Genesis 9 in the early church
301 passages quote, allude to, or echo Genesis 9, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24 · 25 · 26 · 27 · 28
Genesis 9:1
And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:1 | Dialogue with Trypho 139.1 · Justin Martyr | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Gen 9:1 | Fragments on Genesis, column 105 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 9:1 | Refutation of All Heresies 10.31.2 · Hippolytus of Rome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 222–235 |
| Gen 9:1 | Recognitions 1.30 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | Greek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407 |
| Gen 9:1–17 | Demonstration 11.3 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Gen 9:1 | Demonstration 18.1 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Gen 9:1 | Demonstration 18.2 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Gen 9:1–17 | Cento, lines 294–318 · Proba | allusion, low confidence | ca. 360 |
| Gen 9:1 | Letter 51.4 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Gen 9:1 | Letter 123.12 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Gen 9:1 | On Noah 86 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:1 | Homilies on Matthew 14.3 · John Chrysostom | allusion, low confidence | ca. 390 |
| Gen 9:1–3 | Against Jovinianus 1.5 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 393 |
| Gen 9:1–4 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 12.22 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
| Gen 9:1 | On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.21 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 419–421 |
| Gen 9:1–6 | Book 3, lines 25–48 · Claudius Marius Victor | allusion, high confidence | ca. 425-430 |
| Gen 9:1–17 | Book 2, chapter 14 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | ca. 440-450 |
Genesis 9:2
The fear and dread of you will fall on every living creature on the earth, every bird of the air, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are delivered into your hand.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:2 | On Fasting 4 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 210–220 |
| Gen 9:2 | Fragments on Genesis, column 107 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 9:2 | On Noah 86 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:2 | Book of Heresies 100.4 · Philastrius of Brescia | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 380s |
| Gen 9:2 | Homilies on Matthew 64.1 · John Chrysostom | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390 |
Genesis 9:3
Everything that lives and moves will be food for you; just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you all things.
Genesis 9:4
But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:4 | Dialogue with Trypho 20.1 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Gen 9:4 | The Instructor 3.3.25 · Clement of Alexandria | allusion, high confidence | ca. 190–200 |
| Gen 9:4 | On Fasting 4 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 210–220 |
| Gen 9:4 | Fragments on Genesis, column 107 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 9:4 | Recognitions 1.30 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | Greek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407 |
| Gen 9:4 | Commentary on Galatians 2:1–2 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| Gen 9:4–6 | Letter 51.6 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Gen 9:4 | Apostolic Canon 63 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Gen 9:4 | On Noah 92 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:4 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 32.13 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
| Gen 9:4 | Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 145–146 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | 5th century (disputed) |
Genesis 9:5
And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:5 | Against Heresies 5.9.3 · Irenaeus of Lyons | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 180–190 |
| Gen 9:5 | Against Heresies 5.14.1 · Irenaeus of Lyons | quotation, high confidence | ca. 180–190 |
| Gen 9:5 | On Fasting 4 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 210–220 |
| Gen 9:5 | On the Resurrection of the Flesh 28 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 208–212 |
| Gen 9:5 | On the Resurrection of the Flesh 32 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 208–212 |
| Gen 9:5 | On the Resurrection of the Flesh 39 · Tertullian | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 208–212 |
| Gen 9:5 | Fragments on Genesis, column 107 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 9:5 | Homilies on Psalms 36-38 3.4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Gen 9:5 | On Noah 94 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:5 | On Noah 95 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:5 | On Noah 96 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:5 | Homilies on Matthew 74.1 · John Chrysostom | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390 |
Genesis 9:6
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:6 | Against Heresies 5.14.1 · Irenaeus of Lyons | quotation, high confidence | ca. 180–190 |
| Gen 9:6 | Fragments on Genesis, column 107 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 9:6 | Recognitions 5.23 · Anonymous | echo, medium confidence | Greek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407 |
| Gen 9:6 | Divine Institutes 6.20.17 · Lactantius | echo, low confidence | ca. 303–311 |
