וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת־נֹ֖חַ וְאֶת־בָּנָ֑יו וַיֹּ֧אמֶר לָהֶ֛ם פְּר֥וּ וּרְב֖וּ וּמִלְא֥וּ אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

To establish the above promise, God turns to Noah and his family with blessings and commandments. In rabbinic and later literature these are called the seven Noahide mitzvot. God blessed Noah and his sons, and He said to them: Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. This blessing had already been given to Adam, but it seems that God canceled it with the flood. Therefore, this blessing is granted here once again.

וּמוֹרַאֲכֶ֤ם וְחִתְּכֶם֙ יִֽהְיֶ֔ה עַ֚ל כָּל־חַיַּ֣ת הָאָ֔רֶץ וְעַ֖ל כָּל־ע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם בְּכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּרְמֹ֧שׂ הָֽאֲדָמָ֛ה וּֽבְכָל־דְּגֵ֥י הַיָּ֖ם בְּיֶדְכֶ֥ם נִתָּֽנוּ׃

Fear of you and dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, upon every bird of the heavens, upon all that crawls on the ground, and upon all fish of the sea. Into your hand they are all given. Before the flood, relations between man and the animals were mostly peaceful. Although man had been given dominion over the animal world (1:28), and some engaged in animal husbandry, people were prohibited to exploit animals for food, and apparently they refrained from causing them any harm. Here God casts dread of man upon all other living creatures.

כָּל־רֶ֙מֶשׂ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הוּא־חַ֔י לָכֶ֥ם יִהְיֶ֖ה לְאָכְלָ֑ה כְּיֶ֣רֶק עֵ֔שֶׂב נָתַ֥תִּי לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־כֹּֽל׃

And in addition, every crawling creature that lives shall be yours for food; from now on you are permitted to eat animals. Like green vegetation I have given you everything; until now both you and animals were vegetarians, whereas now you are given permission to eat everything in the world.

אַךְ־בָּשָׂ֕ר בְּנַפְשׁ֥וֹ דָמ֖וֹ לֹ֥א תֹאכֵֽלוּ׃

After God has granted permission to eat animal flesh, He now places limits on this allowance. But flesh with its life, its blood, you shall not eat. One may not eat the flesh of an animal when it is still connected to its soul. This is the prohibition against eating a limb cut from a living animal. Although man is permitted to eat animals, this does not give him the right to act in a cruel manner.

וְאַ֨ךְ אֶת־דִּמְכֶ֤ם לְנַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶם֙ אֶדְרֹ֔שׁ מִיַּ֥ד כָּל־חַיָּ֖ה אֶדְרְשֶׁ֑נּוּ וּמִיַּ֣ד הָֽאָדָ֗ם מִיַּד֙ אִ֣ישׁ אָחִ֔יו אֶדְרֹ֖שׁ אֶת־נֶ֥פֶשׁ הָֽאָדָֽם׃

This verse states another limitation: But I will demand your blood of your lives, as your right to kill other creatures does not extend to people. Human beings cannot be compared to other living things. If someone’s blood is spilled, the responsibility is upon the person who spilled it. And similarly, from every beast I will demand it. Animals are held responsible for shedding human blood just as people are. When the Torah will be given, it will include a halakha that the court must sentence and put to death an ox or any other animal that kills a human being. And, as stated, from man, from every man for shedding the blood of his brother , will I demand the life of man.

שֹׁפֵךְ֙ דַּ֣ם הָֽאָדָ֔ם בָּֽאָדָ֖ם דָּמ֣וֹ יִשָּׁפֵ֑ךְ כִּ֚י בְּצֶ֣לֶם אֱלֹהִ֔ים עָשָׂ֖ה אֶת־הָאָדָֽם׃

One who sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed. This is the first appearance of the death penalty, which is imposed on a murderer. The verse provides the reason for all these commands: As He made man in the image of God. Man is not merely one of the creatures of the zoological system. Since he was created in the image of God, he must be treated with greater respect.

וְאַתֶּ֖ם פְּר֣וּ וּרְב֑וּ שִׁרְצ֥וּ בָאָ֖רֶץ וּרְבוּ־בָֽהּ׃ (ס)

And you, be fruitful and multiply; teem on the earth, and multiply on it. Some of the instructions that were given to Adam are still valid. Nevertheless, new commands are stated here that are appropriate for a changed world.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־נֹ֔חַ וְאֶל־בָּנָ֥יו אִתּ֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר׃

God spoke to Noah, and to his sons with him, saying: You must observe these obligations that I have imposed upon you.

