Genesis 9:18 kjv

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

Genesis 9:18 nkjv

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

Genesis 9:18 niv

The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.)

Genesis 9:18 esv

The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.)

Genesis 9:18 nlt

The sons of Noah who came out of the boat with their father were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham is the father of Canaan.)

Genesis 9 verses

Genesis 9 18 Meaning

Genesis 9:18 introduces Noah's three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—who were aboard the ark and subsequently became the progenitors of all post-flood humanity. This verse marks the beginning of the re-establishment of human society through these specific lineages, setting the stage for the unfolding of human history, diversification of nations, and God's redemptive plan through one chosen line.

Genesis 9 18 Context

Genesis 9:18 immediately follows God's post-flood covenant with Noah and all living creatures, a covenant sealed by the rainbow (Gen 9:1-17). With the ark's mission fulfilled and humanity given a fresh start, this verse shifts focus to the individual human actors responsible for repopulating the earth. It specifically names Noah's three sons, who were the sole male human survivors alongside Noah. This acts as a crucial bridge, transitioning the narrative from the universal judgment and new covenant to the specific development of post-flood human civilization, leading directly into Noah's curse of Canaan (which profoundly impacts Ham's line) and the Table of Nations in Genesis 10. Historically and culturally, ancient near eastern societies placed immense importance on genealogy and tribal lineage, making this detailed enumeration fundamental for establishing the identity and future destiny of the different peoples known to the original audience.

Genesis 9 18 Word analysis

• The sons (בְּנֵי, benei): This plural construct noun emphasizes their shared paternity and singular origin from Noah, underscoring their role as the starting point for all humanity. In Hebrew thought, "sons" often referred not just to direct male offspring but also descendants and, in some contexts, followers or members of a particular group. Here, it denotes direct, primary lineage.
• of Noah (נֹחַ, Noach): The patriarch whose name means "rest" or "comfort." He represents the chosen remnant through whom God preserved humanity and initiated a new creation. His sons' identity is tied directly to him as the ark's builder and covenant recipient.
• who went (יָצְאֽוּ, yatze'u): A perfect verb, "they went out," indicating a completed action. It signifies their departure from the ark, marking the end of their period of containment and the beginning of their role in inhabiting the post-flood earth. It is a precise physical action but also symbolic of a new beginning for humanity.
• from the ark (תֵּבָה, tevah): This unique Hebrew noun (the only other biblical usage is for Moses' basket in Exod 2:3-5) signifies a vessel of salvation and preservation through water. "From the ark" underlines their miraculous survival and unique status as the progenitors of a new world, a clear demarcation from the world that perished.
• were Shem, Ham, and Japheth (שֵׁם, חָם, יֶפֶת, Shem, Ham, Yepheth): The specific naming of the three brothers is profoundly significant. These proper nouns delineate the three major branches of post-diluvian humanity and form the basis of the Table of Nations in Gen 10.
  • Shem: Meaning "name" or "fame." His line, though not always numerically superior, becomes genealogically and covenantally superior, culminating in Abraham and eventually Jesus.
  • Ham: Meaning "hot" or "burnt" (possibly referring to color, thus connecting to southern lands/peoples). He is the ancestor of the Canaanites and other peoples often associated with conflict or later subjection to Israel.
  • Japheth: Meaning "enlargement" or "spread." His descendants are depicted as expanding geographically and culturally, potentially covering large parts of the ancient world.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "The sons of Noah who went from the ark": This phrase directly links these individuals to the unique event of the flood and their status as the sole human survivors chosen by God. It establishes their historical importance as the founders of renewed humanity. Their origin "from the ark" signifies not just a physical location but a divine act of preservation, placing them at the crucible of a new era.
  • "Shem, Ham, and Japheth": This is more than a mere listing; it is a foundational statement for the entire subsequent narrative of humanity's development. It signals the upcoming divergence of human families and destinies, anticipating the "Table of Nations" (Gen 10) and the specific curses and blessings (Gen 9:20-27) that follow, which shape the identity and interactions of the future nations described in the Bible.

Genesis 9 18 Bonus section

This verse subtly underscores the principle of corporate representation and the unity of the human race. All peoples, despite their eventual dispersal and cultural distinctions, trace their ancestry back to this single family unit emerging from the ark. It serves as a reminder that all humanity is descended from a common ancestor, a crucial biblical doctrine that opposes theories of separate origins. Furthermore, the naming here prepares the reader for the prophetic utterances that follow in Genesis 9:20-27 concerning the destiny and roles of the descendants of these three brothers. This is where we first glimpse the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through the particular lineage of Shem, distinct from the blessings and burdens associated with the lines of Ham and Japheth, yet all originating from a shared familial bond established at this point.

Genesis 9 18 Commentary

Genesis 9:18 acts as a concise but critical transition in the biblical narrative, laying the groundwork for the future of humanity after the catastrophic flood. It moves the story from the grand cosmic scope of global judgment and covenant down to the foundational unit of Noah's immediate family. The precise identification of Shem, Ham, and Japheth is far from arbitrary; it establishes the patriarchal root of all subsequent human populations and directly foreshadows the distribution and differing fates of the nations (Genesis 10). This verse anticipates the complex interplay of human choice, divine judgment, and God's sovereign plan as revealed through their descendants. While concise, its implications are vast, as it sets the stage for themes of human sinfulness (seen immediately in Noah's drunkenness and Ham's actions), God's selection of a lineage (Shem's line leading to Abraham), and the formation of diverse peoples on the earth—all contributing to the ongoing narrative of redemption.