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.
Shem and Japheth took a piece of clothing and put it across both their shoulders. Then they walked backward and covered their father's nakedness. They kept their faces turned away so they wouldn't see their father naked.
The writer is showing how two sons honored their father by respectfully covering him when he was in a vulnerable, shameful state, without looking at his nakedness.
📚 Historical Context
This follows the incident where Noah became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent, and his son Ham saw his nakedness and told his brothers about it. In ancient Near Eastern culture, seeing a parent's nakedness was considered deeply shameful and disrespectful. Shem and Japheth's careful, backward approach showed proper honor and respect for their father's dignity.
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