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Genesis 9:22 — Word Study

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WLCוַיַּ֗רְא חָ֚ם אֲבִ֣י כְנַ֔עַן אֵ֖ת עֶרְוַ֣ת אָבִ֑יו וַיַּגֵּ֥ד לִשְׁנֵֽי־ אֶחָ֖יו בַּחֽוּץ׃

BSAAnd HamChâm [the father of the Canaanites] the fatherʼâb of CanaanKᵉnaʻan sawrâʼâh [perceived, gazed upon] his father’sʼâb nakednessʻervâh [shame, exposure] and toldnâgad [declared, made known] his twoshᵉnayim [a pair, dual] brothersʼâch outsidechûwts [in the open, beyond the tent]

Word
Listen & take awayGenesis 9
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 22 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ba.Chutz) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Genesis 9:22quick helps
In a sentenceHam saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers about it.
Who is speakingHam, one of Noah's sons.
Where we areA narrative moment following Noah's drunkenness.
The hard wordעֶרְוָה
Take awayHam's actions lead to a significant curse on his lineage.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbרָאָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Genesis 9:22

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Story of Noah and His Sonsgenerated

21But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent.
22And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.
23Then Shem and Japheth took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.
24When Noah awoke from his drunkenness and learned what his youngest son had done to him,

Genesis 9:22 describes an incident where Ham, the son of Noah, sees his father's nakedness and informs his brothers. This act leads to a curse on Ham's son, Canaan, which carries implications for their descendants. The surrounding verses provide context for Noah's behavior and the resulting family dynamics, as seen in Genesis 9:21 and Genesis 9:23.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Genesis 9:25he said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”
2Genesis 10:6–15The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
31 Chronicles 1:8–13The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
42 Samuel 1:19–20“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!
5Psalm 35:20–21For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful schemes against those who live quietly in the land.

The Key Word עֶרְוָה, 'er.Vatgenerated

The noun עֶרְוָה (ervah) refers to nakedness or exposure, often implying shame. It is used in contexts that highlight vulnerability and the need for modesty, such as in Leviticus 18:6. The parsing indicates that it is a feminine singular construct, which signifies a specific instance of nakedness rather than a general concept.

In this verse, it denotes the shameful act of Ham seeing his father's nakedness, which is a serious breach of familial respect. The implications of this act resonate throughout the narrative, particularly in the curse placed upon Canaan.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verbs וַיַּ֗רְא and וַיַּגֵּ֥ד govern the main actions of the verse. The first verb, meaning 'and he saw,' introduces the primary action, while the second verb, meaning 'and he told,' indicates the subsequent action that follows Ham's observation.

The structure is straightforward, with the subject (Ham) followed by the actions he takes regarding his father's nakedness and his brothers. This clear sequence of actions emphasizes the gravity of Ham's actions and their consequences.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, וַיַּ֗רְא is translated as εἶδεν (eiden), which carries the same meaning of 'to see' but may also imply a deeper understanding or realization. This choice reflects the translators' intent to convey not just the act of seeing but the implications of that sight.

The translation of וַיַּגֵּ֥ד as ἀνήγγειλεν (anēngeilen) indicates a formal declaration, aligning with the Hebrew meaning but also suggesting a more public announcement of the information.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Genesis 9:22 tells us that Ham, Noah's son, saw his father's nakedness and told his two brothers about it outside. This act leads to a significant curse on Ham's son, Canaan, which has lasting effects on their lineage.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that Ham saw his father's nakedness?

This phrase indicates a serious breach of respect and honor within the family, as it refers to Ham witnessing Noah's vulnerability.

Why is Canaan cursed because of Ham's actions?

The curse on Canaan reflects the consequences of Ham's disrespectful act towards his father, impacting his descendants.

What is the significance of the brothers' actions following Ham's report?

Shem and Japheth's actions demonstrate the proper way to handle their father's shame, contrasting with Ham's behavior.

How does this story relate to the theme of family honor in the Bible?

