Genesis 9:18
ESV
The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.)
NIV
The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.)
NASB
Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and Ham was the father of Canaan.
CSB
Noah’s sons who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan.
NLT
The sons of Noah who came out of the boat with their father were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham is the father of Canaan.)
KJV
And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
NKJV
Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan.
What does Genesis 9:18 mean?
When humanity filled the earth with sin and violence (Genesis 6:5), God destroyed it with a flood (Genesis 7:4). Only Noah and his family were spared (Genesis 7:1). Their salvation came in the form of a wooden container—an ark—which was built according to God's design (Genesis 6:11–22). In the prior passage, God delivered a promise to those who came off of the ark. God would never again destroy the world using a flood (Genesis 9:11). This promise was made not only to the humans on board, but also to the animals (Genesis 9:9–10). The sign given by God to commemorate this covenant is the rainbow (Genesis 9:12–13).Mankind's primary responsibility, now, is to repopulate the earth (Genesis 9:7). In verses 18 and 19, Scripture records the new genealogies which will produce the rest of the human race. Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, are reintroduced to set up the story that will follow. Ham's son Canaan is also introduced to us for the first time. He will figure prominently in the story and its aftermath as well.
