Genesis 9:23

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

22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.

Then Shem and Japheth took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.

24 When Noah awoke from his drunkenness and learned what his youngest son had done to him,

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

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then Shem and Japheth took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.
KJV
And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.
WEB
Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn’t see their father’s nakedness.
ASV
And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father. And their faces were backward, and they saw not their father`s nakedness.
DARBY
And Shem and Japheth took the upper garment and both laid [it] upon their shoulders, and went backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. And their faces were turned away, that they saw not their father's nakedness.
BLB
And Shem took—and Japheth—the garment, and they laid [it] on the shoulders of the two of them and they went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. And their faces [were] backward, and the nakedness of their father they did not see.
ÅB
Da tok Sem og Jafet et klede og la det på sine skuldrer og gikk baklengs inn og dekket over sin fars blusel; og de vendte sine øyne bort, så de ikke så sin fars blusel.
OTB
Men Sem og Jafet tok et plagg, la det over skuldrene sine og gikk baklengs for å dekke sin fars nakenhet. Ansiktene deres var vendt bort slik at de ikke så sin fars nakenhet.
B1930
Da tok Sem og Jafet et klæde og la det på sine skuldrer og gikk baklengs inn og dekket over sin fars blusel; og de vendte sine øine bort, så de ikke så sin fars blusel.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Galatians 6:1

    Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 20:12

    Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

    Read in context
  • 1 Peter 2:17

    Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

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  • 1 Peter 4:8

    Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

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  • Romans 13:7

    Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 19:32

    You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.

    Read in context
  • 1 Timothy 5:1

    Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,

    Read in context
  • 1 Timothy 5:19

    Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

    Read in context