This incident highlights the importance of respect and honor within family relationships, a recurring theme throughout biblical narratives.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways I can show respect to my parents and elders?
  2. How can I handle situations where I witness something shameful in a respectful manner?
  3. What lessons can I learn from Ham's actions and their consequences?
  4. How does this story inform my understanding of family dynamics and honor?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Early Church Fathers referenced this passage to discuss themes of honor and familial relationships. Their insights are presented here, showing how they interpreted the implications of Ham's actions.

Justin MartyrDialogue with Trypho, Chapter CXXXIX c. 100–165
For another mystery was accomplished and predicted in the days of Noah, of which you are not aware. It is this: in the blessings wherewith Noah blessed his two sons, and in the curse pronounced on his son's son.
Early Church Fathers on Genesis 9 →
Ephrem the SyrianCOMMENTARY ON Genesis 7.3.1-2 c. 306–373
Noah cursed Canaan, saying, “Cursed be Canaan. A slave of slaves shall he be to his brothers.” But what sin could Canaan have committed even if he had been right behind his father when Ham observed the nakedness of Noah? Some say that…
Early Church Fathers on Genesis 9 →
Ambrose of MilanOn the Blessings of the Patriarchs, 1.1 c. 339–397
First of all, let us show great reverence to our parents, as we read in Genesis 9:25-27, that whoever was blessed by their father, was blessed,
Early Church Fathers on Genesis 9 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Genesis 9:22 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father,.... Which, had it been through surprise, and at an unawares, would not have been thought criminal; but be went into his father's tent,

Read John Gill on Genesis 9 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. No JFB commentary on this verse.

Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 9 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The grown age of Ham was a great aggravation of this sin. The father of Canaan: this is here added as a reason of Canaan’ s curse, . The nakedness, i.e. the secret parts, oft so called, as , and elsewhere, and told his two brethren without, who were then without the house or room where their father lay in that posture, whom he invited to that prospect.

Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 9 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Genesis 9:22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.Ver. 22. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw.] The Hebrews say, that Canaan first saw it, and then showed it to Ham his father, who looks upon it with delight, Ut vultures ad male olentia feruntur , saith Basil; as carrion-kites are carried after stinking carcasses. And told his two brethren without.] Sic et impii hodie ex Ecclesiae tragaediis comaedias componunt . How glad are the wicked, if they can but get any hint to lay hold on, whereby to blaspheme, and blaze abroad the saints’ infirmities! "Report say they, and we will report". Yea, rather than want matter against God’ s…

Read John Trapp on Genesis 9 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(22, 23) Ham . . . saw . . . and told.—The sin lay not in seeing, which might be unintentional, but in telling, especially if his purpose was to ridicule his father. His brothers, with filial piety, “take a garment,” the loose outer robe or cloak enveloping the whole body, and with reverent delicacy walk backwards, and lay it upon their father’s person.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 9 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 22. - 24. And Ham, the father of Canaan, c.] There is no occasion to enter into any detail here the sacred text is circumstantial enough. Ham, and very probably his son Canaan, had treated their father on this occasion with contempt or reprehensible levity. Had Noah not been innocent, as my exposition supposes him, God would not have endued him with the spirit of prophecy on this occasion, and testified such marked disapprobation of their conduct. The conduct of Shem and Japheth was such as became pious and affectionate children, who appear to have been in the habit of treating their father with decency, reverence, and obedient respect. On the one the spirit of prophecy (not the…

Read AdamClarke on Genesis 9 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

22. Ham, the father of] Words probably inserted by the compiler (R). If so, in the original narrative there stood in this verse simply the name of “Canaan,” “and Canaan saw the nakedness.” Otherwise the curse pronounced upon Canaan, instead of upon Ham, in Genesis 9:25, is unintelligible (see note). According to this view, the old tradition, from which these verses are derived, regarded “Canaan,” and not “Ham,” as the brother of Shem and Japheth.

