Devine Scripture

Genesis 9:20

What does Genesis 9:20 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 9:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 9:20 means

Noah transitions from his former life as a shipbuilder to the agricultural pursuit of a farmer, specifically planting a vineyard. This highlights humanity's return to working the land and cultivating its resources, a basic aspect of life before the flood. While seemingly a simple detail, it underscores the re-establishment of ordinary life and labor in the post-flood world. This act of cultivation provides the backdrop for the unfortunate event that follows, showcasing human life resuming its rhythms, yet also revealing the potential for human error.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Noah began to be a husbandman, and planted a vineyard:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Noah began to be a husbandman, and planted a vineyard:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

In those days Noah became a farmer, and he made a vine-garden.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Noah remaineth a man of the ground, and planteth a vineyard,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And Noe a husbandman began to till the ground, and planted a vineyard.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Noah began [to be] a husbandman, and planted a vineyard.

Context

After the grand covenant and the reintroduction of Noah's sons, this verse grounds the narrative back into the practicalities of post-flood life. It describes Noah's new occupation, which directly sets the immediate scene for the incident of his drunkenness. This seemingly benign act of cultivating a vineyard provides the direct context for the ensuing family drama, linking the re-established order of the world with the specific human decisions that will unfold.

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

v.20This passage

v.21and he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

Cross references

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

  • 1 Corinthians 9:7

    What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

  • Isaiah 28:24

    Doth he that ploweth to sow plow continually? doth he continually open and harrow his ground?

  • Genesis 4:2

    And again she bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:9

    Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

  • Genesis 3:23

    therefore Jehovah God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

  • Deuteronomy 28:30

    Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build a house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not use the fruit thereof.

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