18 Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and (A)Ham was the father of Canaan. 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and (B)from these the whole earth was [a]populated.

20 Then Noah began [b]farming and planted a vineyard. 21 He drank some of the wine and (C)became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, (D)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 [c]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,

(E)Cursed be Canaan;
[d](F)A servant of servants
He shall be to his brothers.”

26 He also said,

(G)Blessed be the Lord,
The God of Shem;
And may Canaan be [e]his servant.
27 (H)May God enlarge Japheth,
And may he live in the tents of Shem;
And may Canaan be [f]his servant.”

28 Noah lived 350 years after the flood. 29 So all the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 9:19 Lit scattered
  2. Genesis 9:20 Lit to be a farmer
  3. Genesis 9:23 Lit backward
  4. Genesis 9:25 I.e., The lowest of servants
  5. Genesis 9:26 Or their
  6. Genesis 9:27 Or their

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, as a man of the soil, began by planting[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 is cursed.(C)
He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers.(D)

26 He also said:

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem;
Let Canaan be[b] Shem’s slave.
27 Let God extend Japheth;[c]
let Japheth dwell in the tents of Shem;
let Canaan be Shem’s 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. 9:20 Or Noah began to be a farmer and planted
  2. 9:26 As a wish or prayer; others interpret the verbs in vv. 26–27 as prophecy: Canaan will be...
  3. 9:27 In Hb, the name Japheth sounds like the word “extend.”