Read Cambridge on Genesis 9 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

22. Saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without — Ham displays immodesty and sensuality, as well as an unfilial glorying in his father’s shame.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 9 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers who were outside.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And when Ham the father of Canaan sawe the nakednesse of his father, he tolde his two brethren without.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Ham the father of Canaan saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren outside.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And Ham, father of Canaan, seeth the nakedness of his father, and declareth to his two brethren without.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And Ham, father of Canaan, sees the nakedness of his father, and declares to his two brothers outside.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told it his two brothers without.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Then Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Which when Cham the father of Chanaan had seen, to wit, that his father’s nakedness was uncovered, he told it to his two brethren without.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father's private parts and went and told his two brothers who were outside.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father unclothed, and gave news of it to his two brothers outside.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverbיַּ֗רְאhe.sawnoun phrase · subjectחָ֚םHamnoun phraseאֲבִ֣יthe.fatherכְנַ֔עַןof.Canaannoun phrase · objectאֵ֖ת(et)noun phraseעֶרְוַ֣תthe.nakednessnoun phraseאָבִ֑יhis.fatherוhisוַandclauseverbיַּגֵּ֥דhe.toldprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִtonoun phraseשְׁנֵֽיthe.twonoun phraseאֶחָ֖יbrothersוhisprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּonnoun phrasetheחֽוּץoutside

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text states that Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness and told his two brothers outside. The Samaritan Pentateuch agrees with the Masoretic Text word for word. The Septuagint has a similar wording, with 9 out of 11 words matched, but its word order and articles differ from the Masoretic Text. Overall, the primary content of the verse is consistent across these witnesses, with minor variations in expression.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיַּ֗רְא חָ֚ם אֲבִ֣י כְנַ֔עַן אֵ֖ת עֶרְוַ֣ת אָבִ֑יו וַיַּגֵּ֥ד לִשְׁנֵֽי־ אֶחָ֖יו בַּחֽוּץ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיַּ֗רְאεἶδενחָ֚םξαμאֲבִ֣יπατὴρכְנַ֔עַןξαναανאָבִ֑יוαὐτοῦוַיַּגֵּ֥דἀνήγγειλενלִשְׁנֵֽי־δυσὶνאֶחָ֖יוαὐτοῦבַּחֽוּץ׃ἔχω

9 of the 11 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

וירא חם אבי כנען את ערות אביו ויגד לשׁני אחיו בחוץ

Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Genesis 9:22רָאָהand he sawand he sawרָאָהחָםHamHamחָםאָב[the] fathe[the] father ofאָבכְּנַ֫עַןCanaanCanaanכְּנַ֫עַןאֵתthe object the object markאֵתעֶרְוָה[the] naked[the] nakednessעֶרְוָהאָבfather hisfather hisאָבנָגַדand he toldand he toldנָגַדשְׁנַ֫יִםto [the] twto [the] twoשְׁנַ֫יִםאָחbrothers hibrothers hisאָחחוּץon the outson the outsideחוּץכָּנַעbe humblebe humbleכָּנַעאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתעָרָהto uncoverto uncoverעָרָהחָםhothotחָםשֵׁנִיsecondsecondשֵׁנִיאָבfatherfatherאָבקָבַרto buryto buryקָבַראֵםmothermotherאֵםעֳנִיafflictionafflictionעֳנִינָבַטto lookto lookנָבַטיֶ֫פֶתJaphethJaphethיֶ֫פֶתשֵׁםShemShemשֵׁםיָבִיןJabinJabinיָבִיןשִׁלוֹShilohShilohשִׁלוֹמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁגָּלָהto reveal:to reveal: reveגָּלָהאָחוֹתsistersisterאָחוֹתקָרָאto encountto encounter: mקָרָא
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Genesis 9:22

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and he saw Ham [the] father of Canaan the object marker [the] nakedness of father his and he told to [the] two brothers his on the outside
וַיַּ֗רְאvai.Yar' and he saw H7200 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
1,300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Amplified meaning
perceived, gazed upon
Tyndale gloss
Provider
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָאָה (ra'ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to see' and encompasses a wide range of visual and perceptual actions, including looking, observing, and causing others to see. It can refer to both literal sight and figurative understanding, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as appearing or being visible. The entries indicate a rich semantic field without significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָאָה 1315 vb. see

