Bible Name Meaning Tool — Search Any Name (KJV)

Ham

Pronounced HAM

boy

✓ In the King James Bible — Yes — Ham appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 9:22.

Meaning: "Hot; Warm; Burnt"
Origin: Hebrew

Ham means "hot" or "warm" in Hebrew. He was the second son of Noah and the father of Canaan, Cush, Mizraim (Egypt), and Put — making him the ancestor of many of Africa's and the Middle East's ancient peoples. Ham survived the Flood with his family aboard the ark, but afterward he dishonored his father Noah by seeing his nakedness and telling his brothers rather than covering him. When Noah awoke, he pronounced a curse — not on Ham directly, but on Ham's son Canaan. Despite this incident, Ham's descendants built some of the ancient world's most powerful civilizations. Cush fathered Nimrod, the mighty hunter and builder of Babel and Nineveh. Mizraim's descendants became the Egyptians. These empires shaped world history for millennia. Ham's story raises important questions about family dynamics, honor, and the consequences of our actions on future generations. It also illustrates how the choices of one generation can have far-reaching effects.

Spiritual meaning

Ham's story teaches the profound importance of honoring those who have gone before us — even in their weakness. How we respond to the failures of others reveals our own character.

Related verses (KJV)

"And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without."
Genesis 9:22 (KJV) →
"And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan."
Genesis 10:6 (KJV) →

Full page for Ham

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Questions about biblical name meanings

How do I find the biblical meaning of a name?

Type the name into the search box above. The tool returns the Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, or Latin root behind the name, its literal meaning, and the King James Version passages where it appears.

Does every name have a biblical meaning?

No. Many modern Christian names never appear in Scripture, and some popular 'biblical meanings' circulating online are inaccurate. Where a name is thematic rather than scriptural, we say so plainly instead of inventing a verse for it.

Which Bible translation do the verses come from?

The King James Version. It is public domain in the United States, so the text can be quoted and shared freely.

How can I tell whether a name is actually in the Bible?

Each result distinguishes a name that appears in the KJV from a later Christian or thematic name. Related verses explain a theme; they are not presented as proof that a modern name occurs in Scripture.