And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
Parallel translations
- WEB Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
- BSB And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.
- ESV And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside.
- 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 quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 30:17The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
- Gal 6:1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
- Matt 18:15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
- Ps 40:15Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
- 1 Cor 13:6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
- Ps 70:3Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.
- Gen 10:6And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.
- Obad 1:12–13But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.
- Gen 10:15–19And Canaan begat Sidon his first born, and Heth,
- Gen 9:25And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
- 1 Chr 1:8The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
- 1 Chr 1:13–16And Canaan begat Zidon his firstborn, and Heth,
- Ps 35:20–21For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
- Prov 25:9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
- 2 Sam 1:19–20The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
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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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