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Genesis Chapter Nine

                             

I. Content of the Chapter

 

After Noah Went out of the Ark

  A. God blessed Noah:

    1. The outline ---- be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (v.1);

2. Govern all living things (v.2);

3. Allow man to eat living things except for the blood (v.3-4);

4. No man or beast shall hurt man’s life (v.5-6);

5. The conclusion ---- be fruitful and multiply and bring forth abundantly in the earth (v.7);

  B. God made a covenant with Noah and all living things:

1. The object of the covenant:

  a. Noah and his offspring (v.8-9);

  b. All living things out of the ark (v.10);

2. The content of the covenant ---- never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth (v.11);

3. The sign of the covenant ---- the rainbow in the cloud (v.12-17);

  C. The whole family of Noah after going out of the ark:

1. Three sons of Noah (v. 18-19);

2. Noah was drunk and became uncovered (v. 20-21);

3. The sons’ responses to Noah’s uncovered body (v. 22-23);

4. The curse and blessing after Noah awoke from his wine (v. 24-27);

5. The days of Noah (v. 28-29);

 

II. Verse by Verse Commentary

 

Gen. 9:1So God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.

YLT: “And God blesseth Noah and his sons and saith to them `Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth;”

Literal Meaning: here it shows that the will of God on man does not change (see Gen. 1:28).

  Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth God still pleases that man shall manifest His glory on the earth. 

“And fill the earth” it is not being inhabited in some places but the whole earth. The will of God is that all the people shall be scattered over the world (see chap. 11 men disobeyed this will deliberately).

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) Only God is the One who blesses. He had granted us all spiritual blessings in the heaven in Christ (Eph. 1:3).

  2) The appointed will of God before the foundation of the world is to manifest the fullness of Him who fills all in all through the church (Eph. 1:23).

 

Gen. 9:2And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth on every bird of the air on all that move on the earth and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand.

YLT: “and your fear and your dread is on every beast of the earth and on every fowl of the heavens on all that creepeth on the ground and on all fishes of the sea -- into your hand they have been given.”

Literal Meaning: “the fear of … and the dread of …” after the waters of the flood the animals did not live with men in harmony as that in the garden of Jehovah (Gen. 2). And the harmonious condition will not be recovered until the second coming of Christ (Is. 11:6-9).

  “They are given into your hand” God still entrusts the crucial mission of governing the whole earth into men and lets men be delegated authorities of God on the earth.

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) Before the fall of man everything was governed by “love”. After the fall of man man had to govern and subdue all things by “fear” in a harsh way. 

  2) God makes all the animals “fear” men for the sake of the mission of governing the whole earth entrusted to men. The domestic animals are ruled by men because of the fear of them. And the wild beasts try to escape the traces of human presence because of fear of men.

 

Gen. 9:3Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things even as the green herbs.

YLT: “Every creeping thing that is alive to you it is for food; as the green herb I have given to you the whole;”

Literal Meaning: God allowed men to eat the animals henceforth (Gen. 1:29; Deut. 12:15; 1Tim. 4:3-4).

Spiritual Meaning: the animals had to shed blood before being eaten as food which typified that man shall live before God by the atoning blood (Heb. 9:22).

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) It is the doctrine of demons of abstaining from meats. No creature of God is to be rejected (1Tim. 4:1-4).

  2) Eating meat is not only a right but also an enjoyment of man (Num. 11:18). However let believers not lead a kind of atheistic life because of pleasures in the flesh.

  3) Let believers be free on the matter of whether there is meat to eat or not. For the sake of meat do not destroy the work of God (Rom. 14:20-21).

 

Gen. 9:4But you shall not eat flesh with its life that is its blood.

YLT: “only flesh in its life -- its blood -- ye do not eat.”

Literal Meaning: the soul of the flesh is in the blood (Lev. 17:11).

  Shall not eat … that is its blood” God does not allow men to eat blood which means men have to cherish and honor life.

Spiritual Meaning: blood refers to giving life. God does not allow men to eat flesh with blood including two meanings:

  1) To manifest the truth of atonement ---- man can only receive the precious blood of the Lord Jesus (John 6:55-56). No other blood e.g. the blood of goats or bulls can take away man’s sins (Heb. 10:4).

  2) The soul of the flesh is in the blood which typifies that we can enjoy the divine life by drinking the blood of the Lord Jesus (John 6:53). No other life is the object we seek after.

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) Though all living things are delivered to men’s hands (see v.2) men have to submit to the hand of God and obey all the laws set by the Creator instead of acting presumptuously.

