Genesis 10:10

The primary regions ¹  of his kingdom were Babel, ²  Erech, ³  Akkad, ⁴  and Calneh ⁵  in the land of Shinar. ⁶ 

The first centres of his kingdom were Babylon, Erech, Akkad and Calneh, in Shinar.

The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

He built the foundation for his empire in the land of Babylonia, with the cities of Babel, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh.

His kingdom got its start with Babel; then Erech, Akkad, and Calneh in the country of Shinar.

And at the first, his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, and Accad, all of them in the land of Shinar.

And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

The primary regions ¹  of his kingdom were Babel, ²  Erech, ³  Akkad, ⁴  and Calneh ⁵  in the land of Shinar. ⁶ 

¹ tn Heb “beginning.” E. A. Speiser, Genesis (AB), 67, suggests “mainstays,” citing Jer 49:35 as another text where the Hebrew noun is so used.

² tn Or “Babylon.”

³ sn Erech (ancient Uruk, modern Warka), one of the most ancient civilizations, was located southeast of Babylon.

⁴ sn Akkad, or ancient Agade, was associated with Sargon and located north of Babylon.

⁵ tn No such place is known in Shinar (i.e., Babylonia). Therefore some have translated the Hebrew term כַלְנֵה (khalneh) as “all of them,” referring to the three previous names (cf. NRSV).

⁶ sn Shinar is another name for Babylonia.