Nakedness of Noah and the sin of Ham: biblical analysis

Nakedness Noah

The nakedness of Noah was somewhat shocking for readers of the Bible. This is because he was considered to be a righteous man, who was above many of the temptations (which often accompanies other segments of society). After the great flood, he was the one individual that would be able right the sins of humankind and enable God to start anew. (Holy Bible New International Version, 2007) (Davis, 1975)

During this time, Noah began to farm and grew grapes on his land. Noah drank from the wine and awoke naked with none of his clothes on. Evidence of this can be seen with Genesis 9: 22 -- 25 with him saying, "Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father's naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked. When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, he said, "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers." (Holy Bible New International Version, 2007) (Davis, 1975)

In this case, the fact that Noah drank from the wine and let it influence him was considered to be a sin. This is because it warped his judgment and caused him to appear to engage in sinful behavior. For Noah, this is something that was not supposed to affect him. He was considered to be above everyone else, more righteous and closer to God. (Holy Bible New International Version, 2007) (Davis, 1975)

The sin of Ham was the fact that he let Canaan take the clothes of Noah and wear them himself. When Noah awoke, he realized what Canaan had done and cursed him. Ham was the father of Canaan and knew what he was up to. However, instead of stopping him from engaging in these activities, he allowed them to take place. This is one part of the sin, by failing to do what was right and protect Noah during one of his most vulnerable times. (Holy Bible New International Version, 2007) (Davis, 1975)

Yet, at the same time, Ham took the sins against Noah to another level. This occurred when he realized that Noah was drunk and began to gossip about him in the streets. In Genesis 9: 20 -- 25, the fact that Ham told his two brothers this, is indicating that he was engaging in blasphemy against Noah. When this happened, others began to see him as less holly and questioned his actions. (Holy Bible New International Version, 2007) (Davis, 1975)

To make matters worse, the sin of Ham was expanded upon with many theorizing that Ham had sodomized Noah while he was drunk. Evidence of this can be seen in Leviticus 20: 11 -- 17 which says, "If a man has sexual relations with his father's wife, he has dishonored his father. Both the man and the woman are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. If a man has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, both of them are to be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads. If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that no wickedness will be among you. If a man has sexual relations with an animal, he is to be put to death, and you must kill the animal. If a woman approaches an animal to have sexual relations with it, kill both the woman and the animal. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They are to be publicly removed from their people. He has dishonored his sister and will be held responsible." (Holy Bible New International Version, 2007) In this case, the fact that Ham had sex with Noah while he was drunk is considered to be a sin. The result is that he broke one of God's most important rules. While at the same time, he was spreading rumors about Noah to make him appear to be unholy and a sinner like everyone else. As a result, the sins of Ham are blasphemy and sodomy. (Davis, 1975)