Genesis 9:23

RBT Translation:

And Name is taking,³⁴⁶ and Opened, אֶת-the Mantle,³⁴⁷ and they are placing upon the shoulder³⁴⁸ of their double, and they are walking backward,³⁴⁹ and are covering אֶת-the naked-one of their father. And their faces are backward, and the naked-one of their father they have not seen.

LITV Translation:
And Shem and Japheth took a garment and put it on both their shoulders. And they went backward and covered the nakedness of their father, their faces backward. And they did not see the nakedness of their father.

ESV Translation:
Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness.

Brenton Septuagint Translation:
And Shem and Japheth having taken a garment, put it on both their backs and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their face was backward, and they saw not the nakedness of their father.

Footnotes

346

he takes. The verb is the singular and not the plural they take.

347

The Dress

(ha-simlah):

• Definition: The term השמלה (ha-simlah) refers to a "wrapper" or "dress," specifically denoting a garment that covers or wraps around. It is a feminine noun with a definite article (ha), emphasizing a specific item of clothing.
• Occurrences: Found three times in the Hebrew Bible:
  • Genesis 9:23: Refers to a garment used to cover Noah.
  • Deuteronomy 22:17: Used in the context of a bride's attire, emphasizing its significance in the cultural norms of weddings/marriage.
  • Judges 8:25: Mentioned in the context of the spoils taken by Gideon from his conquest.
• Usage: השמלה highlights the functional aspect of a garment that covers or envelops, often associated with dignity, protection, or cultural symbolism.

Other Hebrew Words for "Cloak" and "Outer Garment":

• לְבושׁ (lebush) - Strong's #3830: A garment, clothing, raiment. Used to describe various types of clothing or attire worn by individuals. It refers to the covering or apparel that someone wears.

• מעיל (me'il) - Strong's #4598: A robe, usually an outer garment worn as a mantle or cloak. Often used to denote a special or ceremonial robe, such as the robe of the high priest or a robe of authority.

• בגד (beged) - Strong's #899: Apparel, garment, covering (of treachery/deceit). The verb בגד (bagad) Strong's #898 means "to act treacherously," "to deal deceitfully," or "to betray."

• סדין (sadin) - Strong's #5466: A linen garment, specifically a wrapper or rectangular piece of fine linen. Typically refers to a linen cloth or garment worn either as an outer covering or, traditionally, as a sole garment at night.

348

Strong’s #7926, שְׁכֶ֣ם, shekem. Singular noun, shoulder. “Shoulder” is not found in the dual or plural in the Hebrew Scriptures. The shekem is not that part we understand as the right and left shoulders but the area between the shoulder blades or upper part of the back under the neck (cf. Gesenius).

the shoulder in Hebrew. “And finding, he lays upon the shoulders of himself” Luke 15:5 literal

This an important allegorical part of the Body. In Isa 9:6 it is said, “she is becoming the Government upon his shoulder.” Isa. 22:22, “I have given the key of the house of David upon his shoulder.” Zeph. 3:9 literal, “…to serve Him a shoulder of one.”

349

If the Hebrew timeline is “backwards” from ours we could deduce that the text means to tells us they are actually walking “forward” toward the beginning or “front” and thus their faces are pointed toward the beginning—backwards.