Genesis 9:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Ham, the father of Canaan, observed the nakedness of his father and went out to inform his two brothers. He might have disclosed this shame to others, highlighting the inherent wickedness of this son. To illustrate that he was corrupt in spirit from the earliest times, Scripture does not merely state that “Ham... saw... the nakedness of his father,” but specifies, “And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw.” Why is his son's name mentioned here? It is to reveal that he was a man driven by lust and devoid of restraint, acting on a depraved will that led him to disrespect his father in such a manner. In his departing words, he told his two brothers. Notice, dear friends, that the root of sin does not arise from nature itself but from the condition of the soul and the exercise of free will.

Once all tasks regarding the ark were fulfilled and the flood had receded, as Noah began to till the ground, let us reflect on the actions of Ham towards him. This account will undoubtedly encourage those committed to a righteous path to place nothing above their duty to honor their parents and to eschew, as the most perilous of sins, any ridicule directed at them, even if, swayed by human frailty, they may occasionally exhibit shameful behavior. The obligation to respect our parents is enshrined in divine instruction. We are commanded to love the one true God with our entire hearts and souls, and He instructs us to “Honour thy father and thy mother...that thy days may be long upon the earth” (Exodus 20:12); indeed, parents represent a reflection of God’s own image.

Why did Ham transgress, resulting in a curse upon his son Canaan? What led Solomon to sin, prompting a punishment that diminished his son's reign (See 1 Kings 12)? Why did Ahab sin during his rule over Israel, with repercussions extending to his descendants (See 3 Kings 21:29)? The sacred texts declare, "For the iniquity of the fathers thou shalt recompense in the bowels of their children after them" (Jer. 32:18) and, "Who punishes the children for the guilt of the fathers to the third and fourth generation" (Ex. 20:5)? This numerical reference may symbolize all future generations. Is all of this falsehood? Who could claim such a thing but a blatant adversary of divine words?

This prolonged period of abstinence, which led to inebriation, is illustrated by Ham’s actions in revealing the situation to his brothers amid the stagnation. How could there be stagnation if a city had not been established? If they had indeed constructed a city, it must have been in existence for a considerable time. Therefore, the establishment of the city and the resulting stagnation indicate that the elderly man had refrained from wine for many years, as previously noted, and this contributed to his intoxication.

Among all the points previously made, the paramount aspect is the honor given to one's parents. Scripture tells us that whoever receives a blessing from their father is truly blessed, whereas a curse from a father carries significant weight. This is the divine grace bestowed upon parents, enabling them to inspire profound honor in their children. Thus, the rearing of children is the responsibility of fathers. Honor your father so that he may bestow his blessings upon you.

The incident of Noah's drunkenness is documented so that we can recognize the reality of the fall and remain vigilant against the dangers of excess. Thus, Shem and Japheth, who took measures to conceal their father's shameful condition, received blessings from the Lord (See Gen. 9:23-27). In summary, Scripture succinctly states, "It is enough wine for a man that is brought up, and on his bed he shall rest."

The offspring of a noble lineage could not tolerate the disgraceful exposure of the righteous. Intoxication revealed what moral integrity seeks to cover, serving as a stark lesson on how one may stumble even without their awareness.

Another profound mystery, unknown to you, was symbolically represented during the era of Noah. This mystery revolves around the blessings Noah bestowed upon his two sons, alongside a curse directed at his grandson. The prophetic Spirit refrained from cursing the son favored by God among the others. The consequences of sin were destined to impact the entire lineage of the son who mocked his father’s nakedness, hence the curse was placed upon his son. In this pronouncement, Noah prophesied that Shem's descendants would come to inherit the lands and dwellings of Canaan, while ultimately, the descendants of Japheth would claim the possessions and homes previously held by the Semites, which they had acquired from the Canaanites, thereby excluding Shem’s lineage from their inheritance.

Let us not forget the father of Ham, who ridiculed his father's nakedness. The Holy Scripture, as St. Chrysostom suggests, criticizes his lack of modesty by mentioning his son Canaan in the narrative: ‘Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness’ (Gen. 9:22). There is profound significance in the inclusion of Canaan, which serves as a condemnation of Ham himself. What is the rebuke? It points to the fact that Ham indulged excessively in lust, pursuing carnal desires (2 Pet. 2:10), akin to a wild beast (Ps. 31:9). Even amidst the harrowing flood, while everyone else trembled with fear, he alone remained shameless and unrestrained, not shunning his wife, resulting in the conception of Canaan.

To grasp the inappropriateness of Ham's actions, we should consider that Noah's vulnerability would have remained hidden from Shem and Japheth had Ham not disclosed it. In doing so, he exposed what should have been kept private. This act exhibited a troubling arrogance that took pleasure in another's misfortune, a deficiency in modesty that is fundamental to purity, and a disregard for his father.

The son had an obligation to honor his father by shielding him from shame and refraining from discussing any shortcomings. However, Ham failed to uphold this responsibility; by revealing what he had witnessed, he sought to incite his brothers to ridicule and judge their father alongside him. In addition to his dishonor towards his father, Ham revealed his own moral deficiency by brazenly exposing himself to the sight of his father's nakedness.