and ResenResen is mentioned as one of the cities founded by Nimrod, a mighty hunter and ruler. The city is not as well-known as Nineveh or Calah, and its exact location remains uncertain. Some scholars suggest it may have been a smaller settlement or a suburb of Nineveh. The mention of Resen highlights the expansion and influence of Nimrod's kingdom, emphasizing the spread of civilization and urban development in the ancient Near East.
which is between Nineveh
Nineveh was one of the most prominent cities in ancient Assyria, later becoming its capital. It is frequently mentioned in the Bible, notably in the Book of Jonah, where God sends Jonah to call the city to repentance. Nineveh's location on the eastern bank of the Tigris River made it a significant center for trade and military power. The city's mention here underscores its importance even in the early post-Flood world, as it would later play a crucial role in biblical history.
and the great city of Calah
Calah, also known as Nimrud, was another major city in Assyria, located south of Nineveh. It served as the capital of the Assyrian Empire during the reign of Ashurnasirpal II in the 9th century BC. Archaeological excavations have uncovered significant artifacts and structures, providing insight into Assyrian culture and power. The description of Calah as a "great city" reflects its historical significance and the might of the Assyrian Empire, which would later become an instrument of God's judgment against Israel, as prophesied by the prophets.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
ResenA city mentioned in the context of the descendants of Ham, specifically in the lineage of Nimrod. It is described as being located between Nineveh and Calah.
2.
NinevehOne of the most prominent cities in ancient Assyria, later becoming the capital. It is often associated with the prophet Jonah and the repentance of its people.
3.
CalahAnother significant city in ancient Assyria, known for its archaeological remains and historical importance.
4.
NimrodA mighty hunter and a king, often associated with the founding of several cities, including Nineveh and Calah. His name is synonymous with strength and leadership.
5.
The Great CityThis phrase emphasizes the significance and size of the city of Resen, indicating its importance in the ancient world.
Teaching Points
The Significance of Cities in God's PlanCities like Nineveh, Calah, and Resen played crucial roles in biblical history. They remind us that God is concerned with both individuals and communities, and He often uses cities as centers for His work and messages.
The Legacy of LeadershipNimrod's establishment of these cities shows the lasting impact of leadership. As Christians, we are called to lead with integrity and purpose, knowing our actions can influence generations.
Repentance and RedemptionNineveh's account, connected to Resen, highlights the power of repentance. No city or person is beyond God's reach, and His desire is for all to turn to Him.
The Rise and Fall of Great CitiesThe history of these cities serves as a reminder of the temporal nature of human achievements. Our focus should be on eternal values and God's kingdom, which will never fade.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Genesis 10:12?
2.How does Genesis 10:12 illustrate the spread of nations after the Flood?
3.What role did Nimrod play in the development of ancient cities?
4.How can understanding Genesis 10:12 enhance our grasp of biblical genealogies?
5.What lessons from Nimrod's leadership can be applied to modern Christian leadership?
6.How does Genesis 10:12 connect with the Tower of Babel narrative in Genesis 11?
7.What historical evidence supports the existence of Resen mentioned in Genesis 10:12?
8.How does Genesis 10:12 fit into the broader narrative of the Table of Nations?
9.Why is the city of Resen significant in Genesis 10:12?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 10?
11.Who was Nimrod in the Bible?
12.Who are the Assyrians?
13.Jonah 3:3 - How could Nineveh realistically be so large that it required a three-day journey to cross?
14.Genesis 12:10: Does any external record confirm a famine severe enough to prompt Abram's journey to Egypt?What Does Genesis 10:12 Mean
Context and Overview“From that land he went forth to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, and Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah, which is the great city.” (Genesis 10:11-12)
•Genesis 10 records real post-Flood history, tracing the spread of Noah’s descendants (cf.Genesis 9:1;Acts 17:26).
• Nimrod, a descendant of Ham through Cush, is presented as the founder of a line of powerful cities (Genesis 10:8-10).
• The verse sits inside the Table of Nations, showing how God faithfully preserved and directed human families after judgment (Genesis 8:21-22).
“And Resen”• Resen is named alongside Nineveh and Calah, indicating it was also a literal city established by Nimrod’s effort and ambition (Genesis 10:8-12;Micah 5:6).
• The simple “and” ties Resen to the ongoing list, underscoring that God tracked every community’s origin—nothing escapes His notice (Psalm 33:13-15).
• Historically, Resen served as a satellite city, reinforcing Nimrod’s growing urban network; Scripture treats these locations as factual, not mythical (Isaiah 37:37-38).
“Between Nineveh and Calah”• Geography matters: placing Resen “between” two known centers anchors it in real space (Jonah 3:3 shows Nineveh’s later significance;2 Kings 19:36 mentions Calah/Ashur).
