In Genesis 9:20-27, Why Was Noah So Mad at Canaan?

Dang, I haven’t been on Tribe for 3 months and all these crazy questions are asked LOL. Great question, KK! The point about structure that Emily makes is in the right direction, but the key to understanding the cursing of Canaan requires understanding the structure of Genesis 1-11. Fortunately for you and @Emily Yang, there actually is a concrete answer.

All of Genesis 9 is to be seen as a recapitulation and retelling of the original creation story in Genesis 1-3. God restarts the human race with Noah, which is why God blesses Noah and his sons by calling them to be fruitful, to multiply, and to fill the earth (9:1). It’s not a coincidence that God repeats this here. 9:1-17 intentionally mirrors 1:26-31. The flood narrative mirrors and parallels the creation account. The rainbow signifies God’s rest, the ending of God’s judgment upon the earth, and his blessing upon the human race. Having said this, it’s therefore curious what follows after 9:1-17.

If 9:1-17 is a loose retelling of 1:26-31, then 9:18-28 is a loose retelling of the fall (3:1-19). How do we know? Just as in the account of creation in the early chapters of Genesis, God planted a garden for the man and woman to enjoy (2:8). The story of Noah picks up again with the planting of an orchard (the word Hebrew word for ‘planting’ is the same word used in 2:8) in 9:20. And the outcome of the Noah story parallels the outcome of Adam and Eve’s fall. Just like Adam and Eve, Noah takes the fruit of his orchard and becomes naked (9:21). When read in the context of the events of the Garden of Eden, the significance of Noah’s drunkenness and nakedness becomes pretty apparent. Noah became drunk, became naked, and was ashamed. Noah shamed himself. Noah, the supposedly new Adam, falls and sins just like the old Adam (anticipating a true and better Adam). Moses intends to show us the parallels and similarities of both Adam and Noah.

So what does this have to do with Ham and Canaan? Well, contrast the actions between Ham and his two brothers, Shem and Japheth. Ham saw his father’s nakedness, while Shem and Japheth covered their father’s nakedness (Hab. 2:15). If Noah’s nakedness denoted fallenness and shame, then Ham, instead of covering his shame, exposed his shame by telling his brothers. In contrast, Shem and Japheth understood the significance of their father’s shame and, not wanting to shame him further, covered his nakedness and shame. Ham acts dishonorably, while Shem and Japheth act honorably. Moses intended to contrast the different actions taken between Ham and his two brothers, which becomes the basis for the curse and blessing that follow in 9:25-26.

So why was Canaan cursed? Well, in light of the context of Genesis 3, it’s easy and the parallel ought to be quite apparent. The judgment upon Ham and his offspring, Canaan, (Gen. 9:25) is like the judgment upon the serpent and his offspring (Gen. 3:15b). When curses and blessings happen to patriarchs, the curses and blessings follow through to their offspring as well for better or for worse (Gen. 2:28, Gen. 9:25-26; Gen. 12:1-3; Gen. 22:15-19; Gen. 24:60; Gen. 26:1-5, etc. etc.). This is known as corporate or federal solidarity, where a federal head, like Adam, represents his offspring, or in Adam’s case, all of the human race. In Ham’s case, the cursing fell not only on him, but also on his offspring, because Ham functioned as the head and representative of his family line. The apostle Paul makes a similar case where he says all in Adam die, but all in the Messiah will be made alive (1 Cor. 15:22).

So when you compare those two passages, the similarities are remarkable and uncanny. I don’t know how multiple scholars missed this. Noah’s curse on Ham’s son, Canaan, underscores the significance of Ham’s unrighteousness. But Noah’s blessing on Shem and Japheth’s offspring underscores the significance of their righteousness.

Because of their righteousness, Noah blesses the offspring of Shem and Japheth. Little did Noah know that his blessing of Shem would lead to blessing for the whole world (Gen. 12:1-12). Noah blesses his offspring in the same way God blesses the woman’s offspring, from whom Noah, Shem, Abraham, Jacob, Israel, David, Solomon, and eventually Jesus comes (Luke 3:23-38). The promise that God gives to Eve is the Seed, who will crush the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15c)—the true and better Adam, Noah, and Israel: Jesus the Messiah. The gospel in a nutshell, according to Genesis 9:18-28. Scripture is amazing.