What Was Ham’s Sin and the Consequent Curse? (Genesis 9:20-27)

“Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, he said, ‘Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.’ He also said, ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant’” (Gen. 9:20-27 ESV).

     A straightforward reading of the text simply affirms that Ham “saw” his father’s nakedness and “told” his brothers. By comparing the very different reaction of Shem and Japheth, we see a clear distinction between the disrespectful behavior of Ham (perhaps including his son Canaan?) and the much more honorable actions of the brothers. Reading between the lines while trying not to speculate too much,¹ the word “see” can be used in the sense of leering (Hab. 2:15), or gloating with disdain (Judg. 16:27; Ezek. 28:17), or gawking at a spectacle (1 Sam. 17:28), or other inordinate gazing (2 Sam. 11:2), which would affect how one’s observations are expressed to others.

     Noah’s awareness of what happened may simply be the result of what he overheard or was told. That the prophetic curse was pronounced on Ham’s son Canaan is probably due to paternal influence resulting in the same insolent mindset and behavior persisting and worsening in subsequent generations (cf. Lev. 18:3-7). The sin of Ham appears to have been the outward expression of a corrupt heart: a shameful gaze followed by mockery, publicizing the indignity, thus disrespecting and dishonoring his father (cf. Ex. 20:12). 

     The prophetic curse was fulfilled as the descendants of Shem and Japheth later subjugated the Canaanites, descendants of Ham-Canaan (cf. Josh. 9:23-27; 1 Kings 9:20-21). From Genesis 12 onwards the spotlight focuses on the Semitic lineage of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, therefore the history of Japheth’s descendants, who settled in Asia Minor, Caucasus, and Europe, is mostly unrecorded in the biblical record.² Contrary to the popular assertion of 19th-century westerners, this did not involve all of Ham’s descendants (Gen. 10:6-20), particularly the darker-skinned people of Cush (Ethiopians), nor the North African lineage of Mizram (Egyptians) and Phut (Libyans).

Lessons to learn:

·      As one thinks in his heart, so is he (Prov. 23:7).

·      Parents ought to be honored by their children (Prov. 1:8-9; Eph. 6:1-2).

·      Never underestimate the influence parents have on their children (Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4). 

·      Decisions and actions have consequences (Num. 32:23). 

·      Our sins can have adverse effects on others, even future generations (Ex. 20:5; 34:7).  

--Kevin L. Moore

 

Endnotes:

     ¹ Popular theories have included castration, homosexual relations, and maternal incest, but this goes well beyond what the biblical text actually says.

     ² The Philistines, distinct from the Canaanites, were dominant in the southern region of Palestine and at times even subdued the Israelites (“dwell in the tents of Shem”?) (cf. Gen. 21:32; Ex. 13:17; Josh. 13:2-3; Judg. 3:3; 10:7; 13:1; 14:4; 15:11; 1 Sam. 4:2, 9-10; 12:9; 28:5; 2 Sam. 13:1-7; 1 Chron. 10:1-7; 2 Chron. 28:18; Isa. 9:12). While the Philistines can be traced back to the line of Ham via Mizraim (Gen. 10:14; 1 Chron. 1:8-12), there is archaeological and genetic evidence indicating immigration and intermingling of peoples from Asia Minor (Anatolia) and Southern Europe (cp. Jer. 25:19-20; 47:4; Zech. 9:6; “enlarge Japheth”?). See Ann E. Killebrew, Biblical Peoples and Ethnicity: An Archaeological Study of Egyptians, Canaanites, Philistines, and Early Israel, 1300–1100 B.C.E. (Atlanta: SBL, 2005): 230; and Michal Feldman, et al., “Ancient DNA sheds light on the genetic origins of early Iron Age Philistines,” Science Advances 5:7 (3 July 2019), <Link>.

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Image credit: Woodcut based on the drawing of Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1794-1872), <http://thinkgospel.com/the-sin-of-ham-and-the-curse-of-canaan>.