Genesis 9:21

21 After he drank some of the wine, he became drunk, took off his clothes, and lay naked in his tent.

Genesis 9:21 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 9:21

And he drank of the wine, and was drunken
Either not being acquainted with the strength of it, as is thought by many; or having been used to weaker liquor, as water; or through the infirmity of his age; however, he was overtaken with it, and which is recorded, not to disgrace him, but to caution men against the evil of intemperance, as well as to encourage repenting sinners to expect pardon: and this shows that the best of men are not exempted from sin, nor secure from falling; and that though Noah was a perfect man, yet not as to be without sin; and that whereas he was a righteous man, he was not so by the righteousness of works, but by the righteousness of faith:

and he was uncovered within his tent;
being in liquor when he laid down, he was either negligent of his long and loose garments, such as the eastern people wore without breeches, and did not take care to wrap them about him; or in his sleep, through the heat of the weather, or of the wine, or both, threw them off.

Genesis 9:21 In-Context

19 These three sons of Noah were the ancestors of all the people on earth.

20 Noah, who was a farmer, was the first man to plant a vineyard.

21 After he drank some of the wine, he became drunk, took off his clothes, and lay naked in his tent.

22 When Ham, the father of Canaan, saw that his father was naked, he went out and told his two brothers.

23 Then Shem and Japheth took a robe and held it behind them on their shoulders. They walked backward into the tent and covered their father, keeping their faces turned away so as not to see him naked.