And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

GENESIS 9:25KJV
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Genesis 9:25 (KJV)

What does Genesis 9:25 mean?

Genesis 9:25 records Noah declaring a curse on Canaan, saying that Canaan will be the lowest kind of servant to his brothers. This statement sets out a future of subjugation for Canaan and his descendants, marking a sharp contrast with the blessings given to Noah’s other sons.

Noah is speaking after the flood, addressing his sons in response to an incident involving his son Ham and Ham’s son Canaan. Instead of cursing Ham directly, Noah pronounces a curse on Ham’s son, Canaan, saying he will be “a servant of servants.” This phrase means Canaan will be in the lowest position among his relatives, setting the stage for later tensions between the descendants of Canaan and those of his brothers.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 9:25

  • “Cursed” (אָרוּר, ’arur): This word means to be under a declaration of misfortune or divine judgment. Here, it signals a strong, lasting consequence for Canaan and his line.
  • “Canaan” (כְּנַעַן, Kena‘an): The specific naming of Canaan, not Ham, draws attention to the future nations descended from Canaan, which later become significant in the story of Israel.
  • “Servant” (עֶבֶד, ‘eved): This word refers to someone in a position of service or bondage. The phrase “servant of servants” suggests the lowest possible rank, emphasizing humiliation and subordination.
  • “Brethren” (אַח, ’ach): This word means brothers or close relatives. The curse places Canaan in a position of servitude specifically in relation to his own family group.

Why Genesis 9:25 matters

  • Genesis 9:25 clarifies that the curse is directed at Canaan, not at Ham or all of Ham’s descendants, which is important for understanding later biblical history and avoiding common misreadings.
  • The verse sets up the later biblical narrative, where the Canaanites become adversaries of Israel, providing a background for their role in the story.
  • The strong language of “servant of servants” highlights the seriousness of Noah’s pronouncement and the dramatic consequences of the earlier incident involving Ham and Canaan.

Where else these words appear

“Cursed” Hebrew H779 · used in 52 verses

  • Genesis 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
  • Deuteronomy 27:15 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.
  • Joshua 9:23 Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

“Canaan” Hebrew H3667 · used in 91 verses

  • Genesis 9:18 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 45:25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,
  • Numbers 35:14 Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.