וַאֲנִ֕י הִנְנִ֥י מֵקִ֛ים אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֖י אִתְּכֶ֑ם וְאֶֽת־זַרְעֲכֶ֖ם אַֽחֲרֵיכֶֽם׃

And I hereby establish, set up and enact, My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you;

וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־נֶ֤פֶשׁ הַֽחַיָּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתְּכֶ֔ם בָּע֧וֹף בַּבְּהֵמָ֛ה וּֽבְכָל־חַיַּ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ אִתְּכֶ֑ם מִכֹּל֙ יֹצְאֵ֣י הַתֵּבָ֔ה לְכֹ֖ל חַיַּ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃

and with every living soul that is with you, with the birds, and with the animals, and with every beast of the earth that is with you; from all that emerged from the ark. The covenant applies to every beast of the earth; it is valid with respect to all living creatures in the world.

וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י אֶת־בְּרִיתִי֙ אִתְּכֶ֔ם וְלֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֧ת כָּל־בָּשָׂ֛ר ע֖וֹד מִמֵּ֣י הַמַּבּ֑וּל וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֥ה ע֛וֹד מַבּ֖וּל לְשַׁחֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃

And I will establish My covenant with you, which in essence is that all flesh shall not be excised again by water of the flood; there shall not be a flood anymore to destroy the earth.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים זֹ֤את אֽוֹת־הַבְּרִית֙ אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֣י נֹתֵ֗ן בֵּינִי֙ וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵ֛ין כָּל־נֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתְּכֶ֑ם לְדֹרֹ֖ת עוֹלָֽם׃

God said: This is the sign of the covenant that I place between Me and you and every living soul that is with you, for eternal generations:

אֶת־קַשְׁתִּ֕י נָתַ֖תִּי בֶּֽעָנָ֑ן וְהָֽיְתָה֙ לְא֣וֹת בְּרִ֔ית בֵּינִ֖י וּבֵ֥ין הָאָֽרֶץ׃

My rainbow I have set in the cloud, and it shall be as a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. The rainbow shall signify the covenant between Me and the earth’s inhabitants.

וְהָיָ֕ה בְּעַֽנְנִ֥י עָנָ֖ן עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְנִרְאֲתָ֥ה הַקֶּ֖שֶׁת בֶּעָנָֽן׃

It shall be when I bring a cloud over the earth, and the rainbow will be seen in the cloud,

וְזָכַרְתִּ֣י אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֗י אֲשֶׁ֤ר בֵּינִי֙ וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵ֛ין כָּל־נֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּ֖ה בְּכָל־בָּשָׂ֑ר וְלֹֽא־יִֽהְיֶ֨ה ע֤וֹד הַמַּ֙יִם֙ לְמַבּ֔וּל לְשַׁחֵ֖ת כָּל־בָּשָֽׂר׃

I will remember My covenant that is between Me and you and every living soul of all flesh, and the water shall not become a flood anymore to destroy all flesh.

וְהָיְתָ֥ה הַקֶּ֖שֶׁת בֶּֽעָנָ֑ן וּרְאִיתִ֗יהָ לִזְכֹּר֙ בְּרִ֣ית עוֹלָ֔ם בֵּ֣ין אֱלֹהִ֔ים וּבֵין֙ כָּל־נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֔ה בְּכָל־בָּשָׂ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will see it, to remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־נֹ֑חַ זֹ֤את אֽוֹת־הַבְּרִית֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֲקִמֹ֔תִי בֵּינִ֕י וּבֵ֥ין כָּל־בָּשָׂ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (פ)

God said to Noah: This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between Me and all flesh that is upon the earth. The rainbow represents the covenant between God and mankind. Since it can also be viewed as a sign of God’s revelation in the world, the Sages instructed that one must treat a rainbow with proper respect, and one must take care not to gaze upon it.

וַיִּֽהְי֣וּ בְנֵי־נֹ֗חַ הַיֹּֽצְאִים֙ מִן־הַתֵּבָ֔ה שֵׁ֖ם וְחָ֣ם וָיָ֑פֶת וְחָ֕ם ה֖וּא אֲבִ֥י כְנָֽעַן׃

The sons of Noah, who emerged from the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Yefet; and Ham was the father of Canaan. This additional mention of one of their children is important for the continuation of the story.

שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵי־נֹ֑חַ וּמֵאֵ֖לֶּה נָֽפְצָ֥ה כָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was dispersed. The sons of Noah multiplied until they filled the entire world.

וַיָּ֥חֶל נֹ֖חַ אִ֣ישׁ הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה וַיִּטַּ֖ע כָּֽרֶם׃

Noah, man of the soil, began, and he planted a vineyard. As related earlier (see 5:29), Noah was a farmer. One of his first actions after the flood was to plant a vineyard. Apparently, Noah chose a vineyard over essential grains or fruit trees necessary for his survival. This is meant as a criticism of Noah, as he decided to produce a luxury item. It is possible that he planted a vineyard because he actively wanted to get drunk; after the entire world that he was familiar with had been destroyed, he sought to blur his mind in order to overcome the trauma.

