
Genesis 9
Genesis 9 marks a pivotal moment following the flood, where God renews His covenant with Noah, reaffirms humanity’s stewardship over the earth, and sets forth new guidelines for life after the flood. This chapter also includes the significant sign of the rainbow as the symbol of God's promise to never again destroy the earth by floodwaters.
Genesis 9:1 (NKJV):
"So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.'"
God renews the command given to Adam and Eve, instructing Noah and his family to be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. This emphasizes humanity’s role as co-creators with God, spreading life throughout the earth after its destruction by the flood. The blessing also signals that God’s favor is still upon humanity, despite the judgment that has occurred, and His plan for creation continues through Noah’s descendants.
Genesis 9:2-3 (NKJV):
"And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs."
In these verses, God expands humanity’s dominion over the animal kingdom, adding that animals will now fear humans. Additionally, God permits Noah and his descendants to eat animal flesh, a significant shift from the diet originally given in Eden, which was purely plant-based. This permission reflects the new realities of life post-flood, with survival and sustenance taking a different form. However, the animals remain under humanity's stewardship, a reminder of the responsibility to care for creation.
Genesis 9:4 (NKJV):
"But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood."
After the flood, God gives Noah and his descendants new instructions regarding their relationship with animals and food. This verse is part of that instruction and introduces a clear command: blood must not be consumed. The rationale behind this prohibition is tied to the sacredness of life itself, as blood represents the life-force of a creature.
In the Bible, blood is consistently seen as sacred because it is connected to life. In Leviticus 17:11, it is explicitly stated, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls." This concept was not new with the Mosaic Law; it reflects a universal principle from the beginning of human history. As seen in the offerings made by Abel and the clothing of Adam and Eve through animal skins, blood already had a sacrificial role that signified the cost of life due to sin.
In Genesis 9:4, God gives this prohibition as part of His covenant with Noah after the flood. While He allows humanity to eat meat, He establishes that blood must not be consumed, emphasizing the sanctity of life. The focus here is on the spiritual and moral significance of blood, reflecting the understanding that life belongs to God and should not be treated casually. Even though the Mosaic Law formalized the role of blood in sacrificial rituals, the principle was already in place here, suggesting that life itself, represented by blood, is under God’s authority.
In the New Testament, the sacrificial system, including the handling of blood, is fulfilled in Christ. Jesus’ blood becomes the ultimate atonement for humanity's sins, making the blood sacrifices of the Old Testament no longer necessary. Hebrews 9:12 explains that Christ entered the Most Holy Place with His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption. With Christ’s fulfillment of the law, believers are no longer bound by the ceremonial laws surrounding blood (Colossians 2:16-17), which were shadows of what was to come in Christ. The blood, representing the life or Spirit of Christ, becomes the new covenant, superseding the Old Covenant’s sacrifices and regulations regarding blood. Therefore, Christians are not bound by the ceremonial laws surrounding blood.
While the prohibition on consuming blood is no longer a ceremonial requirement, many Christians today may choose to avoid it for health reasons or to maintain unity within the church.
Consuming blood poses health risks due to potential pathogens like bacteria and viruses, the risk of iron overload (hemochromatosis), and exposure to toxins and waste products carried in the blood. These risks can harm organs and lead to diseases if not properly handled or cooked.
In Acts 15:20, the Jerusalem Council instructed Gentile believers to abstain from blood to avoid offending Jewish believers and to maintain unity in the early church. While not a command for all time, this reflects the need for sensitivity in matters of conscience.
Genesis 9:5-6 (NKJV):
"Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man."
God introduces the principle of justice regarding human life. Human life is sacred because people are made in God's image, so any act of murder requires a severe response: the shedding of the murderer’s blood. From this verse, we can also see that the command to avoid eating blood in Genesis 9:4 can be understood as teaching a deeper principle of respect for life. This should remind believers to treasure the lives of fellow humans made in God's image, and, more importantly, the sacrificial life of Jesus Christ, who died to save humanity from sin.
Genesis 9:7 (NKJV):
"And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it."
Here, God repeats the command to Noah and his family to be fruitful and multiply. This emphasizes that life after the flood is meant to flourish. God’s plan is still for humanity to fill the earth and oversee it, continuing the original mandate given to Adam. The repetition underscores the importance of growth, life, and human expansion in God's design for the post-flood world.
Genesis 9:8-10 (NKJV):
"Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: 'And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth.'"
God initiates a covenant, not only with Noah and his descendants but also with all living creatures. This signifies that God's promise of preservation and blessing extends beyond humans to the entire creation. It shows God’s care for all life on earth, reaffirming His authority and mercy over every living being. The
covenant ensures that the relationship between God, humanity, and nature is bound by His divine protection.
Genesis 9:11 (NKJV):
"Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."
God promises that the earth will never again be destroyed by a flood. This is a significant shift in the relationship between God and humanity, moving from judgment to mercy. The covenant is a reassurance that while humanity is still sinful, God will restrain from using such catastrophic means to judge the earth. It introduces a new era of divine patience and grace, even as people continue to sin.
Genesis 9:12-13 (NKJV):
"And God said: 'This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.'"
God introduces the rainbow as the symbol of His covenant. Every time a rainbow appears, it serves as a reminder of God's promise to humanity and all creatures. The rainbow represents God's mercy and His enduring faithfulness to creation. It is significant that this sign is visible to all, a universal reminder of the unbreakable nature of God's covenant.
Genesis 9:14-15 (NKJV):
"It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh."
