Noah, a Man of the Soil: An Analysis of Gen 9,20

Abstract

The statement in Gen 9,20 has often been taken to signify that Noah was either the first viticulturalist or agriculturalist. These interpretations are associated with the syntactic analysis of the noun phrase “a man of the soil (אישׁ האדמה)” as well as a certain understanding of the meaning of the verb חלל (hif.). This article argues that the noun phrase can better be understood as an adverbial accusative or an appositional noun phrase while the verb in question here signifies the beginning of an incomplete or durable action. In sum, the verse does not indicate that Noah was the first agriculturalist or viticulturalist, but simply states that he began the work on the soil and moved on to planting a vineyard.