The misuse of Genesis 9:25 for racial slavery

Says Noah said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.” (9:25, BSB). The curse names Canaan. 9:18 has already said that Ham was the father of Canaan; 9:19, that from these three the whole earth was scattered. 9:6 has said that in the image of God He made man. 10:15–19, not treated here, places Canaan’s descendants in the land of Canaan.

It is historically documented that 9:25 was used to defend the enslavement of Africans, notably in American pro-slavery argument. That use is stated as general history; no particular work is named or quoted.

Implies The text gives that use no ground, and the use is rejected. The curse names Canaan, not Ham; Canaan’s descendants are placed in Canaan (10:15–19); the words are Noah’s, not spoken by God; all three sons are one family (9:19); and every human bears God’s image (9:6). These are each facts the text states, or that follow from it at once; together they leave the racial reading no footing. See the historical note, which reaches the same conclusion, and the bloodshed note on 9:6.

Uncertain What Ham did, and why Canaan is named rather than Ham, remain the open questions of the drunkenness and curse notes. No lean is taken on those questions. They do not reopen a defense of the racial use, which the text does not support.