The Sons of Noah

18 The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth.(A) (Ham was the father of Canaan.)(B) 19 These were the three sons of Noah,(C) and from them came the people who were scattered over the whole earth.(D)

20 Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded[a] to plant a vineyard. 21 When he drank some of its wine,(E) he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked(F) and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked.

24 When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said,

“Cursed(G) be Canaan!(H)
    The lowest of slaves
    will he be to his brothers.(I)

26 He also said,

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Shem!(J)
    May Canaan be the slave(K) of Shem.
27 May God extend Japheth’s[b] territory;(L)
    may Japheth live in the tents of Shem,(M)
    and may Canaan be the slave of Japheth.”

28 After the flood Noah lived 350 years. 29 Noah lived a total of 950 years, and then he died.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 9:20 Or soil, was the first
  2. Genesis 9:27 Japheth sounds like the Hebrew for 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.