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NASB | Genesis 9:22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 9:22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw [by accident] the nakedness of his father, and [to his father's shame] told his two brothers outside. |
Bible Question: why did noah curse cannan |
Bible Answer: Greetings blessingu1! Ham saw his father's "nakedness".. That is why he was condemned. Noah must have known the effects of drinking wine, and his becoming "warm" with wine might have caused him to uncover himself. Ham gazed at him while Shem and Japheth showed respect for their father by covering him up (v.23). Clearly, Ham looked with some sinful thought, if only for awhile. Perhaps he was glad to see his father's dignity and authority reduced to such weakness. He thought his brothers might share his feelings so he eagerly told them, and it turned out that they did not (v. 23). Now, whether Canaan was personally involved with his father Ham's sin, we do not know (he might have seen Noah's condition first and then told his father). It is safe to assume that this prophecy would be fulfilled since Canaan and his descendants were going to be even worse than Ham (Lev. 18:2-3,6-30). But Ham is punished for his dishonor to his father by having a son who would bring dishonor to him. The curse is not on the Hamites, but on the Canaanites, the inhabitants of Palestine who were first subjected by Joshua (Josh 9:27; 16:10; Judg. 1:28,30,33,35) and later by Solomon (1 Kings 9:20-21). Noah's prophecy cannot be used to justify the enslavement of blacks, since those cursed here were Canaanites, who were Caucasian. The Canaanites long ago became extinct, so the curse, therefore, cannot be applied to anyone today. Blessings to you, Nolan |