  2) Believers in the New Testament shall still abstain from blood and from things strangled (Acts 15:20 29). Let believers see this commandment in a spiritual sight.

 

Gen. 9:5Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man.

YLT: “`And only your blood for your lives do I require; from the hand of every living thing I require it and from the hand of man from the hand of every man's brother I require the life of man;”

Literal Meaning: here on one hand it shows that God cherishes man’s life and on the other hand only God has the authority of life and He will visit the iniquity of the killer.

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) God Himself is the greatest keeper of human life (see Gen. 4:9-12).

  2) The life of every man is precious in the sight of God. Therefore we are not allowed to killer others (Ex. 20:13) nor kill ourselves.

  3) The people of the heavenly kingdom cannot kill nor hate others (Matt. 5:21-22).

  4) The authority of life is in the hand of God. Therefore he who fears God must honor life.

 

Gen. 9:6“Whoever sheds man’s blood by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.

YLT: “whoso sheddeth man's blood by man is his blood shed: for in the image of God hath He made man.”

Literal Meaning: the honor of man’s life is again emphasized. God does not allow man to kill others presumptuously.

  “By man his blood shall be shed” many Bible expositors in the light of this verse think God allows the “death penalty” upon him who sheds man’s blood.

  For in the image of God He made man” “image” emphasizes the inner disposition. This verse shows that the original purpose of God’s making man is not changed and He will still manifest His glory through man.

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) Shedding man’s blood is severe disrespect to God. He who sheds man’s blood harms God Himself ---- hurt the disposition of God.

  2) Since God has given His glory upon man let us respect the dignity of each man.

  3) Man was made in the image of God and therefore there is the constitutional goodness in man’s disposition.

  4) Since we believers are partakers of God’s disposition (2Pet. 1:4) let us walk according to the divine nature.

 

Gen. 9:7And as for you be fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it.”

YLT: “And ye be fruitful and multiply teem in the earth and multiply in it.'”

Literal Meaning: bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it” here it relates to both “quantity” and “quality”. And “fill the earth” in verse one refers to “quantity” only.

Enlightenment in the Word: believers shall attach importance to the cultivation of the character and spirituality of their children in the flesh or in spirit

 

Gen. 9:8Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him saying:

YLT: “And God speaketh unto Noah and unto his sons with him saying ”

 

Gen. 9:9“And as for Me behold I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you

YLT: “`And I lo I am establishing My covenant with you and with your seed after you ”

Literal Meaning: “covenant” it is a kind of relationship with mutual consent which is of constraining force and requires the fulfillment of obligations. In fact man is unable to keep the covenant so the covenant made by God is a divine gift to man. He is willing to humble Himself and put Him on a constraining position.

    You and your descendants” refer to the whole human beings from generations to generations.

 

Gen. 9:10and with every living creature that is with you: the birds the cattle and every beast of the earth with you of all that go out of the ark every beast of the earth.

YLT: “and with every living creature which with you among fowl among cattle and among every beast of the earth with you from all who are going out of the ark -- to every beast of the earth.”

Literal Meaning: this verse has further included all living things in the objects of the covenant.

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) All the living things on the earth live for man. They suffer the destruction of the flood for the sake of man. And they enjoy the blessing of the covenant also for the sake of man.

  2) The creature has been made subject to vanity and the creature itself also shall be set free from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God (Rom. 8:19-22).

 

Gen. 9:11Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

YLT: “And I have established My covenant with you and all flesh is not any more cut off by waters of a deluge and there is not any more a deluge to destroy the earth.'”

Literal Meaning: henceforth the flood appeared in some regional places instead of the whole earth.

  This verse tells us that God will never destroy the earth by the waters of the flood not that He will never destroy the earth again. In future God will burn the earth and the works in it with heat (2Pet. 3:10).

Spiritual Meaning: “flood” symbolizes the judgment of God. The eternal covenant God has made with us and all things speaks of the following spiritual meanings:

  1) God has the riches of goodness and forbearance and long-suffering and the goodness of God leads man to repentance (Rom. 2:4).

  2) God had passed over the sins that were previously committed in His forbearance to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:25-26).

  3) God endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy which He had prepared beforehand for glory (Rom. 9:22-23) namely we believers in the coming ages.

  4) Though man is corrupted in the flesh God still has His way. He will work on man and make man His workmanship (Eph. 2:10 the original) to fulfill God’s original will and purpose when he made man.

  5) Though men’s condition is up and down we still need not to live under the shadow of the fear of death but live with full living hope.

