Noah
Noah was a righteous man living in an era of widespread human wickedness and corruption, prompting God to decide on a global flood as an act of judgment while preserving a remnant. In obedience to divine instructions, Noah constructed a large ark to safeguard his family and pairs of every animal species from the deluge, an endeavor that demonstrated remarkable faith amid skepticism. Following the flood's recession, God established a covenant with Noah, symbolized by the rainbow, promising never again to destroy the earth by water. This account in Genesis underscores key scriptural themes of obedience, salvation through faith, and God's balance of justice and mercy, influencing later biblical narratives on redemption and divine promises.
Biography
- Born
- c. 2970 BC
- Died
- c. 2020 BC
- Age
- 950 years
- Occupation
- Shipbuilder, Farmer
- Father
- Lamech
- Spouse
- Unnamed wife
- Children
- Shem, Ham, Japheth
- Era
- Pre-Flood / Post-Flood
Family
Did You Know?
Noah lived 950 years total, spending the final 350 years after the flood as a farmer who became Scripture's first recorded vintner by planting a vineyard.
The ark's 300-by-50-by-30 cubit dimensions (roughly 450 x 75 x 45 feet) match the length-to-beam ratio of stable modern cargo vessels, yet were built by Noah's family alone over a century.
Ezekiel 14:14 groups Noah with Daniel and Job as one of only three men whose individual righteousness could have averted national judgment, highlighting his pre-flood exemplar status.
Post-flood, Noah's nakedness and resulting curse on Canaan (Genesis 9:20-27) forms the biblical etiology for later Canaanite-Israelite conflicts rather than a blanket curse on all Ham's descendants.
The Noahic covenant's rainbow sign (Genesis 9:12-17) is the first explicit divine covenant in Scripture, extending beyond humanity to every living creature and the earth itself.
Key Passages
God's Command to Build the Ark
Genesis 6:9-22
In a world consumed by violence and corruption, God finds one righteous man and entrusts him with preserving life through judgment - a pattern repeated throughout Scripture.
9hese are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
The Flood
Genesis 7:1-24
The flood demonstrates both God's holy judgment against sin and His faithful preservation of those who trust Him. Noah's ark becomes a type of salvation through Christ.
1nd the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
God's Covenant with Noah
Genesis 9:1-17
God's first explicit covenant establishes His commitment to sustain creation and introduces the rainbow as a sign - revealing a God who binds Himself by promise.
1nd God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.