Devine Scripture

Genesis 9:25

What does Genesis 9:25 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 9:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 9:25 means

Noah, now aware of what happened, curses Canaan, Ham's son, declaring that he will be "a servant of servants" to his brothers. It's crucial that the curse falls on Canaan, not directly on Ham, though it stems from Ham's actions. This curse is prophetic, foretelling a future of servitude for the descendants of Canaan. This curse, while a consequence of sin, also serves as a poignant reminder that even Noah, the righteous man, was still prone to sin and human frailty, and his family was not exempt from its consequences. This points to the need for a greater deliverer from sin.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Cursed be Canaan; let him be a servant of servants to his brothers.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and saith: `Cursed <FI>is<Fi> Canaan, Servant of servants he is to his brethren.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

He said: Cursed be Chanaan, a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he said, Cursed be Canaan; Let him be a bondman of bondmen to his brethren.

Context

This verse directly follows Noah's realization of Ham's disrespectful act. It is the immediate consequence of that act, beginning the series of prophetic pronouncements. The curse on Canaan establishes a foundational narrative for the future interactions of his descendants with those of Shem and Japheth, setting the stage for historical conflicts and relationships between these family lines, particularly the future Israelites (descendants of Shem) and the Canaanites.

v.24And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done unto him.

v.25This passage

v.26And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.

Cross references

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

  • Joshua 9:23

    Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondmen, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

  • 1 Kings 9:20

    As for all the people that were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel;

  • Deuteronomy 27:16

    Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

  • Genesis 49:7

    Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; And their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, And scatter them in Israel.

  • Judges 1:28

    And it came to pass, when Israel was waxed strong, that they put the Canaanites to taskwork, and did not utterly drive them out.

  • Genesis 9:22

    And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

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