Genesis 9:18: Meaning Explained

And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.

Genesis 9:18

“The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan.”

What Does This Verse Mean?

Noah's three sons came out of the ark. Ham had a son named Canaan.

What’s Happening Here

The Bible now tracks the three main family lines that would repopulate the earth.

Shem, Ham, JaphethNoah's three sons

CanaanHam's son

All people alive today come from one of these three sons.

These three brothers would become the fathers of three major family groups that spread around the world.

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And the sonsבְנֵי

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of Noahנֹ֗חַ

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that went forthהַיֹּֽצְאִים֙

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of the arkהַתֵּבָ֔ה

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were Shemשֵׁ֖ם

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and Hamוְחָ֕ם

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and Japhethוָיָ֑פֶת

is the fatherאֲבִ֥י

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of Canaanכְנָֽעַן׃

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