וַיֵּ֥שְׁתְּ מִן־הַיַּ֖יִן וַיִּשְׁכָּ֑ר וַיִּתְגַּ֖ל בְּת֥וֹךְ אָהֳלֹֽה׃

He drank of the wine and became drunk. Since he was drunk and lying on the ground, his clothes, which were presumably flowing robes, fell off him, and he was exposed and left naked inside his tent.

וַיַּ֗רְא חָ֚ם אֲבִ֣י כְנַ֔עַן אֵ֖ת עֶרְוַ֣ת אָבִ֑יו וַיַּגֵּ֥ד לִשְׁנֵֽי־אֶחָ֖יו בַּחֽוּץ׃

Ham, father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father. Canaan is mentioned here due to his involvement in the affair, as maintained by the Sages. Either Ham was the one who glanced inside the tent and went off and told his brothers, or he performed even worse actions. The phrase “to see nakedness” is similar to the expression “to reveal nakedness,” which appears in the Torah in halakhic contexts not in its literal sense, but as referring to forbidden sexual contact. Accordingly, this might be an indication that Ham or his son Canaan performed some sexual act upon Noah. It is possible that Ham merely saw Noah’s nakedness; however, rather than concealing his father’s shame, he did the opposite and humiliated him, and told his two brothers outside.

וַיִּקַּח֩ שֵׁ֨ם וָיֶ֜פֶת אֶת־הַשִּׂמְלָ֗ה וַיָּשִׂ֙ימוּ֙ עַל־שְׁכֶ֣ם שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ אֲחֹ֣רַנִּ֔ית וַיְכַסּ֕וּ אֵ֖ת עֶרְוַ֣ת אֲבִיהֶ֑ם וּפְנֵיהֶם֙ אֲחֹ֣רַנִּ֔ית וְעֶרְוַ֥ת אֲבִיהֶ֖ם לֹ֥א רָאֽוּ׃

Shem and Yefet took the garment, a broad cloth that would cover Noah’s entire body, and they placed it upon both their shoulders. They walked backward, so as not to disgrace their father. Furthermore, they treated him with great modesty: And they covered the nakedness of their father. They faced backward, and they did not see the nakedness of their father.

וַיִּ֥יקֶץ נֹ֖חַ מִיֵּינ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֕דַע אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־עָ֥שָׂה־ל֖וֹ בְּנ֥וֹ הַקָּטָֽן׃

Noah awoke from his wine, and knew. Noah was not so drunk that when he woke up he had no memory of what had happened in his drunken stupor. While intoxicated, he behaved abnormally and was unaware of his actions, but once he sobered up, he was able to recall what his youngest son, Ham, or his grandson, Canaan, had done to him .

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָר֣וּר כְּנָ֑עַן עֶ֥בֶד עֲבָדִ֖ים יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְאֶחָֽיו׃

He, Noah, said: Cursed be Canaan and his descendants; a slave of slaves, a slave among slaves, an absolute slave in every sense, shall he be to his brothers.

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר בָּר֥וּךְ יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹ֣הֵי שֵׁ֑ם וִיהִ֥י כְנַ֖עַן עֶ֥בֶד לָֽמוֹ׃

He said: Blessed be the Lord, God of Shem; and Canaan shall be their servant, a servant to the descendants of Shem.

יַ֤פְתְּ אֱלֹהִים֙ לְיֶ֔פֶת וְיִשְׁכֹּ֖ן בְּאָֽהֳלֵי־שֵׁ֑ם וִיהִ֥י כְנַ֖עַן עֶ֥בֶד לָֽמוֹ׃

May God expand [ yaft ] and enlarge the borders of the inheritance of Yefet; yaft is an alliterative play on words. And He, God, shall dwell in the tents of Shem; indeed, the Divine Presence rested upon the seed of Abraham, a descendant of Shem. And Canaan shall be their servant, s Canaan shall remain the servant of both Shem and Yefet.

וַֽיְחִי־נֹ֖חַ אַחַ֣ר הַמַּבּ֑וּל שְׁלֹ֤שׁ מֵאוֹת֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים שָׁנָֽה׃

Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.

וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ כָּל־יְמֵי־נֹ֔חַ תְּשַׁ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וַחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (פ)

All the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died. Noah passed away without fathering any more children, perhaps as a result of what Canaan had done to him. The entire future course of history will unfold from Noah’s three sons, who were together with him in the ark.