1261. As nations signified goods, so also did families, for each nation consisted of families; and so in like manner did households, for each family consisted of a number of households. (Concerning a “household” or “house,” see above, n. 710.) “Families,” however, signify goods when predicated of nations, and truths when predicated of peoples, as in David:

All the families of the nations shall bow themselves before Thee; for the kingdom is Jehovah’s, and He is the ruler over the nations (Psalms 22:27-28).

Again:

Give unto Jehovah, ye families of the peoples, give unto Jehovah glory and strength (Psalms 96:7).

In the verse now before us, and also in the preceding verse of this tenth chapter of Genesis, “families” are predicated of goods, because they were families of the nations.