Genesis 9:25 kjv

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

Genesis 9:25 nkjv

Then he said: "Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren."

Genesis 9:25 niv

he said, "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers."

Genesis 9:25 esv

he said, "Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers."

Genesis 9:25 nlt

Then he cursed Canaan, the son of Ham: "May Canaan be cursed!
May he be the lowest of servants to his relatives."

Genesis 9 verses

Genesis 9 25 Meaning

Genesis 9:25 states Noah's prophetic declaration: "Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants He shall be to his brothers." This verse articulates a divinely sanctioned curse specifically upon Canaan, Ham's son, establishing a future condition of servitude and subjugation for Canaan's descendants in relation to the descendants of his uncles, Shem and Japheth, particularly those of Shem. This pronouncement is not merely an expression of anger but a prophetic word foretelling the historical destiny of the Canaanite peoples as they would come into contact and conflict with other nations descended from Noah, especially Israel.

Genesis 9 25 Context

Genesis 9:25 is part of Noah's prophecy delivered after the great Flood, following a specific incident involving Noah and his three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. After disembarking from the ark, Noah began to cultivate the land and planted a vineyard. He drank of its wine, became drunk, and lay uncovered in his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, "saw the nakedness of his father" (Gen 9:22) and, rather than showing respect or covering his father, went out and told his brothers. Shem and Japheth, however, respectfully walked backward into the tent with a garment to cover their father, avoiding seeing his nakedness (Gen 9:23). When Noah awoke and realized what Ham, specifically through the disrespectful act, had done, he did not curse Ham directly but rather cursed Ham's son, Canaan. This act highlights the transfer of the consequence of Ham's specific offense to his lineage through Canaan, hinting at a prophetic destiny related to future national identities and territories. This incident sets a moral and spiritual distinction among the sons, which manifests in the blessings pronounced upon Shem and Japheth and the curse upon Canaan, prefiguring the later interactions and historical positions of their descendants in the ancient Near East, especially the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites (descendants of Shem).

Genesis 9 25 Word analysis

• And he said: Refers to Noah. After Ham's disrespectful action and Shem and Japheth's respectful covering of him, Noah, having gained prophetic insight, pronounces this weighty declaration upon awakening. It is a divinely inspired utterance, not merely a drunken rant.
• Cursed be Canaan:
  • Hebrew: ’Ārur Kəna‘an (אָרוּר כְּנָעַן).
  • ’Ārur (cursed) means to be placed under a ban, destined for negative consequences or subjugation, experiencing divine displeasure. It implies a condition imposed by God, bringing misfortune and limitation, a state contrary to blessing. This curse is specifically on Canaan, Ham's son, not on Ham directly, nor on all his other descendants (e.g., Egypt, Cush, Put), emphasizing a particular future destiny for the Canaanite peoples. The precise nature of Ham's sin often debated (peering, active homosexual act, gloating, mockery) is irrelevant to the effect, which Noah rightly discerned as requiring consequences upon Canaan's line, tying it to a cultural future known for immorality in Scripture (Lev 18:24-28).
• A servant of servants:
  • Hebrew: ‘Eved ‘Avadim (עֶבֶד עֲבָדִים). This is a Hebrew superlative idiom, signifying the lowest form of servitude or deepest degree of subjugation. It does not imply universal or perpetual literal slavery of all Canaanites, but rather a state of profound political, economic, or social subjugation.
  • This condition foretold that Canaan’s descendants would be militarily subdued and made subject, becoming a servile group under other nations, particularly the descendants of Shem (Israel) and later, possibly Japheth. It signifies humiliation, loss of autonomy, and compelled labor.
• He shall be: This phrase highlights the prophetic nature of Noah's utterance. It is a foretelling of a future reality, emphasizing the certainty of this condition for Canaan's descendants. It indicates that the curse is not a mere wish but a decreed destiny that will unfold historically.
• To his brothers: Refers to the descendants of Shem and Japheth. The curse implies that Canaan's descendants would be in a subservient relationship to the descendants of his uncles. Historically, this relationship largely manifested through the subjugation of the Canaanites by the Israelites (descendants of Shem) during the conquest and throughout the monarchic period, where they were often conscripted for forced labor or existed as tributary populations.

Genesis 9 25 Bonus section

The nature of Ham's sin is debated among scholars but it involved disrespect, perhaps even some form of perverse exploitation or public shaming, contrary to the filial piety due to a patriarch. The curse being pronounced on Canaan rather than Ham directly has several implications: it shows that the consequences of sin can extend beyond the immediate perpetrator, affecting their lineage, especially if that lineage itself will be prone to similar or greater moral corruption (as the Canaanites indeed were). Furthermore, it establishes a specific theological foundation for the Israelite conquest of the land of Canaan, framing it not merely as a territorial acquisition but as an act of divine judgment and the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy regarding the subjugation of these people groups for their persistent unrighteousness. This verse highlights the sovereignty of God in orchestrating human history according to His moral standards and promises.

Genesis 9 25 Commentary

Genesis 9:25 is a critical verse primarily because it acts as a foundational prophecy for the subsequent interactions between Israel and the Canaanite nations, which largely derive from Canaan. It is essential to understand that this curse is narrowly directed at Canaan, a specific line, rather than broadly at all of Ham's descendants, dispelling any interpretation linking it to all people of color or to justify racial slavery, which is an abhorrent misapplication unsupported by Scripture.

The curse signifies a divinely ordained destiny of subjugation for Canaan, flowing from Ham's specific act of irreverence towards his father. While Ham committed the offense, the curse falls upon Canaan, prophetically targeting a future people group (the Canaanites) who, throughout biblical history, are often characterized by grave moral corruption and idolatry, leading to their disinheritance and judgment by God (cf. Lev 18:24-28, Deut 9:5). This verse pre-programmes the historical conflict and eventual conquest of the land of Canaan by the descendants of Shem (Israel).

The "servant of servants" imagery paints a picture of extreme subjugation. This was realized not necessarily as individual chattel slavery, but through military defeats, tributary status, and forced labor imposed by Israelite kings like Solomon (1 Kgs 9:20-21) and during the conquest (Josh 9:23). This outcome underscores a biblical principle: disrespectful and immoral conduct can lead to severe consequences for future generations.

It is crucial to note that the Bible consistently rejects any form of racial hierarchy or prejudice. While this passage addresses historical realities tied to specific lineage, its ultimate message is not to be used to validate social injustice but to understand the unfolding of divine justice in history. The New Testament profoundly broadens God's covenant and redefines humanity's relationships, proclaiming a universal reconciliation in Christ where all national, ethnic, and social divisions are superseded (Gal 3:28).