Lexical Summary Cham: Ham Original Word: חָם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ham The same as cham; hot (from the tropical habitat); Cham, a son of Noah; also (as a patronymic) his descendants or their country -- Ham. see HEBREW cham NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a son of Noah, also his desc., also a name for Egyptians NASB Translation Ham (15), Hamites* (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. חָם proper name, masculine person and location (compare Sabean חם Hal243) — ᵐ5 Ξαμ: — 1 Ham, 2nd son of Noah Genesis 5:32; Genesis 6:10; Genesis 7:13; Genesis 9:18 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 1:4; called father of Canaan Genesis 9:22 and of various peoples Genesis 10:1,6,20; 1 Chronicles 1:8, compare מִןחָֿם הַיּשְׁבִים שָׁם 1 Chronicles 4:40; these peoples were inhabitants of southern lands, or related historically or politically to such inhabitants; see כּוּשׁ, כְּנַעַן, מִצְרַיִם, מּוּט, etc. 2 in late Psalms a name (collective) for Egyptians: — ׳אָֽהֳלֵיחֿ Psalm 78:51; ׳אֶרֶץחֿ Psalm 105:23; Psalm 105:27; Psalm 106:22 (all "" מִצְרַיִם, except Psalm 105:27). — On historical significance, and attempts at etymology see DiGen. ed. 6, chap.10, especially pp. 165, 168 f., HomSV i. 427 BuUrg. 323 WiedÄgypt. Geschichte. i. 22. Topical Lexicon Identity and Lineage Ham is one of the three sons born to Noah before the Flood (Genesis 5:32; Genesis 6:10). After the Deluge he is repeatedly named alongside Shem and Japheth (Genesis 7:13; Genesis 9:18). His own sons—Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan—become patriarchs of several early civilizations (Genesis 10:6). 1 Chronicles 1:4 and 1:8 echo this genealogy, demonstrating continuity in Israel’s historical records. The Family Incident and Its Aftermath Following the Flood, Noah became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. Ham observed his father’s nakedness and reported it to his brothers without acting to preserve his father’s dignity. “Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside” (Genesis 9:22). When Noah awoke, he pronounced a prophetic judgment, not upon Ham himself but upon Ham’s fourth son: “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers” (Genesis 9:25). Shem received a blessing, and Japheth was promised enlargement (Genesis 9:26–27). The narrative underscores the gravity of dishonoring one’s parent and explains later subjugation of Canaanite peoples without implying any divine mandate for ethnic prejudice. Scripture consistently restricts the curse to Canaan, not to Ham’s other descendants. Hamite Nations in Early History 1. Cush: The region south of Egypt, often associated with Nubia or Ethiopia (Genesis 10:6). The “Table of Nations” in Genesis 10 maps the spread of these families across Africa and the Near East, illustrating the post-Flood repopulation of the earth. The diverse cultures arising from Ham’s sons produced early advancements in architecture, trade, and governance, yet would also become frequent neighbors, rivals, or oppressors of Israel. The Land of Ham in the Psalms Four psalms recall Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage by naming Egypt “the land of Ham,” emphasizing genealogical links back to Noah’s son and reinforcing the historicity of the Exodus: These references bind Israel’s redemptive history to the broader narrative of the nations and highlight divine sovereignty over both Israel and the Hamite world powers. Theological Significance • Providence over Nations: Ham’s descendants produce mighty kingdoms—Egypt, Philistia, Canaan—through which God repeatedly displays His power and fidelity to His covenant people. Legacy for Ministry 1. Genealogies matter: They root faith in real history and demonstrate God’s oversight of human events. Ham thus stands as both a cautionary figure and a reminder of God’s redemptive purposes that encompass even those nations that once opposed His people. Forms and Transliterations וְחָ֕ם וְחָ֣ם וְחָ֥ם וחם חָ֑ם חָ֔ם חָ֚ם חָ֣ם חָ֥ם חָֽם׃ חם חם׃ cham ḥām veCham wə·ḥām wəḥāmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 5:32 HEB: שֵׁ֖ם אֶת־ חָ֥ם וְאֶת־ יָֽפֶת׃ NAS: of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. KJV: begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. INT: and Noah of Shem Ham and Japheth Genesis 6:10 Genesis 7:13 Genesis 9:18 Genesis 9:18 Genesis 9:22 Genesis 10:1 Genesis 10:6 Genesis 10:20 1 Chronicles 1:4 1 Chronicles 1:8 1 Chronicles 4:40 Psalm 78:51 Psalm 105:23 Psalm 105:27 Psalm 106:22 16 Occurrences |
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