Discussion on Themes in Genesis
The suggestion that Ham engaged in incestuous sexual relations, whether with his father or with his mother, in Gen. 9:24 seems to originate primarily from an particular emphasis on the English translation of the passage rather than the original languages. Careful word study by someone with a stronger background than me in Hebrew and Greek would definitely be needed, but here I will present my brief findings that I hope to expand more fully on if someone else does not.
Just comparing Gen. 9:24 with Lev. 18:8, there are reasons to assume that there are two different things going on. First, from the Hebrew text, the words "saw" and "uncover" are translated from different Hebrew words that appear to have very distinct meanings. Second, in the Greek text, two different words, the one used in Lev. suggesting far more illicit conduct, correspond to the use of "nakedness" in both passages. In other words, after my preliminary research, there seems to be strong reasons to believe that both the Hebrew and Greek texts are trying to convey two very different kinds of actions. So far there would seem no reason to suspect Ham of illicit sexual conduct merely because of similar wording to an apparently unrelated passage.
Comments
Old Testament survey OT500-3
I find it difficult to understand in the story of Ham uncovering his father's nakedness,i beleive he committed a very grave offense by putting up such immoral conduct,but i don't know why his Offense or the pay back of what he did should be paased to another person Cannan who new nothing about the whole thing.
Ham's Offense
I was taught, like Dr. Stuart brings out in this class, that Ham committed some kind of sexual act. I personally like to have my beliefs challenged as it always drives me back to the Word & the Lord in prayer, so gbychan, thank you for questioning this teaching. Now I’d like to share my thoughts on the matter. First off, let me say I am in no way a scholar, or an expert in Hebrew or ancient history. (If this site was about Agroscience, I would qualify as a dirt farmer, I just plow, plant, & harvest.) Anyway, in reflecting on the issue at hand, it seems to me that Ham’s offence could have very easily been of an illicit sexual nature. Gbychan you say, “First, from the Hebrew text, the words "saw" and "uncover" are translated from different Hebrew words that appear to have very distinct meanings”. From my research I have to agree with you, the words are different. “Ham saw (raw aw) the nakedness of his father.” According to my Strongs concordance this Hebrew word implies many things, but let’s stick to the “saw, behold, look upon” meaning. Today we might just say “checking it out.” So the question that has to be asked is, “Hey, Ham, what were you thinking? Why were you standing there checking out your naked father?” What kind of person was Ham? What was his backgound? Remember Ham lived for 100 years in a world so wicked that God had to wipe it out entirely with the flood. What kind of influence did 100 years of wickedness have on Ham? The Bible says Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, but it didn’t say anything about Ham. We can’t just assume that Ham was of the same heart & mind as his father. There are plenty of examples in the Bible of Godly men having kids that didn’t follow in their father’s footsteps. Gideon, Eli, David, just to name a few. Just because Ham made it on the Ark doesn’t mean he was willing to leave that old world behind. Look at Lot’s wife, or should I say “Remember Lot’s wife.” Luke 17:32. What about the children of Israel in the wilderness, murmuring because they didn’t have the melons, leeks & garlic of Egypt. Like the saying, “It’s easier to get the man out of Egypt than to get the Egypt out of the man.” So what was Ham doing looking at naked Noah? His brothers were very careful not to. Gbychan, you continued, “In other words, after my preliminary research, there seems to be strong reasons to believe that both the Hebrew and Greek texts are trying to convey two very different kinds of actions.” Again I agree with you, two different things, one seems to be just an observance of “nakedness” & the other an actual action involving “nakedness” but, could what Jesus said be applicable here. “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman, to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Mat 5:27,28) Could Ham’s seeing the “nakedness” of his father constitute an illicit sexual act?
You end with, “So far there would seem no reason to suspect Ham of illicit sexual conduct merely because of similar wording to an apparently unrelated passage.” Actually there is a strange correlation in these passages. If you look closely at Leviticus 18 verse 3, “After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.” (The land of Egypt founded by a son of Ham, and the land of Canaan, the son of Ham upon whom the curse was pronounced.) Then the Lord goes on and gives all these sexual taboos and finishes with, “vs 24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:” The land of -Canaan, the very son of Ham that was cursed, was full of these vile sexual acts. So, is it possible that Ham’s offense was of a sexual nature? I think so.
Popeshalom, I don’t know if you have kids or not, but as a father I know the greatest pain a parent can suffer is watching one of your kids suffer, so cursing Canaan, Ham’s son, could have been a worse punishment for Ham than being punished himself. Just a thought.
Hamosexuality?
I'm sorry, but how do you get any sexual activity from Gen 9:24? What it boils down to is Ham, not honoring his father. That is what has happened here. Ham, has violated his father's honor. Please, remember; GOD, has made the Bible very easy to understand. If there had been something sexual here GOD, might have revealed it and probably killed Ham, on the spot. Also, when reading the Bible, always consider what the whole word of GOD has to say,not just bits and pieces , as we often find ourselves doing.