Qal 1141

see, subj.

see, c. acc. rei

see, sq. acc. cl. or phr. of closer design

see, so as to learn to know

abs. see, have (power of) vision

see = perceive

look at, see, by direct volition

of mental observation

c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

see, c. acc. rei

Niph.

appear

be seen

be visible

Pu. appar. his bones are not detected

Hithp. recipr. look at each other

Hiph.

cause one to see something, shew

cause to experience something

cause to look intently at, to behold

Hoph.

be caused to see, be shewn

be exhibited to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.

. see, c. acc. rei

. see, sq. acc. + cl. or phr. of closer design

. see, so as to learn to know

. abs. see, have (power of) vision

. see = perceive

. look at, see, by direct volition

. of mental observation

. . c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

. see, c. acc. rei

. . appear

. be seen

. be visible

. appar. his bones are not detected

. recipr. look at each other

. . . cause one to see something, shew

. cause to experience something

. cause to look intently at, to behold

. . be caused to see, be shewn

. be exhibited to

H7200b רְאוּת look

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7200 ra'ah raw-aw'

a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in

numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,

intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve,

behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have

experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look

(on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up,

upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide,

regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one

another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X

surely, X think, view, visions.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.

: see/show

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out

1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish

1a6) to look at, gaze at

1a7) to provide, choose

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to appear, present oneself

1b2) to be seen

1b3) to be visible

1c) (Pual) to be seen

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to see, show

1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be caused to see, be shown

1e2) to be exhibited to

1f) (Hithpael) to look at each other, face

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.

: examine/consider

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

so.

See TOOLS.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Egyptian saws, so far as has yet been discovered, are single-handed. As is the case in modern Oriental saws, the teeth usually incline toward the handle, instead of away from it like ours. They have, in most cases, bronze blades, apparently attached to the handles by leathern thongs. No evidence exists of the use of the saw applied to stone in Egypt, but we read of sawn stones used in the temple. (1 Kings 7:9) The saws "under" or "in" which David is said to have placed his captives were of iron. The expression in (2 Samuel 12:31) does not necessarily imply torture, but the word "cut" in (1 Chronicles 20:3) can hardly be understood otherwise.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Used as an instrument of torture 2Sa 12:31; Heb 11:37

→ Used for cutting stone 1Ki 7:9

→ FIGURATIVE Isa 10:15

and he saw Ham [the] father of Canaan the object marker [the] nakedness of father his and he told to [the] two brothers his on the outside
חָ֚םcham Ham H2526 Noun proper masculine
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ham was a son of Noah and the name also refers to his descendants or their country, often associated with hot southern lands. This term appears in Genesis 5:32 and 9:18. Ham's story is significant in biblical history.
Amplified meaning
the father of the Canaanites
Tyndale gloss
Ham
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָם (Cham) refers to Ham, the second son of Noah, and is associated with his descendants, including various peoples from southern lands. The name also serves as a collective term for Egyptians. The word is linked to the idea of heat, reflecting the tropical habitat of the region.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָם n.pr.pers.m. and loc.

Ham, 2nd son of Noah

a name (coll.) for Egyptians

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2526 חָם . Ham, 2nd son of Noah

. a name (coll.) for Egyptians

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2526 Cham khawm

the same as 2525; hot (from the tropical habitat); Cham, a

son of Noah; also (as a patronymic) his descendants or their

country:--Ham.

see HEBREW for 02525

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָם (cham) — Ham.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.5.32;

son of: Noah (H5146);

brother of: Shem (H8035) and Japheth (H3315);

father of: Canaan (H3667), Cush (H3568), Egypt (H4714) and Put (H6316)

§ Ham = "hot"

1) 2nd son of Noah, father of Canaan and of various peoples which were inhabitants of southern lands

2) in late usage, a collective name for Egyptians

n pr loc

חָם (cham) — Ham.

