56 For more on the curse, see H. C. Brichto, The Problem of “Curse” in the Hebrew Bible (), and J. Scharbert, 1:405–18.
57 Cursed be Canaan. The curse is pronounced on Canaan, not Ham. Noah sees a problem in Ham’s character, and on the basis of that he delivers a prophecy about the future descendants who will live in slavery to such things and then be controlled by others. (For more on the idea of slavery in general, see E. M. Yamauchi, “Slaves of God,” 9 [1966]: 31–49). In a similar way Jacob pronounced oracles about his sons based on their revealed character (see Gen 49).
58 Heb “a servant of servants” (עֶבֶד עֲבָדִים, ’eved ’avadim), an example of the superlative genitive. It means Canaan will become the most abject of slaves.
59 Heb “blessed be.”
60 Heb “a slave to him”; the referent (Shem) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

In other versions

he said,

“Cursed be Canaan;

a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”

He also said,

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem;

and let Canaan be his servant.

he said,

“Cursed be Canaan!

The lowest of slaves

will he be to his brothers.”

He also said,

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Shem!

May Canaan be the slave of Shem.

he said:

Canaan is cursed.

He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers.

He also said:

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem;

Let Canaan be Shem’s slave.

Then he cursed Canaan, the son of Ham:

“May Canaan be cursed!

May he be the lowest of servants to his relatives.”

Then Noah said,

“May the Lord, the God of Shem, be blessed,

and may Canaan be his servant!

And he said,

“Cursed be Canaan,

a slave of slaves he shall be to his brothers.”

Then he said,

“Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Shem,

and let Canaan be a slave to them.

And he said,

Cursed be Canaan;

A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

And he said,

Blessed be the Lord God of Shem;

And Canaan shall be his servant.

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