| Gen 9:6 | Preparation for the Gospel 7.10.13 · Eusebius of Caesarea | echo, medium confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 9:6 | Preparation for the Gospel 7.13.1 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 9:6 | Demonstration 3.4 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Gen 9:6 | Long recension, Antiochians 2 · Anonymous | quotation, medium confidence | later 4th century (probable) |
| Gen 9:6 | On the Trinity 4.19 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 356–360 |
| Gen 9:6 | Question 117, section 6 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, low confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Gen 9:6 | Apostolic Constitutions 2.42.6 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Gen 9:6 | On Noah 98 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:6 | On Noah 99 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:6 | Commonitorium 1.241–270 · Orientius of Auch | echo, low confidence | ca. 420-450 |
Genesis 9:7
But as for you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out across the earth and multiply upon it.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:7 | Demonstration 18.1 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
Genesis 9:8
Then God said to Noah and his sons with him,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:8–17 | Catechetical Lecture 3.6 · Cyril of Jerusalem | allusion, high confidence | ca. 350 |
Genesis 9:9
“Behold, I now establish My covenant with you and your descendants after you,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:9 | Commentary on Matthew 15.32 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| Gen 9:9 | Commentary on Matthew 15.34 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| Gen 9:9 | Demonstration of the Gospel 1.6.9 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 314–324 |
Genesis 9:11
And I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:11 | To Autolycus 3.19 · Theophilus of Antioch | allusion, high confidence | ca. 180–185 |
| Gen 9:11 | Fragments on Genesis, column 109 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 9:11 | Recognitions 8.50 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | Greek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407 |
| Gen 9:11 | Poem 2 (Sodoma), lines 1–23 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | 4th-5th cent. (disputed) |
| Gen 9:11–17 | On Sodom, lines 1–24 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | 4th-5th century (disputed) |
| Gen 9:11 | On Noah 101 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:11 | On Noah 102 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
Genesis 9:12
And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:12–16 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 12.22 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
| Gen 9:12–17 | Book 3, lines 49–74 · Claudius Marius Victor | allusion, high confidence | ca. 425-430 |
Genesis 9:13
I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:13 | Against the Jews 2 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | 3rd cent. (disputed) |
| Gen 9:13 | PG 12:1181 (Ps 7–8 LXX) · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 9:13–15 | Homilies on Psalms 36-38 3.3 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Gen 9:13 | Commentary on the Apocalypse 4.2 · Victorinus of Pettau | quotation, high confidence | late 3rd century |
| Gen 9:13–15 | Poem 2 (Sodoma), lines 1–23 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | 4th-5th cent. (disputed) |
| Gen 9:13 | Demonstration 11.11 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Gen 9:13 | On Noah 103 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:13 | On Noah 104 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:13 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.27.1 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Gen 9:13 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.21.1 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
Genesis 9:14
Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:14 | On Noah 103 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
Genesis 9:15
I will remember My covenant between Me and you and every living creature of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:15 | On Noah 103 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:15 | Theological Oration 2 (Or. 28), On the Doctrine of God 28 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | 380 |
Genesis 9:18
The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:18 | Against All Heresies 2 · Anonymous | allusion, low confidence | early 3rd cent. (disputed) |
| Gen 9:18 | Fragments on Genesis, column 107 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 9:18–19 | Commentary on John 20.14 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| Gen 9:18 | On Noah 105 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:18–19 | Sermon 111.1 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
Genesis 9:19
These three were the sons of Noah, and from them the whole earth was populated.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:19 | Divine Institutes 6.10.19 · Lactantius | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 303–311 |
| Gen 9:19 | Ancoratus 112.1 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, medium confidence | 374 |
| Gen 9:19 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 39.4.3 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, medium confidence | 374-377 |
| Gen 9:19 | On Noah 105 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:19 | Tractates on the Gospel of John 9.17 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 406–420 |
Genesis 9:20
Now Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard.
Genesis 9:21
But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent.
