Genesis 9:20-27
New American Standard Bible
20 Then Noah began [a]farming and planted a vineyard. 21 He drank some of the wine and (A)became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, (B)saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it on both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were [b]turned away, so that they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him. 25 So he said,
26 He also said,
“(E)Blessed be the Lord,
The God of Shem;
And may Canaan be [d]his servant.
27 (F)May God enlarge Japheth,
And may he live in the tents of Shem;
And may Canaan be [e]his servant.”
Footnotes
- Genesis 9:20 Lit to be a farmer
- Genesis 9:23 Lit backward
- Genesis 9:25 I.e., The lowest of servants
- Genesis 9:26 Or their
- Genesis 9:27 Or their
Genesis 9:20-27
The Message
20-23 Noah, a farmer, was the first to plant a vineyard. He drank from its wine, got drunk and passed out, naked in his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw that his father was naked and told his two brothers who were outside the tent. Shem and Japheth took a cloak, held it between them from their shoulders, walked backward and covered their father’s nakedness, keeping their faces turned away so they did not see their father’s exposed body.
24-27 When Noah woke up with his hangover, he learned what his youngest son had done. He said,
Cursed be Canaan! A slave of slaves,
a slave to his brothers!
Blessed be God, the God of Shem,
but Canaan shall be his slave.
God prosper Japheth,
living spaciously in the tents of Shem.
But Canaan shall be his slave.
Genesis 9:20-27
King James Version
20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.
24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
26 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
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Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson