Lexical Definition
חָם Châm (khawm) Ham N:N-M-P
the same as חָם; hot (from the tropical habitat)
Ham.
- § Ham = "hot"
- Cham, a son of Noah
- also (as a patronymic) his descendants or their country
n pr m
1) 2nd son of Noah, father of Canaan and of various peoples which were inhabitants of southern lands
2) in late usage, a collective name for Egyptians
n pr loc
3) the place where Chedorlaomer smote the Zuzim, probably in the territory of Ammonites (Gilead) east of the Jordan
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.5.32
- son of: Noah (נֹחַ)
- brother of: Shem (שֵׁם) and Japheth (יֶפֶת)
- father of: Canaan (כְּנַעַן), Cush (כּוּשׁ), Egypt (מִצְרַיִם) and Put (פּוּט)
- n pr loc
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. חָם proper name, masculine person and location (compare Sabean חם Hal243) — ᵐ5 Ξαμ: —
1. Ham, 2nd son of Noah Gen 5:32; Gen 6:10; Gen 7:13; Gen 9:18 (twice in verse); 1Chr 1:4 called father of Canaan Gen 9:22 and of various peoples Gen 10:1; Gen 10:6; Gen 10:20; 1Chr 1:8, compare מִןחָֿם הַיּשְׁבִים שָׁם 1Chr 4:40 these peoples were inhabitants of southern lands, or related historically or politically to such inhabitants; see כּוּשׁ, כְּנַעַן, מִצְרַיִם, פּוּט, etc.
2. in late Psalms a name (collective) for Egyptians: — ׳אָֽהֳלֵיחֿ Ps 78:51 ׳אֶרֶץחֿ Ps 105:23; Ps 105:27; Ps 106:22 (all || מִצְרַיִם, except Ps 105:27). — On historical significance, and attempts at etymology see DiGen. ed. 6, chap.10, especially pp. 165, 168 f., HomSV i. 427 BuUrg. 323 WiedÄgypt. Geschichte. i. 22.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 5:32 · 6:10 · 7:13 · 9:18 · 9:22 · 10:1 · 10:6 · 10:20 |
| 1 Chronicles | 1:4 · 1:8 · 4:40 |
| Psalms | 78:51 · 105:23 · 105:27 · 106:22 |
Profile
Male • Son of Noah • One of Noah's three sons, father of Canaan.
Man living at the time of the Patriarchs
Ham, one of Noah's three sons, was the father of Canaan and the ancestor of various nations.
- A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.5.32;
- only referred to as Ham חָם;
- son of Noah נֹחַ;
- a brother of Shem שֵׁם and Japheth יֶפֶת;
- father of Canaan כְּנַעַן, Cush כּוּשׁ, Egypt מִצְרַיִם and Put פּוּט.
Ham was one of the three sons of Noah, along with Shem and Japheth (Genesis 5:32; 6:10). 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 9:24-25). Ham is also mentioned as the ancestor of various nations, including the Cushites, Egyptians, Put, and Canaanites (Genesis 10:6-20). 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.
All entries for Ham: חָם