These three points back to the names in verse 18. Translators may find it confusing to speak of These three when Canaan’s name has been added. This problem may be resolved in various ways. For example, Good News Translation encloses “Ham was the father of Canaan” in parentheses to exclude his name from the three. But this solution may not be helpful in some languages. Another solution is that of Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, which translates “Shem, Ham, father of Canaan, and Japheth.” This is likewise a solution based upon punctuation, and not a very satisfactory one for the listener. Other solutions recommended are: (1) place “Ham was the father of Canaan” after “these three were the sons of Noah” or at the end of the verse; (2) instead of “these three” repeat the names of Noah’s three sons.

And from these the whole earth was peopled: peopled translates a verb meaning to disperse, scatter, spread out. See, for example, 1 Sam 13.11; Isa 33.3. This statement may also be translated “Through their descendants the earth was again populated,” or as in Good News Translation, “These three sons of Noah were the ancestors of all the people of the earth.” A different way of expressing this is used by one translation: “All the people of the world were descended from these three.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .