Genesis 9:23 kjva — And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakednes…

King James Version with Apocrypha

"And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness."

— Genesis 9:23, King James Version with Apocrypha

Read in Another Translation

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Genesis 9:23 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.”

  • ASV

    “And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness. ”

  • WEB

    “Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn't see their father's nakedness.”

  • NET

    “Shem and Japheth took the garment and placed it on their shoulders. Then they walked in backwards and covered up their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned the other way so they did not see their father’s nakedness.”

  • DRB

    “But Sem and Japheth put a cloak upon their shoulders, and going backward, covered the nakedness of their father: and their faces were turned away, and they saw not their father's nakedness.”

  • BBE

    “And Shem and Japheth took a robe, and putting it on their backs went in with their faces turned away, and put it over their father so that they might not see him unclothed.”

Genesis 9 — Context

20

And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:

21

And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

22

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

23

And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.

24

And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.

25

And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

26

And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

Genesis 9:23 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Genesis 9:23 say?
Genesis 9:23 in the King James Version with Apocrypha reads: “And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.”
Where is Genesis 9:23 in the Bible?
Genesis 9:23 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Genesis, chapter 9, verse 23.
Who wrote Genesis?
Genesis is traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional). Anciently attributed to Moses; many modern scholars view Genesis as a compilation of older oral and written sources finalized in or after the Babylonian exile. It was written c. 1446–1406 BC.
What is the book of Genesis about?
Genesis is the book of beginnings — the origin of the universe, humanity, sin, and the covenant family God chose to bless the nations. It traces creation, the fall, the flood, and the lives of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, laying the foundation for the rest of Scripture and pointing forward to the redemption that comes through the promised seed.
What are the major themes of Genesis?
Genesis explores themes including Creation, Fall, Covenant, Faith, Family, Promise. These themes shape the meaning and context of Genesis 9:23.
What translation should I read Genesis 9:23 in?
Genesis 9:23 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Genesis 9:23?
Genesis 9:23 reads (KJVA): “And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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