Ham, the father of Canaan, saw that his father was naked and went outside and told his brothers.
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.
- BSB And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness 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.
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 30:17“The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother: the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it.
- Gal 6:1Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.
- Matt 18:15“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
- Ps 40:15Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that tell me, “Aha! Aha!”
- 1 Cor 13:6doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
- Ps 70:3Let them be turned because of their shame Who say, “Aha! Aha!”
- Gen 10:6The sons of Ham were: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
- Obad 1:12–13But don’t look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don’t rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction. Don’t speak proudly in the day of distress.
- Gen 10:15–19Canaan became the father of Sidon (his firstborn), Heth,
- Gen 9:25He said, “Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.”
- 1 Chr 1:8The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
- 1 Chr 1:13–16Canaan became the father of Sidon his firstborn, Heth,
- Ps 35:20–21For they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
- Prov 25:9Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another;
- 2 Sam 1:19–20“Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! 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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