the Table of Nations (Genesis 10) reflects the biblical conviction that God is the God of all peoples, not merely of Israel. The careful enumeration of Joktan's sons, the Arabian branch of the Semitic family tree, demonstrates that Scripture maintains a comprehensive historical memory of humanity's dispersal after Babel. Theologically, the Table of Nations serves as a prelude to the Abrahamic covenant: God's promise to bless all families of the earth (Genesis 12:3) presupposes the existence of those families, many of whom are traced through genealogies like Almodad's. His listing reminds readers that the redemptive story operates within a fully populated world, and that all nations ultimately await the blessing God promised through Abraham's seed.

Verse Appearances (2)

Genesis

Genesis 10:26

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 1:20

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources