In the Bible, who was Noah?
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| 'THE STORY OF NOAH' |
In a sinful world, Noah was a faithful servant of God. He is well remembered for building an ark that saved himself, his family, and representatives of every land animal from a catastrophic flood that God sent to punish the earth.
In the Old Testament, Noah was an obedient servant of God who won favor with God in the midst of a sinful world. He is well remembered for building an ark that saved himself, his family, and representatives of every land animal from a catastrophic flood that God sent to punish the earth.
What Does the Name Noah Mean?
Noah is a Hebrew name that means "rest." It comes from the word "Noah," which means "to rest." The name may mean "comfort," which is paradoxical given that the story of Noah has nothing to do with either of these things. After all, God floods the planet, which doesn't appear to provide much rest or comfort to the people who live there. However, this name may conjure up images of Noah's family's relief as the Flood waters retreated and God comforted them with a rainbow, assuring them that he would never flood the entire earth again.
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| 'ABOUT NOAH'S STORY |
What Is Noah's Story About?
When God realized how evil and depraved humans had become, He regretted creating them and chose to wipe them off (Genesis 6:7). God, on the other hand, chose Noah because he was righteous (Genesis 6:8). God told Noah to build an ark to protect his family, as well as every male and female land animal species, from God's wrath of a worldwide flood (Genesis 6:14-21).
For 40 days, rain fell and floodwaters surged around the ark, but Noah and the other occupants were secure (Genesis 7:17-18).
These only survivors of the deluge disembarked after a bird Noah had sent out returned with an olive leaf (Genesis 8:11), where God congratulated Noah and his children, encouraging them to be prolific and increase (Genesis 9:1). He also told them not to consume flesh that was still bloody (Genesis 9:4), nor to spill their fellow man's blood (Genesis 9:5-6).
Furthermore, God formed a covenant with Noah and his sons, vowing that a flood would never again destroy them, their descendants, or any living things (Genesis 9:9-11). God created a rainbow in the clouds to serve as a reminder of His promise to all living beings on the planet (Genesis 9:12-17).
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| What Does the Bible Say About Noah? |
What Does the Bible Say About Noah Elsewhere?
Noah is first referenced in the Bible when his father Lamech foretold of the earth's impending devastation and Noah's part in its restoration: "He will console us in the labor and terrible toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed." (See Genesis 5:29.)
When God warned Noah about a flood he had not yet seen, he had unshakeable confidence and a holy terror to build an ark:
“By faith, Noah built an ark to save his family when he was warned about things he hadn't seen yet. He condemned the world via his faith and became the heir of faith-based righteousness” (Hebrews 11:7).
In the book of Ezekiel, Noah is mentioned alongside Job and Daniel as one of the three most righteous men:
“As firmly as I live, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were present, neither son nor daughter could be saved,” declares the Sovereign LORD. They would only be able to save themselves through their righteousness” (Ezekiel 14:20).
Noah's Interesting Facts
- Noah is Adam's tenth generation descendant; Noah's grandfather was Methuselah, the Bible's oldest known man (Genesis 5:27). He lived to the age of 969. Some say Methuselah died in the flood, although it's more likely that he died shortly before the events. We don't know in any scenario since we don't have adequate information from Scripture.
- When Noah had his sons Japheth, Shem, and Ham, he was 500 years old; Noah was 600 years old at the time of the flood (Genesis 7:6).
- Noah constructed the first altar to God after stepping onto dry land after the flood (Genesis 8:20); Noah also cultivated the first vineyard after the deluge, and he is the Bible's first drunk (Genesis 9:20-21).
- Instead of covering his father when he saw him intoxicated and nude in his tent, Noah's youngest son Ham went and told his brothers. Noah cursed Ham's son Canaan to be the lowest of servants to his brethren as a result of this disobedience (Genesis 9:22-26); Noah lived another 350 years after the deluge, dying at the age of 950.
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- The raven (Genesis 8:7) and the dove (Genesis 8:8-12) are both symbols of peace in the Bible. Ravens later offered sustenance to a prophet in the Bible. In this verse, both of these birds are believed to signify future calm and rest, as well as God's provision.
- The ark (Genesis 6:14-16) acts as a shelter and fortress for God's people as the earth is flooded. When Moses' mother places him in a basket of reeds on the Nile, we observe similar word usage. The "ark" kept Moses safe until he reached the harbor, at the feet of Pharaoh's daughter, because the Nile was home to terrible predators such as hippos.
- The mountain (Genesis 8:4) - Mountains are frequently depicted in Scripture, although their meanings vary. Worship sites, apex points in life, places where Jesus is transfigured, and so on. This scenario, it demonstrates that God has not abandoned Noah. A mountain could offer a faith that the floodwaters would recede someday.
- The number 40 (Genesis 7:17) - The number 40 is frequently used in Scripture to denote completion or totality. When Jesus fasts for 40 days and nights in the wilderness, we observe this. After disobedience to God, the people of Israel also wander in the wilderness for 40 years before entering the Promised Land.
- The rainbow (Genesis 9:13-17) - This is described in the Bible as God "bowing" in the sky. If you've ever seen a rainbow, you'll notice that it looks like a sideways bow. Although the symbolism of the rainbow has evolved in modern culture, it still represents God's promise to never flood the land again in the Bible. This would have been the first time humanity saw a rainbow because the earth had never seen rain before the Flood.
