Genesis 9:20-27

20 Then Noah began farming * and planted a vineyard.
21 He drank of the wine and 1became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent.
22 Ham, the father of Canaan, 2saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned away, so that they did not see their father's nakedness.
24 When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him.
25 So he said, "3Cursed be Canaan; 4A servant of servants He shall be to his brothers."
26 He also said, "5Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.
27 "6May God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant."

Genesis 9:20-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 9

In this chapter we have an account of God's blessing Noah and his sons, being just come out of the ark, with a renewal of the blessing of propagating their species, and replenishing the earth, the dominion over the creatures, and a freedom from the fear of them; with liberty to eat flesh, only it must not be eaten with blood; with a providential care and preservation of their lives from men and beasts, by making a law that that man or beast should die that shed man's blood, Ge 9:1-6 and after repeating the blessing of procreation, Ge 9:7 mention is made of a covenant God made with Noah, his sons, and all the creatures, that he would drown the world no more, the token of which should be the rainbow in the cloud, Ge 9:8-17 the names of the sons of Noah are observed, by whom the earth was repeopled, Ge 9:18,19 and seem to be observed for the sake of an event after recorded; Noah having planted a vineyard, and drank too freely of the wine of it, lay down uncovered in his tent, which Ham seeing, told his two brothers of it, who in a very modest manner covered him, Ge 9:20-23 of all which Noah being sensible when he awoke, cursed Canaan the son of Ham, and blessed Shem and Japheth, Ge 9:24-27 and the chapter is concluded with the age and death of Noah, Ge 9:28,29.

Cross References 6

  • 1. Proverbs 20:1
  • 2. Habakkuk 2:15
  • 3. Deuteronomy 27:16
  • 4. Joshua 9:23
  • 5. Genesis 14:20; Genesis 24:27
  • 6. Genesis 10:2-5; Isaiah 66:19

Footnotes 5

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