Definition: And he said, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Genesis 9:26. It’s a really significant and somewhat mysterious passage in the Bible! Here's what it means in plain language: The Basic Idea: God is praising the Lord of Israel (Shem), and He's saying that Israel will be used by God as a servant to God’s plan. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And he said…” : This sets up a statement, like a declaration from God. “…Blessed [be] the LORD God of Shem” : "Blessed" means "happy" or "praise." It's saying that God is thankful for the role and destiny of Shem (a Hebrew name). Think of it as acknowledging Shem’s importance in the story of creation. “…and Canaan shall be his servant.” : This is the key part! “Canaan” refers to the land of Israel, which is a very important place in Jewish tradition. “Servant” means that God is giving Israel a responsibility and purpose – to serve Him and fulfill His will. So, what does it mean practically? The story of Genesis 9:26 suggests that God wanted to establish a relationship with the descendants of Shem, who were originally part of a group called Japheth (which is related to the Hebrew word for "descendant"). God decided that Israel would be used as a tool or instrument to help fulfill God’s plans and bring about His purposes. It's essentially a promise that Israel would play a significant role in God's work and be entrusted with something important. Important Note: This is a complex verse, and there are different interpretations among theologians. Some see it as a symbolic representation of the relationship between God and the nations, while others believe it has deeper theological significance related to the beginning of the Jewish people and their destiny. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Talk about its historical context? Discuss different interpretations of the verse?