The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
This phrase identifies the three sons of Noah, who are significant as the progenitors of the post-flood human race. Shem, Ham, and Japheth are often seen as the ancestors of different ethnic and linguistic groups. Shem is traditionally associated with the Semitic peoples, including the Israelites, Arabs, and others in the Middle East. Ham is linked to African and some Middle Eastern populations, while Japheth is connected to the Indo-European peoples. The mention of these sons highlights the new beginning for humanity after the flood, emphasizing the continuity of God's plan for mankind. The ark's landing on Mount Ararat symbolizes a new covenant and a fresh start for humanity, echoing themes of salvation and redemption.

And Ham was the father of Canaan.
This phrase introduces Canaan, who becomes a significant figure in biblical history. Canaan is the ancestor of the Canaanites, who inhabited the land that God later promised to Abraham and his descendants. This mention foreshadows the future conflict between the Israelites and the Canaanites, as well as the eventual conquest of Canaan by the Israelites under Joshua. The reference to Ham as Canaan's father also sets the stage for the subsequent narrative involving Noah's curse on Canaan, which has been interpreted in various ways throughout history. This curse is often seen as a prophetic declaration of the future subjugation of the Canaanites. Theologically, this phrase underscores the theme of generational consequences and the unfolding of God's sovereign plan through human history.

1. Noah
The righteous man chosen by God to survive the flood and repopulate the earth. He is a central figure in the post-flood account.

2. Shem
One of Noah's three sons, traditionally considered the ancestor of the Semitic peoples, including the Israelites.

3. Ham
Another son of Noah, noted here as the father of Canaan. His actions later in the chapter have significant implications for his descendants.

4. Japheth
The third son of Noah, often associated with the peoples of Europe and parts of Asia.

5. Canaan
Mentioned as the son of Ham, Canaan becomes significant in the biblical account as the ancestor of the Canaanites, who are often in conflict with the Israelites.The Importance of Lineage
Understanding the genealogies in Genesis helps us see God's unfolding plan through specific families and nations.

Consequences of Actions
Ham's actions later in Genesis 9 have lasting consequences for his descendants, reminding us of the impact of our choices.

God's Sovereignty
The mention of Canaan foreshadows future events, illustrating God's control over history and His plans for redemption.

Unity and Diversity
The sons of Noah represent the origins of diverse nations, yet all humanity shares a common ancestry, calling us to unity.

Faithfulness in New Beginnings
As Noah and his family step into a renewed world, their faithfulness sets a foundation for future generations.(18) Ham is the father of Canaan.--Though human life had thus begun again upon a firmer footing, yet evil and discord were soon to reappear, though in a milder form. No brother sheds a brother's blood, but in the next generation sin breaks forth afresh, and the human family is disunited thereby, the descendants of Canaan taking the place of the Cainites--without indeed, their striking gifts, but nevertheless as a race foremost in trade and commerce. After enumerating the three sons of Noah, we are told: "Of '--more correctly, from--"them was the whole earth overspread," that is, peopled.

Verse 18. - And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, who are here again mentioned as the heads of the nations into which the family of man developed, the writer having described the important modifications made upon the law of nature and the covenant of grace, and being now about to proceed with the onward course of human history. The present section, extending to ver. 27, is usually assigned to the Jehovistic author (Tuch,Bleek, Kalisch, Colenso, Kuenen), though by Davidson it is ascribed to a so-called redactor, with the exception of the present clause, which is recognized as the Jehovist's contribution to the story. The ground of this apportionment is the introduction of the name Jehovah in ver. 26 (q.v.), and certain traces throughout the paragraph of the style of writing supposed to be peculiar to the supplementer. And Ham is the father of Canaan. Kena'an, the depressed or low one; either the Lowlander or inhabitant of a tow coast country, as opposed to the loftier regions (Aram); from kana , to be low, depressed, in situation, as of land (Gesenius); or more probably the servile one in spirit (Furst, Murphy, Keil, Lange). The reason for the insertion of this notice here, and of the similar one in ver. 22, was obviously to draw attention to the circumstance, not "that the origin of Israel's ascendancy and of Canaan's degradation dates so far back as the family of the second founder of the human race," as if the writer's standpoint were long subsequent to the conquest (Kalisch), but that, "as Israel was now going to possess the land of Canaan, they might know that now was the time when the curse of Canaan and his posterity should take place" (Wilier).

Parallel Commentaries ...


The sons
בְנֵי־ (ḇə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Noah
נֹ֗חַ (nō·aḥ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5146: Noah -- 'rest', patriarch who survived the flood

who came out
הַיֹּֽצְאִים֙ (hay·yō·ṣə·’îm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

of
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the ark
הַתֵּבָ֔ה (hat·tê·ḇāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8392: A box, chest

were
וַיִּֽהְי֣וּ (way·yih·yū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

Shem,
שֵׁ֖ם (šêm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8035: Shem -- 'name', oldest son of Noah

Ham,
וְחָ֣ם (wə·ḥām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2526: Ham -- a son of Noah, also his descendants, also a name for Egyptians

and Japheth.
וָיָ֑פֶת (wā·yā·p̄eṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3315: Japheth -- a son of Noah

And Ham
וְחָ֕ם (wə·ḥām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2526: Ham -- a son of Noah, also his descendants, also a name for Egyptians

was the father
אֲבִ֥י (’ă·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1: Father

of Canaan.
כְנָֽעַן׃ (ḵə·nā·‘an)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3667: Canaan -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their land West of the Jordan


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OT Law: Genesis 9:18 The sons of Noah who went forth (Gen. Ge Gn)