In Genesis, which of Noah’s sons saw him uncovered after Noah drank wine?

The story behind the answer

In Genesis, Ham saw his father Noah uncovered after Noah drank wine.

Genesis 9:22 says that Ham, identified as the father of Canaan, saw Noah’s nakedness inside the tent and told his two brothers outside. Shem and Japheth then took a garment, walked backward, and covered their father without looking at him. The passage contrasts the brothers’ actions rather than describing Ham as participating in the covering.

The account appears after the flood and after Noah plants a vineyard. It is therefore a post-flood family episode, not part of the Ark’s construction or voyage. The passage concludes with Noah’s statements about his sons and Canaan.

This story has generated extensive interpretation in Jewish and Christian traditions, especially concerning the meaning of “seeing” Noah’s nakedness and the later curse involving Canaan. The question’s direct identification, however, comes from the plain wording of Genesis 9:22: Ham sees Noah and reports what happened to his brothers.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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