Genesis 9:25

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

And he said {H559}, Cursed {H779} be Canaan {H3667}; a servant {H5650} of servants {H5650} shall he be unto his brethren {H251}.

He said, “Cursed be Kena‘an; he will be a servant of servants to his brothers.”

he said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”

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

Commentary

Genesis 9:25 records Noah's prophetic curse upon his grandson, Canaan, following an incident involving Noah's son, Ham. This verse is pivotal for understanding the subsequent history of the Canaanite peoples and has unfortunately been subject to significant misinterpretation throughout history.

Context

This pronouncement comes after Noah, the patriarch who survived the great flood, became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. His son, Ham, saw his father's nakedness and inappropriately told his brothers, Shem and Japheth. In contrast, Shem and Japheth respectfully covered their father without looking upon him (Genesis 9:23). Upon waking, Noah, aware of what Ham had done, cursed Canaan, Ham's son, rather than Ham directly. This is often understood as a prophetic judgment on Ham's lineage through Canaan, whose descendants would become the future Canaanite nations known for their wickedness and idolatry.

Key Themes

  • Consequences of Disrespect: Ham's disrespectful act, whether by mocking, gloating, or failing to show proper reverence, brought a curse upon his son's lineage. This highlights the serious nature of disrespect towards parents and elders in biblical culture.
  • Prophetic Utterance: Noah's words are not merely an angry outburst but a divinely inspired prophecy concerning the future subjugation of the Canaanites. Historically, the descendants of Canaan were indeed subjected to servitude by the descendants of Shem (Israelites) and Japheth (e.g., Philistines, various empires).
  • Misinterpretation and Misuse: Crucially, this verse has been gravely misused to justify slavery and racial prejudice. It is essential to understand that the curse is specific to Canaan and his descendants, not a blanket curse on all of Ham's lineage or any race. The Bible condemns prejudice and affirms the unity of humanity (Acts 17:26).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "servant of servants" translates the Hebrew 'eved 'avadim. This is a superlative construction, emphasizing the lowest or most abject form of servitude. It signifies a state of deep and lasting subservience, indicating that Canaan's descendants would be in a position of extreme subjugation to others.

Fulfillment and Significance

The curse found its historical fulfillment as the Israelites (descendants of Shem) conquered the land of Canaan, and many Canaanite peoples were either dispossessed, destroyed, or made subservient (e.g., the Gibeonites in Joshua 9:23). Furthermore, later empires descended from Japheth also exercised dominion over the region where Canaanites resided.

Practical Application

Genesis 9:25 serves as a powerful reminder of:

  • The lasting impact of our actions, both positive and negative, on future generations.
  • The importance of honoring and respecting authority, particularly within the family.
  • The critical need for careful and contextual biblical interpretation to avoid misusing scripture for harmful ideologies. The Bible teaches us to love our neighbor and treat all people with dignity, as they are created in God's image (Genesis 1:27).
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 27:16 (9 votes)

    Cursed [be] he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

  • Joshua 9:23 (9 votes)

    Now therefore ye [are] cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

  • John 8:34 (8 votes)

    Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

  • Judges 1:28 (7 votes)

    And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.

  • Judges 1:30 (7 votes)

    Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.

  • 1 Kings 9:20 (5 votes)

    [And] all the people [that were] left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which [were] not of the children of Israel,

  • 1 Kings 9:21 (5 votes)

    Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day.