The Origin of Races of Mankind
Few cause more difficulty amongst mankind than the simple differences of our races. These differences are most pronounced in the areas of skin color and languages. Skin colors openly show how we are different, but confronting an unknown language greatly increases the stress caused by very superficial differences.
How does God feel about the different races He created? Does the Bible tell us when, where, or why we have such great variances? How would the Lord have His people react in regard to different races?
The Bible has many things to say about the races of man, though most are indirect. In regard to the forming of races, I can find nothing at all that tells us about it—neither directly, or by implication. Yes, I have heard much surmising done by men—most of it is not very good. When and what we (believers in Christ Jesus) surmise about this, or any topic, should be shaped by God’s perfectly preserved Word (KJV; Psalms 12:6,7).
Because God’s Word is so silent on this issue, we can tell that it is not of importance to our creator. All of mankind truly is created equally—scientists, Christians, and atheists are amazingly singular in this determination. Yes, there is a very small percentage who still think otherwise—but most recognize that at least in physical terms, the races of man are all equivalent to one another.
The Lord Jesus does verify this through His written Word—confirming what most (especially Christians) know to be obvious.
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Acts 17:24-30
We cannot be certain of the exact color of Adam; but since Eve came forward from him, they were almost certainly the same color.
Even as mankind began to flourish in number, it seems unlikely that such a diversity in color could have arisen from the original two humans. No, I wasn’t there, and cannot know for certain—remember that we will be speculating; using God’s Word as a framework.
The Genesis Flood is an extremely pivotal event in Bible history; you will find it recorded in the book of Genesis, chapters 6-8. This is important for our discussion, because all that have been born on the earth are descended from Noah and his wife—his sons Shem, Ham, and Japeth, with their wives (Genesis 5:32, 6:18). Noah’s sons had no children before the Flood, yet it was from these families that the earth was populated. Again, even to this point, it seems as if mankind should still be only one race.
These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread. Genesis 9:19
These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood. Genesis 10:32
Genesis 10:32 is the last verse in chapter 10, and directly leads into chapter eleven; which gives us the where and why of the earth’s division—at the tower of Babel. Exactly how and when of it are left for us to responsibly surmise possibilities. The issue of racial origin may be a curiosity for us, but it is unimportant in the eternal scheme of things.
It is most likely that mankind’s different races were created as part of God’s response to the building of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9. Many have taught distortions of God’s account here, or oversimplified it. Most often I have heart it said that they all began “babbling,” could not understand each other, and walked off in different directions. Let’s look at what God actually tells us by His perfect Word (Jesus).
Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. Genesis 11:7-9
While it is certainly true that God created the different languages at this time, our Lord makes it a point (twice) to show that He also scattered mankind across the whole earth at this time.
To say only that men could not understand each other and walked away demeans the power of God displayed in His Word—and is also unrealistic. There are fewer than 200 languages now in use—the number of those in Babel (named after the Lord’s intervention), and involved in building this tower, must have been many thousands; therefore many people would have well been able to speak to each other clearly—even if not knowing what had happened! Also, you simply don’t “walk away” from Babel (modern day Iraq) all over the world, including the Americas. This was a divine intervention by the creator of the universe—moving men around on this planet was no problem!
It was our God’s purpose to promote disunity among mankind at this event. Unity among sinful men can only spread evil, so God prevented it by confounding languages, and scattering man far away from one another (or they still may have found a way to communicate).
Here is where our speculation begins—we know that all the living creatures on dry land came from the focal point of the ark’s resting place in the mountains of Ararat (Genesis 8:4; modern day Turkey). Mankind is dependent upon animals, and animals do depend on each other. Spreading out after the Flood would have been a very slow process (on foot only).
To scatter mankind, and let him survive, seems to mean that God would have scattered many kinds of animals that we depend on, as well. Yet of course, the Bible simply doesn’t mention it! Believing that God in all probability did this does not seem to be an unreasonable assumption.
God went to great lengths to divide mankind at this incident in Babel. Is it not likely that the many different races also began at this time? Perhaps to help deal with greater climate variety, at least in part. But maybe also to make it more difficult for mankind to unify when they did find each other again. Physical racial qualities do not simply develop over time with a change in climates—whites remain white, blacks stay black, oriental, Hispanic, Arabic, all retain their inherited physical characteristics. It is therefore with this reasoning in mind, that my best conclusion for the time of race origins was during God’s judgment at Babel. It is based on what God reveals in His Word, with the sound mind which our Savior freely gives us (II Timothy 1:7).
The mark of Cain has also been greatly embellished on by some. I, myself, have specifically heard how that black skin was actually this mark. Really? Does God’s Word say that? Let’s read the passage leading to this mark;
And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. Genesis 4:8-15
First of all, we are never given a clue as to what God’s mark specifically is. Second, this divine gesture was not a curse—that was covered in verses 11-12. Third, God’s mark was given to Cain over a specific situation. Why would the Lord create a whole race to reflect this one instance? As it is written,
The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. Deuteronomy 24:16
If anyone tries to tell you black skin is the mark of Cain, you can honestly reply that the Bible does not support this theory. Besides, there are obviously more than two racial differences among mankind.
Further racial equality is demonstrated one time in the life of Moses, through marriage. The story is told in Numbers chapter 12, where we find that Moses had married an Ethiopian woman. We even find the same discrimination then as we often see today in interracial marriage. Please read this short chapter when you can.
Moses was not especially favored by God in regard to marrying! Our God is no respecter of persons, and He has concluded us all to be sinners in need of salvation. The best thing to say is that Moses was in right relationship with the Lord—and so God approved of the marriage. And yes, biblically the Ethiopian was conceded to be racially colored—there is no question of skin color when the Bible uses the term Ethiopian (see Jeremiah 13:23).
We conclude therefore that all races are created equally in God’s eyes. The when of racial beginnings appears to be at the tower of Babel; this is a likely conclusion, rather than a Biblically stated fact. As for why the races were created, it seems to be that God was further dividing man—delaying any repeating of the Babel fiasco. Mankind is now again at the point of coming together as they once did.
This is an evil unity because we are sinful creatures trying to save ourselves. The result will be a further corruption of all that we set our hands to. The devil will finally control the sinful lives of mankind, through the person of the antichrist. Only Jesus Christ can save us! And the redemption He brings is a finished work, that will never be repeated. All we have to do is accept what He has done, to be saved. Skin colors and features are unimportant—praise be to God!
WARNING: To avoid Satan’s snares and deceptions, return to the pure Word of God; which is the King James Bible. Revised translations are not small word alterations meant to bring clarity! Major doctrinal changes have occurred, which will tend to bring doubt and destroy your faith. To follow these new “versions” of the truth, is to build your spiritual house upon sand, and become as the ones reflected in Matthew 7:21-23. Please use this entire passage, Matthew 7:21-27.
Satan means to deceive you into sincerely following his alternate “truth.” You are really being set up to fall, and serve the antichrist.
Pray and seek God diligently in this matter; for time is short. See also our Word of God section and the section on A Sure Salvation vs. Eternal Security.