§ Ham = "hot"

southern lands continaing the descendants of Ham

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ham

Warm, hot, and hence the south; also an Egyptian word meaning “black”, the youngest son of Noah (Gen. 5:32; comp. 9:22,24). The curse pronounced by Noah against Ham, properly against Canaan his fourth son, was accomplished when the Jews subsequently exterminated the Canaanites.

One of the most important facts recorded in Gen. 10 is the foundation of the earliest monarchy in Babylonia by Nimrod the grandson of Ham (6, 8, 10). The primitive Babylonian empire was thus Hamitic, and of a cognate race with the primitive inhabitants of Arabia and of Ethiopia. (See ACCAD.)

The race of Ham were the most energetic of all the descendants of Noah in the early times of the post-diluvian world.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(hot; sunburnt). The name of one of the three sons of Noah, apparently the second in age. (B.C. 2448.) Of the history of Ham nothing is related except his irreverence to his father and the curse which that patriarch pronounced. The sons of Ham are stated, to have been "Cush and Mizraim and Phut and Canaan." (Genesis 10:6) comp. 1Chr 1:8 Egypt is recognized as the "land of Ham" in the Bible. (Psalms 78:51; 105:23; 106:22) The other settlements of the sons of Ham are discussed under their respective names. The three most illustrious Hamite nations--the Cushites, the Phoenicians and the Egyptians--were greatly mixed with foreign peoples. Their architecture has a solid grandeur that we look for in vain elsewhere. According to the…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. Burnt, swarthy, black, A son of Noah, Ge 5:32 7:13 9:18 10:1. The impiety revealed in his conduct towards his father, drew upon him, or rather, according to the Bible statement, on his son Canaan, a prophetic malediction, Ge 9:20-27. Ham was the father of Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan, that is, the ancestor of the Canaanites, Southern Arabians, Ethiopians, Egyptians, and the Africans in general, Ge 10:6-20.

2. A poetical name for Egypt, Ps 78:51 106:22.

3. An unknown place of the Zuzim, Ge 14:5.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

hot; heat; brown

and he saw Ham [the] father of Canaan the object marker [the] nakedness of father his and he told to [the] two brothers his on the outside
אֲבִ֣י'a.Vi [the] father of H1 Noun common · masculine singular construct
1,213× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In Hebrew, this word means father, whether literal or figurative. It is used to describe God as the father of his people, as well as human fathers like Abraham. The word is about a paternal relationship or authority.
Tyndale gloss
father
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָב (av) means 'father' and encompasses various roles such as the literal father of an individual, God as the father of His people, and the head of a household or clan. It can also refer to an ancestor, originator of a profession, or a figure of respect and protection. Notably, it can imply a ruler or chief in later contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָב 1101 n.m. father

father of individual

of God as father of his people

head of household, family or clan

ancestor

originator or patron of a class, profession, or art

fig. of producer, generator

fig. of benevolence & protection

term of respect & honor

specif., ruler, chief (late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1 אָב father . father of individual

. of God as father of his people

. head of household, family or clan

. ancestor

. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art

. fig. of producer, generator

. fig. of benevolence & protection

. term of respect & honor

. specif., ruler, chief (late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1 'ab awb

a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or

figurative and remote application):--chief,

(fore-)father(-less), X patrimony, principal. Compare names

in "Abi-".

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָב (av) — father.

1) father of an individual

2) of God as father of his people

3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan

4) ancestor

4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person

4b) of people

5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art

6) of producer, generator (fig.)

7) of benevolence and protection (fig.)

8) term of respect and honour

9) ruler or chief (spec.)

Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)

אָב (av) — (Huram)-abi.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.7.13; also called Huram-abi (KJV: "Huram my father's") at 2Ch.2.13; 4.16;

Combined with chi.ram (חִירָם "Hiram" H2438H)

אָב (av) — father of.

The father of Gibeon, also known as Abiel - a man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;

son of: Zeror (H6872C); married to Maacah (H4601N);

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he saw Ham [the] father of Canaan the object marker [the] nakedness of father his and he told to [the] two brothers his on the outside
כְנַ֔עַןkhe.Na.'an Canaan H3667 Noun proper masculine
94× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Canaan was a son of Ham and the name of the country where he lived, which is now modern-day Israel. The Canaanites were known for being merchants and traders, as seen in Genesis and other books.
Tyndale gloss
Canaan
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) refers to both Canaan, the son of Ham, and the land west of the Jordan River where the Israelites settled, as well as the term for merchant or trader. The word is associated with lowland and trade, particularly linked to the Canaanites and Phoenicians. There is a distinction made between its use as a proper noun and as a common noun for merchants.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כְּנַ֫עַן 90 n.pr.m. et terr. Canaan

as n. pr. m., son of Ham

land, W. of Jordan, into wh. Hebrews came, and where they settled, subduing the inhabitants

the coast, esp. Phoenicia

base

כְּנַ֫עַן n.[m.] merchant(s) (because Canaanites, esp. Phoenicians, were traders)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3667a כְּנַ֫עַן Canaan . as n. pr. m., son of Ham

. . land, W. of Jordan, into wh. Hebrews came, and where they settled, subduing the inhabitants

. the coast, esp. Phoenicia

H3667b כְּנַ֫עַן merchant(s)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3667 Kna`an ken-ah'-an

from 3665; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country

inhabited by him:--Canaan, merchant, traffick.

see HEBREW for 03665

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) — Canaan.

§ Canaan = "lowland"

the land west of the Jordan peopled by the descendants of Canaan and subsequently conquered by the Israelites under Joshua

כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) — merchant.

merchant, trader

Also means: ke.na.a.ni (כְּנַעֲנִי "merchant" H3669B)

כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) — Canaan.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.9.18;

son of: Ham (H2526);

brother of: Cush (H3568), Egypt (H4714) and Put (H6316);

father of: Sidon (H6721), Heth (H2845), Jebusite (H2983), Amorite (H0567), Girgashite (H1622), Hivite (H2340), Arkite (H6208), Sinite (H5513), Arvadite (H0721), Zemarite (H6786) and Hamathite (H2577)

§ merchant, trader

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Canaan

(1.) The fourth son of Ham (Gen. 10:6). His descendants were under a curse in consequence of the transgression of his father (9:22-27). His eldest son, Zidon, was the father of the Sidonians and Phoenicians. He had eleven sons, who were the founders of as many tribes (10:15-18).

(2.) The country which derived its name from the preceding. The name as first used by the Phoenicians denoted only the maritime plain on which Sidon was built. But in the time of Moses and Joshua it denoted the whole country to the west of the Jordan and the Dead Sea (Deut. 11:30). In Josh. 5:12 the LXX. read, “land of the Phoenicians,” instead of “land of Canaan.”

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Ca’nan) (low, flat). The fourth son of Ham, (Genesis 10:6; 1 Chronicles 1:8) the progenitor of the Phoenicians [ZIDON, OR SIDON], and of the various nations who before the Israelite conquest people the seacoast of Palestine, and generally the while of the country westward of the Jordan. (Genesis 10:13; 1 Chronicles 1:13) (B.C. 2347.) The name "Canaan" is sometimes employed for the country itself.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. The son of Ham, and grandson of Noah, Ge 9:18. His numerous posterity seem to have occupied Zidon first, and thence spread into Syria and Canaan, Ge 10:15-19 1Ch 1:13-16. The Jews believe that he was implicated with his father in the dishonor done to Noah, Ge 9:20-27, which was the occasion of the curse under which he and his posterity suffered, Jos 9:23,27 2Ch 8:7,8 2. The land peopled by Canaan and his posterity, and afterwards given to the Hebrews. This country has at different periods been called by various names, either from its inhabitants or some…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

