About this episode

Jon Harris examines the theological implications and historical interpretations of the Curse of Ham as presented in Genesis 9.

The Curse of Ham is a theological idea that has been used throughout history in attempts to explain slavery, racial distinctions, and even racial hierarchy. But what does the biblical text actually say? In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris examines Genesis 9 and the historical interpretations surrounding Ham and Canaan. Was Ham actually cursed? What was Ham's sin? Does the text support the increasingly popular maternal incest theory? Why was Canaan cursed instead of Ham? And when did the idea emerge that the Curse of Ham applied to African peoples? We examine the biblical text, early Jewish and Christian interpretations, church history, and the later development of racial applications of this passage. The goal is not to force modern political concerns into Scripture, but to understand Genesis on its own terms and examine the historical record honestly. 00:00 The Curse of Ham Theology Is Back 05:20 What Does Genesis 9 Actually Say? 13:55 The Maternal Incest Theory Examined 19:12 Why Was Canaan Cursed Instead of Ham? 28:30 How Jewish and Christian Writers Interpreted the Curse 35:40 When Did the Curse Become Connected to Black Skin? 39:30 The Curse of Ham and…

People in this episode

Host: Jon Harris

Topics covered

• theological interpretations
• slavery
• racial distinctions
• biblical text analysis
• historical context
• Canaan
• Curse of Ham

Keywords

• Curse of Ham
• Genesis 9
• racial hierarchy
• maternal incest theory
• Canaan
• African slavery
• biblical interpretation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Conversations That Matter

Books & works: Genesis

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