When Noah awoke from his drunkenness
This phrase highlights Noah's human frailty despite his righteousness. Noah, a man of faith who found favor with God and survived the Flood, succumbed to the effects of wine. This incident serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of overindulgence and the potential for sin even among the faithful. The Bible often warns against drunkenness (Proverbs 20:1, Ephesians 5:18), emphasizing the need for self-control. Noah's vineyard and subsequent intoxication mark the first mention of wine in Scripture, setting a precedent for its complex role in biblical narratives.

and learned what his youngest son had done to him,
The phrase refers to Ham's actions, which are interpreted as disrespectful and dishonorable. In the cultural context of the ancient Near East, honoring one's parents was a fundamental value, and Ham's behavior was a serious breach of familial duty. The term "youngest son" is significant, as it highlights the dynamics within Noah's family and the subsequent curse on Canaan, Ham's son. This incident foreshadows the future tensions between the descendants of Ham and those of Shem and Japheth. The narrative also connects to the broader biblical theme of sin's consequences, as seen in the curses and blessings that follow.

1. Noah
The central figure in this passage, Noah is a righteous man chosen by God to survive the Flood and repopulate the earth. Here, he is depicted in a moment of vulnerability after becoming drunk.

2. Ham
Noah's youngest son, who is implicated in this passage for his actions towards his father. The nature of his actions is a subject of much discussion and interpretation.

3. Canaan
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Canaan is the son of Ham and is later cursed by Noah. This event sets the stage for the future relationship between the descendants of Noah's sons.

4. The Tent
The setting of the event, where Noah's vulnerability is exposed. It symbolizes a place of privacy that was violated.

5. The Event of Noah's Drunkenness
This event highlights human fallibility and the consequences of actions, even among the righteous.Human Fallibility
Even the most righteous individuals can fall into sin. Noah's drunkenness serves as a reminder of human weakness and the need for vigilance.

Respect for Authority and Family
Ham's actions demonstrate a lack of respect for his father. This passage underscores the importance of honoring and respecting family and authority figures.

Consequences of Sin
The account illustrates that actions have consequences, not only for the individual but also for future generations, as seen in the curse on Canaan.

The Importance of Sobriety
Noah's experience highlights the dangers of losing control through substances like alcohol, aligning with biblical teachings on sobriety and self-control.

Privacy and Dignity
The violation of Noah's privacy by Ham serves as a lesson on respecting the dignity and privacy of others.(24) Noah . . . knew what his younger son had done unto him.--Heb., his son, the little one. This can only mean his youngest son. So it is applied to Benjamin in Genesis 42:34; Genesis 43:29, and to David in 1Samuel 16:11, where the words literally are, there re- maineth yet the little one. Now Ham was not the youngest son, but Japheth; and it is not Ham who is cursed, but Canaan. So far from Ham being accursed, his descendants were building mighty cities, such as Egyptian Thebes, Nineveh, and Babylon, were rearing palaces, digging canals, organising governments, and founding empires at a time when the descendants of Japheth were wandering over Europe with no better weapons than implements of flint and bone. The application of the curse to Ham seems to have been suggested to commentators by the degradation of the African race in modern times, and especially by the prevalence of slavery: but anciently the converse was the case, and for centuries the Egyptians, a Hamite race, made the Israelites serve them.

We must not extend, therefore, to Ham the curse pronounced upon Canaan. But what had Canaan done to deserve it? As the son, the little one, was not Ham, so certainly it was not Japheth, but probably it was Canaan. He was the youngest son of Ham, and in Hebrew "son" is occasionally used for grandson (Genesis 29:5; Genesis 31:55), and so he might be described as Noah's youngest son, being the youngest member of his family. Origen quotes a tradition that Canaan was the first who saw Noah's exposure, and that he told it to his father. Aben Ezra says that Canaan had done worse than mock, though the Scripture does not in words reveal his crime. With some such surmise we must be content; and the meaning seems to be, "Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what (Canaan) his youngest son (or grandson) had done unto him; and it was a deed so shameless that he said, 'Cursed be Canaan.'" . . .

Verse 24. - And Noah awoke from his wine. I.e. the effects of his wine (cf. 1 Samuel 1:14; 1 Samuel 25:37); ἐξένηψε (LXX.); "became fully conscious of his condition" (T. Lewis). And knew. By inspiration (Alford); more probably by making inquiries as to the reason of the simlah covering him. What his younger son. Literally, his son, the little one, i.e. the youngest son (Willet, Murphy, Wordsworth, T. Lewis, Alford, Candlish), or the younger son (Keil, Bush, Karisch); cf. Genesis 5:32. Generally believed to have been Ham, though by many Canaan is understood (Aben Ezra, Theodoret, Procopius, Scaliger, Poole, Jamieson, Inglis, Lewis). Origen mentions a tradition that Canaan first saw the shame of Noah, and told it to his father. Wordsworth, following Chrysostom, believes Canaan may have been an accomplice. 'The Speaker's Commentary' thinks it would solve the difficulty which attaches to the cursing of Canaan.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

awoke
וַיִּ֥יקֶץ (way·yî·qeṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3364: To awake

from his drunkenness
מִיֵּינ֑וֹ (mî·yê·nōw)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3196: Wine, intoxication

and learned
וַיֵּ֕דַע (way·yê·ḏa‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

what
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

his youngest
הַקָּטָֽן׃ (haq·qā·ṭān)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6996: Small, young, unimportant

son
בְּנ֥וֹ (bə·nōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

had done
עָ֥שָׂה־ (‘ā·śāh-)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

to him,
ל֖וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Law: Genesis 9:24 Noah awoke from his wine and knew (Gen. Ge Gn)