Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father: Revised Standard Version follows the Hebrew pattern of beginning each clause with and. Good News Translation and others translate more naturally in English by using a “when” clause first: “When Ham … saw that his father was naked.” Nakedness translates the same general term used of Adam and Eve in 2.25. But the sense here is that Ham saw his father’s genitals. This sense is well brought out by one translation that says “Ham … saw the body of his father.”

And told his two brothers outside: Ham’s shameful conduct was in failing to quietly cover his father. Instead he went outside and reported Noah’s exposure to his two brothers. Told his two brothers is somewhat shortened, and in translation it may require filling in. For example, “told his two brothers that their father was naked,” or, as a direct quotation, “and said to his brothers, ‘Our father is naked.’ ” In some languages told his two brothers is more aptly rendered “told his brothers Shem and Japheth” or “told Shem and Japheth.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .