Noah
malePre-FloodMeaning: “Rest; comfort”
A righteous man who walked with God and, by building the ark, preserved his family and the animals through the worldwide flood. God established His covenant with him.
Biography
Noah stands at the hinge of primeval history. In a generation when "every imagination of the thoughts of [man's] heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5), "Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Genesis 6:8). Through him God preserved humanity and creation and renewed His commitment to the world.
A righteous man in a corrupt age
Noah was "a just man and perfect in his generations," who "walked with God" (Genesis 6:9). Peter calls him "a preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5), one who warned his contemporaries even as he built. Hebrews commends his faith: "moved with fear, [he] prepared an ark to the saving of his house" (Hebrews 11:7).
The ark and the flood
God instructed Noah to build an ark of gopher wood to exact dimensions (Genesis 6:14–16) and to bring his family and pairs of every kind of animal aboard. "Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him" (Genesis 7:5). The flood destroyed all flesh outside the ark, but Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives — eight souls in all — were saved (1 Peter 3:20).
The covenant and the rainbow
When the waters receded, Noah built an altar and worshiped (Genesis 8:20). God blessed him, renewed the commission to "be fruitful, and multiply," and made a covenant never again to destroy the earth by flood, giving the rainbow as its sign (Genesis 9:1–17).
A flawed new beginning
Yet the new world still carried old sin. Noah planted a vineyard, became drunk, and was shamed; his son Ham's disrespect led to the cursing of Canaan and the blessing of Shem and Japheth (Genesis 9:20–27). Noah lived 950 years (Genesis 9:29). His life teaches that salvation rests on grace, and that even the rescued still await a greater deliverance.
Life Timeline
Born to Lamech, who hoped he would bring "comfort"
Commanded by God to build the ark
Enters the ark; the flood begins
The ark rests on the mountains of Ararat
Builds an altar; God establishes His covenant and the rainbow
Dies at the age of 950
On the Bible timeline
Noah belongs to the Creation & the Early World era (Beginning – c. 2100 BC).
- c. 2400 BC (traditional)The Flood
- c. 2200 BCThe Tower of Babel
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Noah
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Noah appears.
Things in their story
Scripture Appearances
10 verses in 4 booksGenesis7 verses
Genesis 6:8
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
Genesis 6:9
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Genesis 6:14
Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
Genesis 7:5
And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him.
Genesis 8:20
And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
Genesis 9:13
I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
Genesis 9:29
And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.
Hebrews1 verse
Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
1 Peter1 verse
1 Peter 3:20
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
2 Peter1 verse
2 Peter 2:5
And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Frequently asked about Noah
Who was Noah in the Bible?
A righteous man who walked with God and, by building the ark, preserved his family and the animals through the worldwide flood. God established His covenant with him.
What does the name Noah mean?
The name Noah means “Rest; comfort”.
What did Noah do in the Bible?
Noah served as farmer, ark-builder, preacher of righteousness, of the tribe of None (pre-Israel).
Who were Noah's children?
Noah's children include Shem, Ham, Japheth.
Who were Noah's parents?
Noah was the child of Lamech.
Where does Noah appear in the Bible?
Noah is mentioned 10 times across 4 books: Genesis, Hebrews, 1 Peter, 2 Peter.
What can we learn from Noah?
The story of Noah touches on themes of antediluvians, altars, animals, bow — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Noah's life.
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