merchant; trader; or that humbles and subdues

and he saw Ham [the] father of Canaan the object marker [the] nakedness of father his and he told to [the] two brothers his on the outside
אֵ֖ת'et the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he saw Ham [the] father of Canaan the object marker [the] nakedness of father his and he told to [the] two brothers his on the outside
עֶרְוַ֣ת'er.Vat [the] nakedness of H6172 Noun common · feminine singular construct
54× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for nakedness, implying shame or exposure. It appears in Genesis 9:22 and Leviticus 18:6, often warning against improper behavior. This concept is also mentioned in Deuteronomy 23:14.
Amplified meaning
shame, exposure
Tyndale gloss
nakedness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֶרְוָה (ervah) refers to nakedness or nudity, particularly emphasizing the pudenda. It can also denote shame, disgrace, or improper behavior. The term has a figurative use, suggesting exposure or vulnerability. The Aramaic equivalent is עַרְוָה (arvah), meaning dishonor.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶרְוָה 54 n.f. nakedness, pudenda

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6172 עֶרְוָה nakedness, pudenda

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6172 `ervah er-vaw'

from 6168; nudity, literally (especially the pudenda) or

figuratively (disgrace, blemish):--nakedness, shame,

unclean(-ness).

see HEBREW for 06168

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶרְוָה (er.vah) — nakedness.

1) nakedness, nudity, shame, pudenda

1a) pudenda (implying shameful exposure)

1b) nakedness of a thing, indecency, improper behaviour

1c) exposed, undefended (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: ar.vah (עַרְוָה "dishonor" H6173)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he saw Ham [the] father of Canaan the object marker [the] nakedness of father his and he told to [the] two brothers his on the outside
אָבִ֑יו'a.Viv father his H1 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
1,213× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In Hebrew, this word means father, whether literal or figurative. It is used to describe God as the father of his people, as well as human fathers like Abraham. The word is about a paternal relationship or authority.
Tyndale gloss
father
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָב (av) means 'father' and encompasses various roles such as the literal father of an individual, God as the father of His people, and the head of a household or clan. It can also refer to an ancestor, originator of a profession, or a figure of respect and protection. Notably, it can imply a ruler or chief in later contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָב 1101 n.m. father

father of individual

of God as father of his people

head of household, family or clan

ancestor

originator or patron of a class, profession, or art

fig. of producer, generator

fig. of benevolence & protection

term of respect & honor

specif., ruler, chief (late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1 אָב father . father of individual

. of God as father of his people

. head of household, family or clan

. ancestor

. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art

. fig. of producer, generator

. fig. of benevolence & protection

. term of respect & honor

. specif., ruler, chief (late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1 'ab awb

a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or

figurative and remote application):--chief,

(fore-)father(-less), X patrimony, principal. Compare names

in "Abi-".

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָב (av) — father.

1) father of an individual

2) of God as father of his people

3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan

4) ancestor

4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person

4b) of people

5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art

6) of producer, generator (fig.)

7) of benevolence and protection (fig.)

8) term of respect and honour

9) ruler or chief (spec.)

Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)

אָב (av) — (Huram)-abi.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.7.13; also called Huram-abi (KJV: "Huram my father's") at 2Ch.2.13; 4.16;

Combined with chi.ram (חִירָם "Hiram" H2438H)

אָב (av) — father of.

The father of Gibeon, also known as Abiel - a man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;

son of: Zeror (H6872C); married to Maacah (H4601N);

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

and he saw Ham [the] father of Canaan the object marker [the] nakedness of father his and he told to [the] two brothers his on the outside
וַיַּגֵּ֥דvai.ya.Ged and he told H5046 Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
371× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To tell or declare something openly, as in Genesis 3:11 where God asks Adam to tell the truth. It means to stand boldly and announce something to someone present. In Exodus 32:27, Moses tells the Levites to declare their actions to the people.
Amplified meaning
declared, made known
Tyndale gloss
to tell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָגַד (nagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to declare or tell, with implications of being conspicuous or manifesting something. It covers a range of meanings including to announce, report, and make known, often through spoken word. The entries indicate that it can also mean to expose or predict, and in the Hophil form, it refers to something being told or reported.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָגַד] 363 vb. be conspicuous

Hiph. declare, tell

Hoph. be told, announced, reported

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5046 נָגַד be conspicuous . declare, tell

. be told, announced, reported

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5046 nagad naw-gad'

a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out

opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest;

figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one

present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain,

praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing),

denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess,

rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָגַד (na.gad) — to tell.