  6) If we are unfaithful He abides faithful for He cannot deny Himself (2Tim. 2:13).

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) The flood only declares God’s judgment upon sins and has not resolved the problem of man’s life. After we have believed the Lord and been baptized though we are remitted we still have the sin.

  2) The whole creation groans and travails in pain and is in hope that it also shall be set free from the bondage of corruption into the liberty (Rom. 8:18-22).

 

Gen. 9:12And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you and every living creature that is with you for perpetual generations:

YLT: “And God saith `This is a token of the covenant which I am giving between Me and you and every living creature that with you to generations age-during;”

Literal Meaning: perpetual generations” here it emphasizes the permanence of this covenant which will be free from any abolishment or transformation in any case.

    “Sign” it is for the purpose of reminding both sides about the changelessness of the covenant.

 

Gen. 9:13I set My rainbow in the cloud and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.

YLT: “My bow I have given in the cloud and it hath been for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth;”

Literal Meaning: here it does not mean it was a phenomenon after the flood that the rainbow appeared in the cloud but that God took the rainbow as the sign of the covenant henceforward. There is sunlight after a rain and a rainbow in the cloud.

Spiritual Meaning: “rainbow” symbolizes the faithfulness of God (Rev. 4:2; Ps. 89:2). The rainbow is the reflection of sunlight so the faithfulness of God is on the ground of His righteousness (Mal. 4:2).

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) If we are unfaithful He abides faithful for He cannot deny Himself (2Tim. 2:13).

  2) The faithfulness of God is as steadfast as the rainbow in the heaven which cannot be touched by anyone or anything so it is unalterable.

  3) The faithfulness of God is the surety of the covenant He has made which guarantees that He will never deny the word He had spoken when He made the covenant with man (Ps. 89:33-34; Deut. 7:9).

  4) The rainbow looks like a bow unto the heaven instead of the earth. God made the covenant with us for the purpose of comforting us not frightening us.

 

Gen. 9:14It shall be when I bring a cloud over the earth that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud;

YLT: “and it hath come to pass (in My sending a cloud over the earth) that the bow hath been seen in the cloud ”

Literal Meaning: here it does not mean there “must be a rainbow” in every cloud but God “will” remember His covenant when the “rainbow” appears.

Spiritual Meaning: “a cloud over the earth” when it is cloudy and dark it symbolizes the judgment is upon the earth (Matt. 27:45-46).

  “Cloud” may also stand for various sufferings and distress and sorrows. And “rainbow” symbolizes peace and joy and harmony. Therefore here it reveals that if God allows us to meet troubles He intends to profit us and makes us peaceful and joyful in troubles (John 16:20-22 33).

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) The rainbow to us is a kind of comfort and surety showing that God will never remain us in darkness and leave us in the lurch.

  2) The rainbow on the other hand is a kind of warning. Let us not treasure up to ourselves wrath according to our harness and impenitent heart in day of wrath and revelation of righteous judgment of God (Rom. 2:5).

 

Gen. 9:15and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

YLT: “and I have remembered My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature among all flesh and the waters become no more a deluge to destroy all flesh;”

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) What God remembers is the covenant He had made rather than our trespasses.

  2) Whenever God remembers someone or something there will be grace (Gen. 8:1). How abundant and rich His grace is!

 

Gen. 9:16The rainbow shall be in the cloud and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

YLT: “and the bow hath been in the cloud and I have seen it -- to remember the covenant age-during between God and every living creature among all flesh which on the earth.'”

Literal Meaning: I will look on it” the sign of rainbow is mainly set for God. He humbles Himself and is willing to be constrained by the “covenant”. In fact when it is cloudy and dark on the earth men cannot see the rainbow but God sees it in the heavens. Thus he is constrained and will not destroy all living things (v.15).

 

Gen. 9:17And God said to Noah “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

YLT: “And God saith unto Noah `This a token of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that upon the earth.'”

 

Gen. 9:18Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem Ham and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan.

YLT: “And the sons of Noah who are going out of the ark are Shem and Ham and Japheth; and Ham is father of Canaan.”

Meaning of Words: “Shem”: name reputation; “Ham”: hot black; “Japheth”: enlargement goodness; “Cannaan”: low base businessman the purple land;

Literal Meaning: at that time all the people on the earth except for the whole household of Noah were covered by the waters of the flood. Therefore the sons of Noah stood for the beginning of a new race.

 

Gen. 9:19 These three were the sons of Noah and from these the whole earth was populated.

