Genesis 9:24 - Meaning and Application

Noah came to himself again after his drunken sleep. He woke from the effects of the wine, and we may think this sorrowful fall cured him so that he never repeated it. Those who sleep as Noah did should wake as he did, and not like the drunkard in Proverbs 23:35, who says when he wakes, “I will seek it again.”

Then the spirit of prophecy came upon him, and, like dying Jacob, he told his sons what would happen to them (Genesis 49:1). He first pronounced a curse on Canaan, Ham’s son, in whom Ham himself is cursed (Genesis 9:25). This may be because Canaan was more guilty than his brothers, or because his descendants were later to be driven out to make room for Israel. Moses records this to strengthen Israel for the wars in Canaan. Even though the Canaanites were strong, they were an old cursed people, already marked for ruin.

The curse was this, that Canaan would be a servant of servants, the lowest and most despised kind of servant, to his brothers. Those who were his equals by birth would become his masters by conquest. This points to Israel’s victories over the Canaanites, when they were either killed or made to pay tribute (Joshua 9:23; Judges 1:28, 1:30, 1:33, 1:35). That did not happen until about 800 years later. God often visits a father’s sin on the children, especially when the children inherit the same wicked heart and follow the same evil ways, and do nothing to break the curse.

Shame is rightly placed on those who shame others, especially those who dishonor and grieve their own parents. A child who mocks and disobeys a parent is not worthy to be called a son, but deserves to be treated like a hired servant, even like a servant of servants among his brothers. Though God’s curses work slowly, they do work surely. The Canaanites lived under a curse of slavery, yet they prospered for a long time. A person, a family, or a nation may lie under God’s curse and still seem to do well for a while, until their sin is full, as it was with the Canaanites. Many are marked for ruin before they are ready for it. So do not envy sinners.

Noah also gave a blessing to Shem and Japheth. He blesses Shem, or rather blesses God for Shem, yet in doing so he gives Shem the highest honor and happiness (Genesis 9:26). He calls the Lord the God of Shem, and happy, truly happy, is the people whose God is the Lord (Psalm 144:15). This includes every blessing. This was the promise later given to Abraham and his family, when God was not ashamed to be called their God (Hebrews 11:16).

Shem was well rewarded for honoring his father, because the Lord himself gave him this honor, to be his God. That is reward enough for all our service and suffering for his name. Noah also gives God the credit for the good Shem had done. He does not praise the man who served as the instrument, but God who was the true source of the good. All the credit for anything well done, by us or by others, should be humbly and thankfully given to God, who works all our good works in us and for us. When we see good works, we should glorify not the person, but our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). In the same way, David in effect blessed Abigail when he blessed God for sending her (1 Samuel 25:32, 1 Samuel 25:33), for it is an honor and a mercy to be used by God to do good.

Noah also foresaw that God’s kind dealings with Shem and his family would make it clear to everyone that he was the God of Shem. Many would then give thanks to God for Shem’s line, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Shem.” This also hints that the church would be built up and preserved through Shem’s descendants, for from him came the Jews, who for a long time were the only professing people of God in the world. Some think this also points to Christ, who in his human nature came from Shem’s line, since Christ came in the flesh from that family.

Canaan is singled out as a servant to Shem. Those who have the Lord for their God will have as much of the honor and power of this world as God sees fit to give them.

Noah also blessed Japheth, and through him the isles of the Gentiles, which were settled by his descendants. “God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem” (Genesis 9:27). Some take this as a promise about Japheth alone. It may mean, first, outward success, that his descendants would become so numerous and strong that they would rule over the tents of Shem. This was fulfilled when the Jews, the chief people from Shem’s line, came under the rule of the Greeks and then the Romans, both from Japheth’s line. Outward success, though, is not a sure mark of the true church, because Shem’s tents are not always the tents of the conqueror.

Others think this points to the conversion of the Gentiles and their being brought into the church. Then the sense is, “God shall persuade Japheth,” which is what the word can mean, and then Japheth would dwell in the tents of Shem. In other words, Jews and Gentiles would be united in the gospel. After many Gentiles became Jewish converts, both would become one in Christ (Ephesians 2:14, 2:15). The Christian church, made mostly of Gentiles, would then take the place of the Jews in the privileges of church membership, since the Jews had first cast themselves out by unbelief, and the Gentiles would dwell in their tents (Romans 11:11, etc.). Only God can bring back into the church those who have separated themselves from it. It is God’s power that makes the gospel effective for salvation (Romans 1:16). And people are not brought into the church by force, but by persuasion (Psalm 110:3). They are drawn by human kindness and won by reason to a life of faith.

Others divide the blessing between Japheth and Shem, since Shem was not directly blessed in the same way in Genesis 9:26. Japheth receives the blessing of the earth below, “God shall enlarge Japheth,” meaning enlarge his family, his borders, and his influence. Japheth’s descendants filled Europe, much of Asia, and perhaps America. God should be acknowledged in all such enlargements. He is the one who enlarges borders and also enlarges hearts.

Many people live in large tents but do not live in God’s tents, as Japheth did. Shem receives the blessing of heaven above, “He shall dwell in the tents of Shem,” meaning that from Shem’s line Christ would come, and the church would continue in his family. The birthright was now divided between Shem and Japheth, while Ham was completely set aside. In the rule and honor they would share, Canaan would be servant to both.

A double share is given to Japheth, whom God said he would enlarge. But the priestly blessing goes to Shem, because God would dwell in Shem’s tents. We are far happier if God lives with us than if we have all the silver and gold in the world. It is better to live in tents with God than in palaces without him. In Salem, where God’s tabernacle is, there is more peace and joy than in all the islands of the Gentiles.

Third, both of them would rule over Canaan. Some translations read, “Canaan will be their servant.” When Japheth joins with Shem, Canaan falls before them both. When former strangers become friends, their enemies are brought low.