Noah's Curse and Blessing

After the Flood, Noah planted a vineyard, became drunk, and lay uncovered in his tent. Ham saw his father’s nakedness and told his brothers, but Shem and Japheth walked backward with a garment to cover Noah without looking upon him.

When Noah awoke and learned what had happened, he cursed Ham’s son Canaan to be a servant of servants, but blessed Shem (from whom Israel would descend) and Japheth, declaring that Japheth would be enlarged and “dwell in the tents of Shem” (Genesis 9:27)—traditionally interpreted as the spread of Japheth’s descendants (European peoples) while sharing in Shem’s spiritual blessings.