YLT: “These three sons of Noah and from these hath all the earth been overspread.”

Literal Meaning: and from these the whole earth was populated” here it shows that the inhabitants all over the world now are descendants of Noah’s family: most of the Asians are the descendants of Shem and most of the Africans are the descendants of Ham and most of the Europeans are the descendants of Japheth.

 

Gen. 9:20And Noah began to be a farmer and he planted a vineyard.

YLT: “And Noah remaineth a man of the ground and planteth a vineyard ”

Literal Meaning: God allows man to eat and drink for enjoyment in life so it was not wrong for Noah began to plant a vineyard (see Gen. 3:23; Song. 8:11; Matt. 20:1).

 

Gen. 9:21Then he drank of the wine and was drunk and became uncovered in his tent.

YLT: “and drinketh of the wine and is drunken and uncovereth himself in the midst of the tent.”

Literal Meaning: Noah was wrong in drunkenness so that he lose self-control.

  “Became uncovered” it means humiliation (Gen. 3:7 10; Lev. 18:6-18). Noah became uncovered which indicated that he exposed his shame before men.

  Uncovered in his tent” it showed that his failure was in secret but in public.

  Here we can see that the blood did not remove the sinful nature of Noah and his life was still of the old Adam. Though we Christian have received the divine life in our spirits the old life is in our souls. Therefore it is still possible for us to do things that God does not please. 

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) Be not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation (Eph. 5:18).

  2) When the first time the Bible mentions wine it relates to drunkenness. The best way of avoiding drunkenness is to be free from wine.

  3) Noah was uncovered “in his tent” not in public and he made the mistake. Therefore no matter in secret or in public let us learn to be temperate.

  4) Believers tend to take heed of their conversations outside of home but are relaxed and unstrained at home.

  5) Though Noah was “perfect” (Gen. 6:9) in fact he still had imperfections. Therefore let us not imitate the spiritual giants above the Scriptures (1Cor. 4:6).

  6) Even though man is victorious in great events if careless he may suffer loss in small matters.

  7) Noah is the head of the new race and the delegated authority of God on the earth. He who is entrusted to rule all things on behalf of God cannot even rule himself.

  8) Once the elders expose themselves before others they have humiliated God and lost the testimony of God.

 

Gen. 9:22And Ham the father of Canaan saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside.

YLT: “And Ham father of Canaan seeth the nakedness of his father and declareth to his two brethren without.”

Literal Meaning: Ham the father of Canaan” when Ham who had been a father saw his father’s mistake he was supposed to care for the father’s status and honor. However he even exposed the fault and shame of the elder.

  According to the tradition of the Jews it was Canaan that saw the grandfather’s nakedness and he told his father Ham. And then Ham told his brothers so Noah cursed Canaan (see v.25).

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) He who has made mistakes likes to see the fault of others and propagate it and yet cover his own fault.

  2) If a man is taken in some fault let us try to cover him to restore him (Gal. 6:1).

  3) If one puts the shame upon others he himself will also be humiliated.

 

Gen. 9:23But Shem and Japheth took a garment laid it on both their shoulders and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away and they did not see their father’s nakedness.

YLT: “And Shem taketh -- Japheth also -- the garment and they place on the shoulder of them both and go backward and cover the nakedness of their father; and their faces backward and their father's nakedness they have not seen.”

Literal Meaning: this is covering the faults of others and avoiding further shame of them. However are we completely not allowed to expose or reprove of the faults of others? There are also some balanced teachings and examples in the Bible. Whoever disobeys the truth or commits sins on purpose they shall be reproved and corrected to their face (Pro. 27:5; Gal. 2:14; Eph. 5:11-13; 1Tim. 5:20; Titus 3:10-11; John see v.10).

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) Let believers avoid seeing or touching the failures of the private life of others. Regarding something that does not becomes saints let is not be even named (Eph. 5:3).

  2) Before all things having fervent love among yourselves because love covers a multitude of sins (1Pet. 4:8).

 

Gen. 9:24So Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his younger son had done to him.

YLT: “And Noah awaketh from his wine and knoweth that which his young son hath done to him ”

Literal Meaning: his younger son” it covers many meanings. Sometimes it means grandson or offspring (see the commentary of verse 22).

 

Gen. 9:25Then he said: “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants he shall be to his brethren.”

YLT: “and saith: `Cursed Canaan Servant of servants he is to his brethren.'”

Literal Meaning: a servant of servants” refers to the humblest servant. In the Bible if a man is blessed or cursed it often involves the whole descendants and country of that man.

