Genesis 9
World English Bible
WEB1God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. 2The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. Everything that moves along the ground, and all the fish of the sea, are delivered into your hand. 3Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. As I gave you the green herb, I have given everything to you. 4But flesh with its life, that is, its blood, you shall not eat. 5I will surely require accounting for your life’s blood. At the hand of every animal I will require it. At the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, I will require the life of man. 6Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in his own image. 7Be fruitful and multiply. Increase abundantly on the earth, and multiply in it.” 8God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, 9“As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you, 10and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the livestock, and every animal of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ship, even every animal of the earth. 11I will establish my covenant with you: All flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood. There will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12God said, “This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth. 14When I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow will be seen in the cloud, 15I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16The rainbow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17God said to Noah, “This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” 18The sons of Noah who went out from the ship were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham is the father of Canaan. 19These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated. 20Noah began to be a farmer, and planted a vineyard. 21He drank of the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent. 22Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn’t see their father’s nakedness. 24Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done to him. 25He said, “Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.” 26He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant. 27May God enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.” 28Noah lived three hundred fifty years after the flood. 29All the days of Noah were nine hundred fifty years, and then he died.
World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org
Overview
Genesis Chapter 9 marks a significant moment in the biblical narrative following the flood. After Noah and his family emerge from the ark, God establishes a covenant with them, promising never to destroy the earth by flood again. This covenant is symbolized by the rainbow, which serves as a reminder of God's mercy and faithfulness to His creation. The chapter emphasizes the sanctity of life, as God commands Noah and his sons to be fruitful and multiply, filling the earth. He also establishes the principle that human life is sacred, stating that anyone who sheds human blood will have their blood shed by others, reflecting the seriousness of murder and the value of life (Genesis9:1-6).
The chapter continues with God's instructions regarding dietary laws, allowing Noah and his descendants to eat meat but prohibiting the consumption of blood, which is seen as the life of the flesh. This sets a foundation for later laws regarding clean and unclean animals. The narrative then shifts to a troubling incident involving Noah, who becomes drunk and lies uncovered in his tent. His son Ham sees his father's nakedness and tells his brothers, Shem and Japheth, who cover Noah without looking at him. When Noah awakens and learns of Ham's actions, he pronounces a curse on Ham's son, Canaan, while blessing Shem and Japheth. This incident highlights themes of honor and shame, as well as the consequences of sin within the family. Overall, Genesis 9 establishes important principles about God's covenant, the value of life, and the moral responsibilities of humanity.
Referenced by
- Genesis 6:18v9Genesis 6:18 introduces God's covenant with Noah, which is further elaborated in Genesis 9:9, establishing the covenant with Noah and his descendants after the flood.
- Numbers 35:19v6Numbers 35:19 states that the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death, which aligns with the principle in Genesis 9:6 that whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed.
- 2 Samuel 4:11v62 Samuel 4:11 highlights David's condemnation of the murder of a righteous man in his own house, echoing the principle in Genesis 9:6 that whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed.
- Isaiah 54:9v11Isaiah 54:9 references the covenant of peace, likening it to the promise God made to Noah in Genesis 9:11 never to flood the earth again.
Topics in this chapter
- Covenant
- Justice
- Faithfulness
- Sanctity of Life
- Promise
- Rainbow
- Mercy
- Noah
- Blessing
- Grace
- Stewardship
- Accountability
- Ararat
- Canaan
- Creation Care
- Divine Promise
- Fruitfulness
- Human Dignity
- Noahic Covenant
- Promises
- Sobriety
- Baptism
- Blessing and Curse
- Blood
- Chesed
- Consequences
- Creation
- Creation Mandate
- Curse
- Divine Commitment
- Ethical Frameworks in the Bible
- Ethics
- Fallibility
- Family
- Forgiveness
- Glory
- God
- God's Faithfulness
- God's Promise
- Government
- Ham
- Harvest
- Hope in Art
- Human Nature
- Human Responsibility
- Human Stewardship
- Humanity
- Image of God
- Japheth
- Lineage
- Literary Influence of the Bible
- Lovingkindness
- Moderation
- Nations
- Noah's Ark
- Obedience
- Peace
- Provision
- Rainbow Covenant
- Renewal
- Responsibility
- Sacred
- Self-Control
- Shem
- Sin
- Thanksgiving
- The Commandments
- The Flood
- Wisdom
Related chapters
- Genesis 8RainbowAraratNoah's Ark
- Genesis 10HamJaphethShem
- Genesis 6Noah's ArkCreation CareThe Flood
- Genesis 1Creation MandateImage of GodHuman Dignity
- Isaiah 54Divine PromiseChesedGod's Faithfulness
- Genesis 7AraratNoah's ArkCreation Care
- Genesis 5Image of GodThe FloodNoah
- Isaiah 24NoahNationsGlory
- Genesis 17LineageBaptismDivine Promise
- Exodus 20Sanctity of LifeEthicsLiterary Influence of the Bible
- Numbers 35Sanctity of LifeCanaan
- Psalms 8Creation MandateHuman DignityCreation Care
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