Prophecies about Noah’s Family

18 Noah’s sons who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. 19 These three were Noah’s sons, and from them the whole earth was populated.(A)

20 Noah, a man of the soil, was the first to plant[a] a vineyard. 21 He drank some of the wine, became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside.(B) 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a cloak and placed it over both their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father naked.

24 When Noah awoke from his drinking and learned what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said:

Canaan will be cursed.(C)
He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers.(D)

26 He also said:

Praise the Lord, the God of Shem;
Canaan will be[b] his slave.
27 God will extend[c] Japheth;
he will dwell in the tents of Shem;
Canaan will be his slave.

28 Now Noah lived 350 years after the flood. 29 So Noah’s life lasted 950 years; then he died.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 9:20 Or Noah began to be a farmer and planted
  2. Genesis 9:26 As a prophecy; others interpret the verbs in vv. 26-27 as a wish or prayer: let Canaan be . . .
  3. Genesis 9:27 In Hb, the name Japheth sounds like the word “extend.”

Shem’s blessing and Canaan’s curse

18 Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth came out of the ark. Now Ham was Canaan’s father. 19 These were Noah’s three sons, and from them the whole earth was populated. 20 Noah, a farmer, made a new start and planted a vineyard. 21 He drank some of the wine, became drunk, and took off his clothes in his tent. 22 Ham, Canaan’s father, saw his father naked and told his two brothers who were outside. 23 Shem and Japheth took a robe, threw it over their shoulders, walked backward, and covered their naked father without looking at him because they turned away. 24 When Noah woke up from his wine, he discovered what his youngest son had done to him. 25 He said,

“Cursed be Canaan:
    the lowest servant
        he will be for his brothers.”
26 He also said,
“Bless the Lord,
    the God of Shem;
Canaan will be his servant.
27 May God give space[a] to Japheth;
    he will live in Shem’s tents,
        and Canaan will be his servant.”

28 After the flood, Noah lived 350 years. 29 In all, Noah lived 950 years; then he died.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 9:27 Heb sounds like Japheth.