Genesis 9:21 kjv
And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
Genesis 9:21 nkjv
Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent.
Genesis 9:21 niv
When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent.
Genesis 9:21 esv
He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent.
Genesis 9:21 nlt
One day he drank some wine he had made, and he became drunk and lay naked inside his tent.
Genesis 9 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text (Shortened) | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 3:7 | ...they knew that they were naked... | Humanity's initial awareness of nakedness and shame after sin. |
| Gen 3:10-11 | ...I was afraid because I was naked... | Shame associated with nakedness. |
| Gen 6:9 | Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations... | Noah's previously noted righteousness. |
| Lev 18:6-19 | ...none of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness... | The serious nature of "uncovering nakedness" as sexual impropriety. |
| Exod 20:12 | Honour thy father and thy mother... | Commandment to respect parents. |
| Lev 19:32 | Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man... | Command to respect the elderly. |
| Deut 27:16 | Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother... | Curse for disrespecting parents. |
| Prov 20:1 | Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. | Warning against the deceptive nature of wine. |
| Prov 23:29-35 | Who hath woe? ...They that tarry long at the wine... | Description of the ill effects of drunkenness. |
| Isa 5:11-12 | Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink... | Condemnation of drunkenness and excessive indulgence. |
| Hab 2:15 | Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink... | Warning against enabling intoxication. |
| Eph 5:18 | And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; | New Testament instruction against drunkenness. |
| Gal 5:21 | ...drunkenness, revellings, and such like... | Drunkenness listed among "works of the flesh." |
| Rom 13:13 | Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness... | Call to proper conduct, avoiding excess. |
| 1 Cor 6:9-10 | Nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. | Drunkenness as a disqualifying sin for inheriting God's kingdom. |
| Ps 104:15 | And wine that maketh glad the heart of man... | Wine also given as a blessing for joy. |
| Judg 9:13 | And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man...? | Acknowledges wine's positive role in cheering. |
| 1 Thess 5:6-7 | Therefore let us not sleep, as others do; but let us watch and be sober. | Call to vigilance and soberness, spiritual and literal. |
| Titus 2:3 | The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine... | Instruction against excessive wine consumption for aged women. |
| Gen 9:20 | And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: | Immediate context: Noah's transition to farming. |
| Gen 9:22 | And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father... | Ham's response to Noah's state. |
| 1 Pet 4:3 | For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine... | Past pagan life characterized by excess. |
Genesis 9 verses
Genesis 9 21 Meaning
Genesis 9:21 describes an incident where Noah, after cultivating a vineyard and drinking of its wine, became intoxicated to the point of exposing himself inside his tent. This event highlights human frailty and the immediate re-emergence of sin and shame in the post-Flood world, even among those chosen by God.Genesis 9 21 Context
Following the universal judgment of the Flood, Noah, identified as a "righteous man" and God's chosen to restart humanity, begins a new phase of life as an "agriculturist" (Gen 9:20). He plants a vineyard, an act symbolizing humanity's re-engagement with the land after the cataclysm. This verse immediately introduces a severe moral failing into this renewed world, setting the stage for the narrative of the curse on Canaan, the son of Ham. The event underscores that even divinely preserved humanity retains its fallen nature, prone to sin, and foreshadows the future moral challenges of the human race. In the ancient world, viticulture was common, and wine was an integral part of diet and culture; however, its misuse was well-understood as leading to dishonor and societal breakdown.Genesis 9 21 Word analysis
- And he drank: Noah's consumption was deliberate. It marks the first specific instance in Scripture of drinking leading directly to a negative outcome of drunkenness and shame.
- of the wine: (Hebrew: yayin, יַיִן). This fermented grape beverage was part of ancient life, providing both refreshment and merriment (Ps 104:15), but also carried the inherent danger of intoxication. Its first recorded use leads to sin, highlighting its dual nature and the responsibility involved in its consumption.
- and was drunken: (Hebrew: wayyishkar, וַיִּשְׁכַּר). This verb signifies a state of deep intoxication and loss of self-control. It is a direct result of the consumption of wine and implies Noah's personal failing. It represents a significant fall from his previous state of righteousness (Gen 6:9).
- and he was uncovered: (Hebrew: wayyitgal, וַיִּתְגַּל). This is a crucial and often debated phrase. The verb is in the Hithpael stem, which often denotes a reflexive action, meaning "he himself uncovered." This implies Noah's nakedness was not caused by an outside force, but was a consequence of his drunken stupor, where he removed his garments or failed to keep himself covered. It directly points to Noah's own responsibility for his exposed state due to intoxication. In other biblical contexts (e.g., Lev 18), "uncovering nakedness" frequently refers to prohibited sexual acts, adding a layer of implied shame and impropriety, especially given the context of Ham's subsequent actions towards his father's nakedness.
- within his tent: This detail emphasizes the privacy and presumed security of Noah's sleeping quarters. The exposure in such a private setting underscores the profound humiliation and vulnerability that Noah experienced due to his drunkenness. It was not a public display, yet it had significant implications for his family.