  In light of the Scriptures it seems to be unreasonable that the fault of “Ham” was borne by “Canaan”. However since all the curses and blessings of Noah afterwards were fulfilled the sensible explanation was supposed to be that Noah prophesied unconsciously in the inspiration of the Spirit.

    On the other hand since Canaan was cursed Ham as his father was certain to be sorrowful. Therefore curse on Canaan equaled to that on Ham. Ham failed to consider “his father feeling” so he had to went through “the paternal feeling” by the curse of his son. 

 

Gen. 9:26And he said: “Blessed be the Lord the God of Shem and may Canaan be his servant.

YLT: “And he saith: `Blessed of Jehovah my God Shem And Canaan is servant to him.”

Literal Meaning: God then selected Abraham the offspring of Shem so He was called “the God of Shem”. Here blessed be the God of Shem instead of Shem himself for God is the source of blessing.

  And may Canaan be his servant” here it prophesized that the Canaanites became then the slaves of the Israelites (Jos. 16:10; 1King 9:20-21).

 

Gen. 9:27May God enlarge Japheth and may he dwell in the tents of Shem; and may Canaan be his servant.

YLT: “God doth give beauty to Japheth And he dwelleth in tents of Shem And Canaan is servant to him.'”

Literal Meaning: may God enlarge Japheth” it means making him more land.

  “And may he dwell in the tents of Shem” it means that he is the partaker of the blessings of Shem.

  The majority of Japheth’s descendants occupy Europe and the majority of Shem’s descendants occupy Asia and the majority of Ham’s descendants occupy Africa. During a period of days in history the Europeans colonized the Asian and African areas and occupied the land of Palestine to enslave the offspring of Canaan.

Spiritual Meaning: the church was out of the Jews who were the offspring of Shem and yet was first widely accepted by the offspring of Japheth the Europeans. Therefore may he dwell in the tents of Shem” it typifies that the Jews and the Gentiles are become one in Christ Jesus namely the church (Eph. 2:11-18).

Enlightenment in the Word:

  1) The blessings and curses of Noah were afterwards both fulfilled indicating that God pleases man to respect elders rather than humiliate them.

  2) Respect for elders is also an expression of fear of God.

 

Gen. 9:28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.

YLT: “And Noah liveth after the deluge three hundred and fifty years;”

 

Gen. 9:29 So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died.

YLT: “and all the days of Noah are nine hundred and fifty years and he dieth.”

Literal Meaning: the drunkenness of Noah might happen not long after the waters of the flood and so Noah lived probably at least three hundred years thereafter.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

Bases of the Covenant God Made with Noah

  A. Which is not based on human conditions (8:21):

1. Never again curse the ground for man's sake;

2. The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth;

  B. Which is based on the blessings of God:

1. God blesses Noah (v.1);

2. Be fruitful and multiply (v.1 7);

  C. Which is based on the will of God:

1. All living things are given into man’s hand (v.2);

2. Man was made after the image of God (v.6);

 

Contents of the Covenant God Made with Noah

A.  Concerning the necessary living environment of man:

1. Never again there shall be a flood to destroy the earth (v.11);

    2. While the earth remains day and night shall not cease (8:22);

  B. Concerning the living things that are closely related to man’s life:

1. All living things have the fear and dread of man (v.2);

2. All living things are given to man’s hands (v.2);

3. All living things can be food for man except for the flesh with its life (v.3-4);

4. No living thing can let man shed blood (v.5);

  C. Concerning man himself:

1. Let man be fruitful and multiply and bring forth abundantly in the earth (v.1 7);

2. Let man respect life and keep life (v.5-6);

 

Characteristics of the Covenant God Made with Noah

A.  The covenant is all-inclusive ---- “all living things” are involved (v.10);

B.  The covenant is eternal ---- “an eternal covenant” (v.12 16);

C.  The covenant gives grace unilaterally ---- without requirements;

D.  The covenant is with a sign ---- “rainbow” (v.12-17);

E.  The covenant is remembered by God (v.15-16);

 

Failures of Noah

  A. Noah was the father of the new race (v.18-19) ---- the delegated authority of God;

  B. Noah lost the divine testimony in life (v.20-21) ---- the failure of the delegated authority;

  C. The positive and negative reactions of Noah’s sons (v.22-23) ---- the necessary attitudes for believers toward the failures of others;

D. The curses and blessings of Noah (v.24-27) ---- God did not draw back what He has entrusted because of man’s failure;

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

Translated by Mary Zhou