Devine Scripture

Genesis 9:18

What does Genesis 9:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 9:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 9:18 means

This verse serves to reintroduce Noah's three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, who were saved with him in the ark. It specifies their names because they are crucial to the upcoming narrative concerning Noah's drunkenness and the subsequent blessings and curses. The mention of Ham being the "father of Canaan" is an important detail that foreshadows the curse pronounced later, setting up the historical and prophetic significance of that specific lineage within the broader family of Ham. These sons are the progenitors of all humanity.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the sons of Noah, that went forth from the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the sons of Noah, that went forth from the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and Ham is the father of Canaan.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the sons of Noah who are going out of the ark are Shem, and Ham, and Japheth; and Ham is father of Canaan.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the sons of Noe, who came out of the ark, were Sem, Cham, and Japheth: and Cham is the father of Chanaan.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth. And Ham is the father of Canaan.

Context

Following the conclusion of God's covenant with Noah, this verse shifts the narrative focus back to Noah's family, specifically his sons. It serves as a genealogical reintroduction and sets the stage for the next major event in Noah's life. This re-focusing on the family members provides the necessary context for understanding the personal drama of Noah's drunkenness and the subsequent interactions and pronouncements concerning his sons in the verses that follow.

v.17And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

v.18This passage

v.19These three were the sons of Noah: and of these was the whole earth overspread.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Genesis 10:1

    Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, namely, of Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.

  • Genesis 9:25

    And he said, Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

  • Genesis 10:6

    And the sons of Ham: Cush, and Mizraim, and Put, and Canaan.

  • Genesis 9:23

    And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.

  • 1 Chronicles 1:4

    Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

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