One of Noah's three sons, father of Canaan.
Ham
Named in 10 verses across 2 books, first in Genesis 5:32.
חָםHam
The name means “hot; heat; brown.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Ham Written by AI
Ham was one of the three sons of Noah, along with Shem and Japheth (Genesis 5:32). He and his wife were among the eight people who survived the great flood in Noah's ark (Genesis 7:13). After the flood, Ham became the father of Canaan (Genesis 9:18). An incident occurred in which Ham saw his father Noah naked and informed his brothers (Genesis 9:22). When Noah awoke and learned of Ham's actions, he pronounced a curse on Canaan, Ham's son (Genesis 9:24 to 25). Ham is also mentioned as the ancestor of various nations, including the Cushites, Egyptians, Put, and Canaanites (Genesis 10:6 to 20). These nations are often referred to as the "sons of Ham" and are generally associated with the regions of Africa and the Middle East. In the Table of Nations (Genesis 10), Ham's descendants are listed, providing insight into the geographical distribution of ancient people groups. Ham's significance in the Bible lies primarily in his role as the father of Canaan and the ancestor of nations that would later play important roles in the history of Israel.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
This entry is on the name Ham, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
Warm, hot, and hence the south; also an Egyptian word meaning “black”, the youngest son of Noah (Gen. 5:32; comp. 9:22,24). The curse pronounced by Noah against Ham, properly against Canaan his fourth son, was accomplished when the Jews subsequently exterminated the Canaanites.
One of the most important facts recorded in Gen. 10 is the foundation of the earliest monarchy in Babylonia by Nimrod the grandson of Ham (6, 8, 10). The primitive Babylonian empire was thus Hamitic, and of a cognate race with the primitive inhabitants of Arabia and of Ethiopia. (See ACCAD.)
Read the rest of the entry
The race of Ham were the most energetic of all the descendants of Noah in the early times of the post-diluvian world.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- Genesis 5:32
After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
- Genesis 6:10
And Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
- Genesis 7:13
On that very day Noah entered the ark, along with his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and his wife, and the three wives of his sons—
- Genesis 9:18
The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan.
- Genesis 9:22
And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.
- Genesis 10:1
This is the account of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, who also had sons after the flood.
- Genesis 10:6
The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
- Genesis 10:20
These are the sons of Ham according to their clans, languages, lands, and nations.
- 1 Chronicles 1:4
The sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
- 1 Chronicles 1:8
The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.