• The phrase highlights strategic planning—Nimrod intentionally knit his cities together, revealing early human drive for control (Genesis 11:4 tower mindset).
• God allows such developments yet ultimately sets boundaries for nations’ habitation (Job 12:23;Deuteronomy 32:8).
“Which Is the Great City”• Scripture calls Resen “the great city,” showing its size and influence even if later eclipsed by Nineveh’s fame (Jonah 4:11).
• “Great” is not hyperbole but a factual descriptor; archaeological discoveries around Asshur, Nineveh, and Nimrud (ancient Calah) confirm dense urban complexes (Psalm 85:11).
• The title reminds readers that human greatness is still subject to divine oversight; cities rise and fall, but the Lord remains (Psalm 90:1-2;Revelation 18:10).
Spiritual Takeaways• God records human achievements but always in relation to His overarching plan (Proverbs 19:21).
• The accuracy ofGenesis 10:12 affirms the reliability of the entire biblical narrative (2 Timothy 3:16).
• Urban influence can be used for good or evil; later prophets called Nineveh to repentance (Nahum 1:1;Jonah 3:1-2), showing God’s concern for every city founded here.
summaryGenesis 10:12 presents Resen as a literal, strategically placed, and influential city built by Nimrod between Nineveh and Calah. By recording its location and prominence, Scripture underscores God’s detailed knowledge of human history, the reality of early post-Flood civilization, and the truth that every earthly “great city” ultimately answers to the Lord who establishes and overrules all human endeavors.
Verse 12. -
And Resen,
i.e. Nimrod, between Kalah Shergat and Kouyunjik (Kalisch); but if Calah be Nimroud, then Rosen may be Selamiyeh, a village about half way,
between Nineveh and Calah, i.e. Kouyunjik and Nimroud,
ut supra (Layard).
The same. Rosen (Kalisch), which will suit if it was Nimroud, whose remains cover a parallelogram about 1800 feet in length and 900 feet in breadth; but others apply it to Nineveh with the other towns as forming one large composite city (Knobel, Keil, Lange, Wordsworth).
Is a great city. With this the record of Nimrod s achievements closes. It is generally supposed that Nimrod flourished either before or about the time of the building of the tower of Babel; but Prof. Chwolsen of St. Petersburg, in his 'Ueber die Ueberreste der Altbabylon-ischen
Literatur,' brings the dynasty of Nimrod down as late as , relying principally on the evidence of an original work composed by Qut ami, a native Babylonian, and translated by Ibnwa hachijah, a descendant of the Chaldaeans, and assigned by Chwolsen to one of the earlier periods of Babylonian history, in which is mentioned the name of Nemrod, or Nemroda, as the founder of a Canaanite dynasty which ruled at Babylon (vide an excellent paper on this subject in Turner's 'Biblical and Oriental Studies,' Edin., A. and C. Black, 1876). Perhaps the hardest difficulty to explain in connection with the ordinary date assigned to Nimrod is the fact that in
Genesis 14, which speaks of the reigning monarchs in the Euphrates valley, there is no account taken of Nineveh and its king - a circumstance which has been supposed to import that the founding of the capital of Assyria could not have been anterior to the days of Abraham. But early Babylonian texts confirm what
Genesis 14. seems to imply - the fact of an Elamite conquest of Babylonia,
B.C. 2280, by Kudur-nanhundi (Kudurlagamar, the Chederlaomer of Genesis), who carried off an image of the goddess Nana from the city Erech (
vide 'Assyrian Discoveries,'
Genesis 12; 'Records of the Past,' vol. 3.), so that this difficulty may be held to have disappeared before the light of archaeological discovery. But at whatever period Nimrod flourished, the Biblical narrative would lead us to anticipate a commingling of Hamitic and Shemitic tongues in the Euphrates valley, which existing monuments confirm (cf. 'Records of the Past,' vol. 3. p. 3).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
and Resen,רֶ֔סֶן(re·sen)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7449:Resen -- a city in Assyrwhich is betweenבֵּ֥ין(bên)Preposition
Strong's 996:An interval, space betweenNinevehנִֽינְוֵ֖ה(nî·nə·wêh)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5210:Nineveh -- capital of Assyrand the greatהַגְּדֹלָֽה׃(hag·gə·ḏō·lāh)Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 1419:Great, older, insolentcityהָעִ֥יר(hā·‘îr)Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892:Excitementof Calah.כָּ֑לַח(kā·laḥ)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3625:Calah -- a city in Assyr
Links
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OT Law: Genesis 10:12 And Resen between Nineveh and Calah (Gen. Ge Gn) 