1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known

1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare

1a1) to tell, announce, report

1a2) to declare, make known, expound

1a3) to inform of

1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim

1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess

1a5a) messenger (participle)

1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vhw3ms
and he saw Ham [the] father of Canaan the object marker [the] nakedness of father his and he told to [the] two brothers his on the outside
לִשְׁנֵֽי־lish.nei- to [the] two H8147 Preposition
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Amplified meaning
a pair, dual
Tyndale gloss
two
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim

dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also

(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +

twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

see HEBREW for 08145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.

1) two

1a) two (the cardinal number)

1a1) two, both, double, twice

1b) second (the ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

1d) both (a dual number)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adj — Preposition
HR/Acbdc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

too.

See NUMBER.

and he saw Ham [the] father of Canaan the object marker [the] nakedness of father his and he told to [the] two brothers his on the outside
אֶחָ֖יו'e.Chav brothers his H251 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
630× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a brother or male sibling, but it can also refer to a close relative, friend, or someone with a similar relationship. It is used to describe the bond between brothers, like the relationship between Cain and Abel in Genesis.
Tyndale gloss
brother: male-sibling
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָח (ach) means 'brother' and encompasses a broad range of relationships, including literal siblings, half-brothers, and metaphorical kinship. It can refer to any male relative or compatriot, and it may also imply resemblance or reciprocal relationships. The term is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, highlighting both familial and figurative connections.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָח 630 n.m. brother

brother, born of same mother (& father)

indef. = relative

fig. of resemblance

in phr. one … another

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H251 אָח brother

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

251 'ach awkh

a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of

literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance

(like 1)):--another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other.

Compare also the proper names beginning with "Ah-" or "Ahi-".

see HEBREW for 01

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָח (ach) — brother: male-sibling.

: male-sibling

1) brother

1a) brother of same parents

1b) half-brother (same father)

1c) relative, kinship, same tribe

1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)

1e) (fig.) of resemblance

אָח (ach) — brother: male-relative.

: male-relative

1) brother

1a) brother of same parents

1b) half-brother (same father)

1c) relative, kinship, same tribe

1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)

1e) (fig.) of resemblance

אָח (ach) — brother: compatriot.

: compatriot

1) brother

1a) brother of same parents

1b) half-brother (same father)

1c) relative, kinship, same tribe

1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)

1e) (fig.) of resemblance

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

and he saw Ham [the] father of Canaan the object marker [the] nakedness of father his and he told to [the] two brothers his on the outside
בַּחֽוּץ׃ba.Chutz on the outside H2351 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
164× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means outside or outdoors, referring to something beyond a wall or boundary. It can also mean a street or highway, as seen in various KJV translations, including abroad, field, and without.
Amplified meaning
in the open, beyond the tent
Tyndale gloss
outside
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חוּץ (chuwts) refers to the concept of being outside or outward, often associated with streets or highways. It is derived from a root meaning to sever, indicating separation by a wall. The term covers various contexts, including outdoors and fields.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חוּץ n.[m.] the outside, sts., esp. in pl., spec. a street

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2351 חוּץ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2351 chuwts khoots

or (shortened) chuts {khoots}; (both forms feminine in the

plural) from an unused root meaning to sever; properly,

separate by a wall, i.e. outside, outdoors:--abroad, field,

forth, highway, more, out(-side, -ward), street, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חוּץ (chuts) — outside.

outside, outward, street, the outside

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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