Genesis 9:22
And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:22 | Dialogue with Trypho 139.1 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Gen 9:22 | Against Heresies 4.31.1 · Irenaeus of Lyons | allusion, high confidence | ca. 180–190 |
| Gen 9:22 | Fragments on Genesis, column 107 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 9:22 | On Prayer 29.18 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 233–234 |
| Gen 9:22 | Homilies on Ezekiel 4.4 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 238–250 (Jerome's translation in the 380s) |
| Gen 9:22–23 | On Rebaptism 1 · Anonymous | echo, low confidence | ca. 250–258 (disputed) |
| Gen 9:22 | Recognitions 1.30 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | Greek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407 |
| Gen 9:22–25 | Demonstration 14.10 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Gen 9:22–25 | Demonstration 14.40 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Gen 9:22 | Treatise on the Mysteries 1.12.4 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–366 |
| Gen 9:22 | Treatise on the Mysteries 1.15.2 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–366 |
| Gen 9:22 | Tractates on the Psalms 118.17.10 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Gen 9:22–25 | Against Parmenian the Donatist 1.3 · Optatus of Milevis | allusion, high confidence | ca. 366–385 |
| Gen 9:22 | Commentary on Colossians 4:1 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| Gen 9:22 | Letter 73.3 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Gen 9:22 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 63.3.9 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
| Gen 9:22–25 | Apostolic Constitutions 2.14.8 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 380 |
| Gen 9:22 | On Noah 36 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:22 | On Noah 114 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:22 | On Noah 115 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:22 | Second Apology of David 18 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 384-397 |
| Gen 9:22 | On the Duties of the Clergy 1.18 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386–390 |
| Gen 9:22 | On the Duties of the Clergy 1.33 · Ambrose | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 386–390 |
| Gen 9:22 | Exposition of Psalm 118 11.25.2 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Gen 9:22 | Letter 78.8 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| Gen 9:22 | On Elijah and Fasting 11 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 9:22 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 39.6.3 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Gen 9:22 | Letters 38.3 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Gen 9:22–29 | Book 3, lines 75–98 · Claudius Marius Victor | allusion, high confidence | ca. 425-430 |
| Gen 9:22 | Commonitory 7 · Vincent of Lérins | allusion, high confidence | 434 |
Genesis 9:23
Then Shem and Japheth took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.
Genesis 9:24
When Noah awoke from his drunkenness and learned what his youngest son had done to him,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:24 | Dialogue with Trypho 139.3 · Justin Martyr | quotation, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Gen 9:24 | Fragments on Genesis, column 107 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 9:24 | Commentary on Romans 5.1 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Gen 9:24 | On Noah 118 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:24 | On Noah 119 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
Genesis 9:25
he said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”
Genesis 9:26
He also declared: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the servant of Shem.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:26 | Dialogue with Trypho 139.3 · Justin Martyr | quotation, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Gen 9:26 | The Instructor 2.2.34 · Clement of Alexandria | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 190–200 |
| Gen 9:26 | PG 12:1173 (Ps 5–6 LXX) · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 9:26 | Commentary on John 20.12 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| Gen 9:26 | Homilies on Leviticus 16.1 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Gen 9:26 | Commentary on Romans 1.8 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Gen 9:26–27 | Demonstration of the Gospel 1.2.3 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 314–324 |
| Gen 9:26–27 | Commentary on Matthew 8 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 353–355 |
| Gen 9:26 | On Noah 120 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:26–27 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 12.24 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
| Gen 9:26–27 | City of God 16.9 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | 413–426 |
Genesis 9:27
May God expand the territory of Japheth; may he dwell in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:27 | Dialogue with Trypho 139.3 · Justin Martyr | quotation, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Gen 9:27 | Against Heresies 3.5.3 · Irenaeus of Lyons | allusion, high confidence | ca. 180–190 |
| Gen 9:27 | Homilies on Joshua 3.4 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Gen 9:27 | Commentary on Romans 1.8 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Gen 9:27 | Oration IV Against the Arians 14 · Athanasius of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | 4th century (disputed) |
| Gen 9:27 | Treatise on the Mysteries 1.16.1 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–366 |
| Gen 9:27 | On Noah 5 · Ambrose | allusion, low confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:27 | On Noah 122 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |
| Gen 9:27 | Book of Heresies 121.5 · Philastrius of Brescia | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380s |
| Gen 9:27 | Letters 23.32 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
Genesis 9:28
After the flood, Noah lived 350 years.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:28 | Homilies 9.3 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | 4th century (reworking earlier material) |
| Gen 9:28 | Demonstration of the Gospel 1.9.17 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 314–324 |
| Gen 9:28 | On Noah 123 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 378-384 |