Who
A son of Ham and grandson of Noah. For his father’s mockery Noah cursed him: “Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers” (Genesis 9:25). His descendants were the peoples of the land that bore his name, from Sidon to Gaza: “Canaan became the father of Sidon (his firstborn), Heth” and the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites and the rest (Genesis 10:15–19). That land was promised to Abraham’s offspring, and there Christ was born.
Key verses
- Genesis 9:25
He said, “Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.”
- Genesis 10:6
The sons of Ham were: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
- Genesis 10:15
Canaan became the father of Sidon (his firstborn), Heth,
Where the Bible names him
Family
- Parents
Discussed by
Comments on the verses that name him.
- Augustine of Hippo, The City of God XVI.1
Whether, After the Deluge, from Noah to Abraham, Any Families Can Be Found Who Lived According to God. Chapter 1.—Whether, After the Deluge, from Noah to Abraham, Any Families Can Be Found Who Lived According to God.…
- John Chrysostom, Homilies on Matthew Homily 6
Matthew II. 1, 2. Matt. II. 1, 2. “When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews?…
- Origen, Against Celsus VII.7
In regard to the prophets among the Jews, some of them were wise men before they became divinely inspired prophets, while others became wise by the illumination which their minds received when divinely inspired. They…
- John Chrysostom, Homilies on Matthew Homily 8
Matthew II. 2. Matt. II. 2. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother.” How then saith Luke, that He was lying in the manger? Because at the birth indeed she presently…
- Basil the Great, On the Holy Spirit Chapter 19
Against those who maintain that the Spirit is in the rank neither of a servant nor of a master, but in that of the free. Against those who maintain that the Spirit is in the rank neither of a servant nor of a master,…
- Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 139
The blessings, and also the curse, pronounced by Noah were prophecies of the future. “For another mystery was accomplished and predicted in the days of Noah, of which you are not aware. It is this: in the blessings…