Noah’s sons in early reading, and a misuse
Says Noah planted a vineyard and “became drunk and uncovered himself” (Gen 9:20–21). “Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers” (9:22). Noah said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers” (9:25), and blessed “the Lord, the God of Shem” (9:26).
Pseudo-Jonathan has Noah plant a vine “brought away from the garden of Eden” and learn “by the relation of a dream” what Ham had done. In Josephus the youngest son came “laughing”, and Noah “did not curse him, by reason of his nearness in blood, but cursed his posterity”. Augustine makes Ham the middle son and finds the scene “pregnant with prophetic meanings”, the drunkenness figuring Christ, who “suffered”, but grants that “All will not accept our interpretation with equal confidence”. Calvin has Ham “reproachfully laughing at his father” and Noah “speaking in the spirit of prophecy”. These are their views.
It is historically documented that 9:25 was used to defend the enslavement of Africans, notably in American pro-slavery argument. Implies The text gives that use no ground: the curse names Canaan, not Ham (9:25); Canaan’s descendants are placed in Canaan (10:15–19); the words are Noah’s; all three sons are one family (9:19); and every human bears God’s image (9:6). The use is rejected.
Uncertain What Ham did, why Canaan is named, and who the “youngest son” is (9:24) remain open. No lean is taken, and these readings do not fix the meaning of 9:20–27.
Claims
- SaysGen 9:20–22: Noah planted a vineyard, became drunk and uncovered himself, and Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his nakedness and told his brothers; 9:25–26: Noah cursed Canaan to be a servant of servants and blessed the Lord, the God of Shem.
- ImpliesThe use of 9:25 to defend the enslavement of Africans has no ground in the text: the curse names Canaan, not Ham; Canaan’s descendants are placed in Canaan (10:15–19); the words are Noah’s; the three sons are one family (9:19); every human bears God’s image (9:6). The use is rejected.
- UncertainWhat Ham did (9:22–23), why Canaan is named, and who the “youngest son” of 9:24 is remain open; no lean, and these readings do not fix the meaning.
Citations
- BSB public domain Gen 9:6, 9:19–26; 10:15–19
- Etheridge public domain Etheridge, vol. 1 (1862), Targum of Palestine (Pseudo-Jonathan) on Gen 9:20–24, p. 185 (n197); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted
- Josephus (Whiston) public domain Ant. 1.6.3 = 1.140–142 (Whiston, 1817, vol. 1), p. 24 (n33); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted
- Augustine, City of God (NPNF1 vol. 2) public domain Civ. 16.1–2, pp. 309–310 (n332–n333) (trans. Dods, NPNF¹ 2; CCEL npnf102.iv.XVI.1, npnf102.iv.XVI.2); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- Calvin, Genesis (King) 1 public domain Calvin, Genesis 1 (King, CTS 1847), on Gen 9:22, pp. 301–302 (n310–n311), and on Gen 9:24–25, p. 304 (n313); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted
2026-11-11
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