And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.
Parallel translations
- WEB Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
- KJV And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
- NKJV And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
- NASB Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
- NLT Ham, the father of Canaan, saw that his father was naked and went outside and told his brothers.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Ham saw his father's nakedness and told his two brothers outside. He responded to his father's shame with dishonor rather than respect.
Overview
Ham's act, whatever its precise nature, is presented as shameful and disrespectful toward his father. Rather than covering Noah, he broadcasts the disgrace. The episode contrasts honor and dishonor toward parents and authority, and it prepares for the words Noah will speak over Ham's line.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Prov 30:17As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.
- Gal 6:1Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
- Matt 18:15If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
- Ps 40:15May those who say to me, “Aha, aha!” be appalled at their own shame.
- 1 Cor 13:6Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.
- Ps 70:3May those who say, “Aha, aha!” retreat because of their shame.
- Gen 10:6The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
- Obad 1:12–13But you should not gloat in that day, your brother’s day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their distress.
- Gen 10:15–19And Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites,
- Gen 9:25he said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”
- 1 Chr 1:8The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
- 1 Chr 1:13–16And Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites,
- Ps 35:20–21For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful schemes against those who live quietly in the land.
- Prov 25:9Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
- 2 Sam 1:19–20“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 9:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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