God further clarifies that the rainbow is not only a sign for humanity but also a reminder for Him of His covenant. This anthropomorphic language ("I will remember") emphasizes the surety and reliability of God’s promises. The appearance of the rainbow after a storm would have reassured Noah's family and future generations that despite the presence of storms, they will not experience the catastrophic judgment that had occurred during the flood.
Genesis 9:16-17 (NKJV):
"The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.' And God said to Noah, 'This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.'"
God reiterates the eternal nature of the covenant, emphasizing that it applies to all generations. The rainbow serves as a constant, visual reminder of God's mercy and commitment to preserving life on earth. This covenant is not dependent on human actions but solely on God's faithfulness. It reflects His grace and determination to maintain a relationship with His creation, despite humanity’s imperfections.
Genesis 9:18-19 (NKJV):
"Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated."
The passage begins to shift focus to Noah's sons, who will become the fathers of the nations. Shem, Ham, and Japheth are presented as the ancestors of all future people. The mention of Ham as the father of Canaan foreshadows the later significance of Canaan in biblical history. This verse highlights that all nations stem from this family, connecting humanity back to a single origin post-flood.
Genesis 9:20-21 (NKJV):
"And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent."
Noah, after the flood, begins a new life as a farmer, cultivating the land. He plants a vineyard, and from the produce, he makes wine. Unfortunately, Noah becomes intoxicated and loses control, resulting in his nakedness. This passage reveals a moment of human weakness, even in Noah, who had found favor with God. It shows that even the righteous are not immune to sin and failure. Noah’s drunkenness brings shame, and the vulnerability of his exposed state contrasts with the honor and dignity he had previously shown.
Genesis 9:22-23 (NKJV):
"And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness."
Ham, upon seeing his father’s nakedness, dishonors Noah by reporting it to his brothers rather than covering him. In contrast, Shem and Japheth act with respect and modesty by covering Noah without looking upon him. This incident reveals a stark difference in the attitudes of the brothers. Ham’s behavior suggests a lack of respect for his father’s dignity, while Shem and Japheth demonstrate reverence for their father, even in his compromised state. This act sets the stage for the blessings and curses that follow.
Genesis 9:24-25 (NKJV):
"So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. Then he said: 'Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren.'"
When Noah awakens from his drunkenness and learns what Ham has done, he responds by pronouncing a curse, not directly on Ham, but on Ham’s son, Canaan. This curse likely reflects both the dishonor Ham showed and the future sins of the Canaanites, Ham's descendants, who would become notorious for their wickedness. The curse of servitude foreshadows the eventual subjugation of the Canaanites by the Israelites. This passage introduces the idea of generational consequences for dishonoring family and failing to uphold righteousness.
Genesis 9:26-27 (NKJV):
"And he said: 'Blessed be the Lord, The God of Shem, And may Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japheth, And may he dwell in the tents of Shem; And may Canaan be his servant.'"
In this passage, Noah gives blessings and prophecies concerning his three sons, Shem, Ham (through Ham’s son, Canaan), and Japheth, after an incident where Ham disrespected his father (Genesis 9:20-25). The blessings and curses here are significant because they outline the future relationships and roles of their descendants.
Shem is blessed because through his lineage, God’s covenant people—the Hebrews—would arise. The descendants of Shem include the Israelites and, ultimately, Jesus Christ. Therefore, Shem's descendants are seen as having a special spiritual blessing.
Japheth is blessed with enlargement or expansion, indicating that his descendants would spread over large territories. "Dwelling in the tents of Shem" could signify that Japheth’s descendants would benefit from the spiritual blessings given to Shem.
Canaan (Ham’s son) is cursed to be a servant to both Shem and Japheth. This curse is specific to Canaan, not all of Ham’s descendants. Historically, this prophecy was fulfilled when the Israelites (descendants of Shem) conquered the Canaanites and subjected them to servitude (as seen in the conquest of Canaan in the book of Joshua).
Historical Misuse of Genesis 9:26-27:
This passage has been misinterpreted and misapplied throughout history, particularly during the colonial and slave-trading eras, to justify the enslavement of African people and the promotion of racial superiority. Some claimed that all descendants of Ham were cursed to be slaves, and they equated Ham’s descendants with Africans. However, this view is both biblically inaccurate and theologically flawed for several reasons:
The curse is specific to Canaan, Ham’s son, not all of Ham’s descendants. Canaan’s descendants historically settled in the region of the Middle East (modern-day Israel and surrounding areas), not Africa as a whole.
The Bible does not state that all descendants of Ham were destined for perpetual servitude. Ham had other sons (Cush, Mizraim, and Put), whose descendants were not under this curse. Cush, for instance, is associated with regions in Africa (Ethiopia), but the curse was not directed at him or his lineage.
The misuse of this text to justify slavery and racism contradicts the biblical teaching on the equality of all human beings. The Bible teaches that all people are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and the New Testament explicitly condemns partiality and racism (Acts 10:34-35, Galatians 3:28).
Genesis 9:28-29 (NKJV):
"And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died."
The chapter concludes by noting Noah’s long life after the flood—350 years, bringing his total lifespan to 950 years. This emphasizes the great longevity of early biblical figures, a characteristic of the antediluvian and postdiluvian eras. Noah’s death marks the end of an era in which he played a pivotal role as the preserver of humanity and the covenant. Despite his flaws, Noah’s faithfulness ensured the survival of creation, and his legacy lived on through his descendants, shaping the future of the world.