Noah
The Preacher of RighteousnessThe righteous man who built the ark and preserved humanity and animal life through the great Flood
Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD when all humanity had become corrupt. God chose him to build an ark and preserve his family and representatives of all animal life through the catastrophic worldwide Flood. For perhaps 120 years, Noah preached righteousness while building the ark, yet only eight people were saved. After the Flood, God made a covenant with Noah, promising never again to destroy the earth with water, sealing it with the rainbow sign. Noah offered the first recorded burnt offerings, and God blessed him with a renewed commission similar to Adam's. Peter calls him a 'preacher of righteousness,' and Jesus compared the days of Noah to the end times. Noah represents salvation through judgment and new beginnings.
Original Name
נֹחַ (Noach)
Meaning
Rest, Comfort
Etymology
Lamech named him Noah (Noach) saying, 'He will comfort us (yenachamenu) in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed.' The name comes from 'nuach' (to rest). Noah brought rest/comfort through the new post-Flood world.
Linguistic Insights
Noah's name (Noach) from 'nuach' (rest) involves wordplay with 'nacham' (comfort) in Lamech's prophecy. The ark (tevah) uses the same Hebrew word as Moses' basket - both vessels of salvation through water. Noah 'found grace' (matsa chen) - the first mention of grace in Scripture. The phrase 'walked with God' places Noah in Enoch's company. The covenant (berit) with Noah is the first time this crucial word appears with God as the covenant-maker. The rainbow (qeshet) was literally a war-bow hung up in the clouds, symbolizing peace. The Flood narrative uses precise measurements (300x50x30 cubits) suggesting historical reporting. Jesus' comparison of 'the days of Noah' (hai hemerai tou Noe) makes Noah's generation a type of end-times humanity.
Translation Notes
- •Hebrew 'Noach' means 'rest' - prophetic of new world
- •Wordplay with 'nacham' (comfort) in naming
- •First biblical mention of 'grace' (chen) with Noah
- •'Walked with God' - same phrase as Enoch
Related Terms
Born to Lamech
Genesis 5:28-29Found grace in God's eyes amid wickedness
Genesis 6:8Commanded to build the ark
Genesis 6:14-21Entered the ark with family and animals
Genesis 7:1-16Flood covered the earth for 150 days
Genesis 7:17-24Ark rested on Mount Ararat
Genesis 8:4Sent out raven and dove to test waters
Genesis 8:6-12Exited ark and built altar to God
Genesis 8:18-20Received Noahic covenant with rainbow sign
Genesis 9:8-17Became drunk and was shamed by Ham
Genesis 9:20-23Cursed Canaan, blessed Shem and Japheth
Genesis 9:24-27Died at 950 years old
Genesis 9:29Genesis 6:8
"But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD."
Genesis 6:9
"Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God."
Hebrews 11:7
"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith."
2 Peter 2:5
"If he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others."
Matthew 24:37
"As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."