What does Genesis 9:20-27 mean? The sin of Ham and curse of Canaan

What does Genesis 9:20-27 mean? What was Ham’s sin and why was his son, Canaan, cursed because of Ham’s sin? The story begins in Genesis 9:20-22, which says, “Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside.” Because of this sin, Ham’s son, Canaan, is cursed by Noah. What is going on in this story?

In this Bible study, Wes and special guest, Dr. Thomas Jackson, discuss Genesis 9:20-27. Some of the most popular interpretations of this passage are voyeurism, homosexual assault, and even castration. Dr. Jackson suggests a different interpretation. To support this interpretation, Dr. Jackson compares the words and events from Genesis 9 to some of the sexual laws in Leviticus 18 and 20.

This episode of the Bible Study Podcast is part of the, “What Does This Passage Mean?” series. During this series, Wes and various guests will study a different passage of the Bible in context. We will discuss both the meaning and application of some difficult passages of Scripture. If you have a passage you would like for us to discuss, send us a note: RadicallyChristian.com/contact or leave a voicemail at 707-238-2216.


Other passages considered in this Bible study:

  • Leviticus 18:6-10
  • Leviticus 20:17-21
  • Genesis 19:30-37
  • 2 Samuel 16:20-23

Links and Resources:

Video: Watch This Episode on YouTube

Transcript: Full Transcipt of This Episode

Video: Dr. Jackson’s “Interpreting Difficult Passages” Lesson

Article: Noah’s Nakedness – Patheos.com

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