Genesis 9:21

Noah’s Shame and Canaan’s Curse · Genesis 9:18–25
Read Genesis 9

Translations

Modern
But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent.
Traditional
And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
Literal
And he drank from the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself in the midst of his tent.
Latin
Bibensque vinum inebriatus est, et nudatus in tabernaculo suo.

Original

Hebrew
English
But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent.

Notes

wine … became drunk: Wine is a gift from God (Deuteronomy 14:26; Psalm 104:15; Isaiah 55:1; see Luke 22:14–20; John 2:1–11). Scripture clearly teaches that drinking too much alcohol is a dangerous sin (Proverbs 23:20–21, 29–35; 1 Corinthians 6:10).

The story of Noah begins with him walking in righteousness and obeying the Lord (6:9). It ends with him drunk and naked in his tent, cursing Canaan. Even after the great flood, people still showed sinful behaviors that led to the flood.

The text emphasizes the cursed origin of the Canaanites, a corrupt and idol-worshiping group. Israel would later remove them from the promised land (see also 15:16 and study note; Leviticus 18:3; 20:23).

Theme notes and profiles

Noah Symbolic Numbers

Events

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Biblical Concept of Law Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Genesis, Book of Ham (Person) Japheth Land Mesopotamia Noah Patriarchs, Period of the Shem Shinar The Flood Wine

Topics

Drunkenness Drunkenness: Noah Ham: Son of Noah: Provokes his Father's Wrath and is Cursed by Him Noah: Son of Lamech: Intoxication of, and his Curse Upon Canaan Tent by Noah Wine was Used: As a Beverage from the Earliest Age Wine: First Mention of Wine: Intoxication From: Noah