Beginnings · Old Testament
The Story of Noah and the Flood
God sees the violence on the earth, tells Noah to build an ark, brings the flood, and after it makes a covenant with every living creature, with the rainbow as its sign.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
Genesis 6–9 tells how the LORD saw that human wickedness had filled the earth and grieved that he had made people. Noah found favour in his eyes and was told to build an ark for his family and the animals. Genesis 6:5–8Genesis 6:13–22
After the flood God remembers Noah, the waters go down, and God promises never again to destroy all life by a flood. The story ends with a covenant made with Noah, his descendants and every living creature. Genesis 8:1Genesis 9:8–17
Principal passages
People in this story
- Noah The Story of Noah
- Shem
- Ham
- Japheth
Places named
- The mountains of Ararat Genesis 8:4
Only places the passages name. Locations are not guessed.
The story, event by event
In the order Scripture presents them. Expand an event to read its passage here.
The earth filled with violence
The LORD sees how great human wickedness has become and is grieved; Noah finds favour in his eyes.
Build an ark
God tells Noah he will bring a flood, gives the measurements of the ark, and promises to establish his covenant with him. Noah does all that God commands.
Into the ark
Noah, his family and the animals go into the ark, and the LORD shuts them in. The flood begins.
The waters cover the earth
The rain falls forty days and the waters rise over the earth. Every living thing outside the ark dies; the waters prevail for a hundred and fifty days.
People: Noah
God remembers Noah
God remembers Noah and the animals; the waters go down, the ark comes to rest on the mountains of Ararat, and Noah sends out a raven and a dove until the dove does not return.
People: Noah
Out of the ark
God tells Noah to leave the ark. Noah builds an altar and offers sacrifices, and the LORD resolves never again to curse the ground or destroy every living creature while the earth remains.
People: Noah
The covenant and the rainbow
God blesses Noah and his sons, sets out the value of human life, and makes a covenant with them and every living creature never again to destroy the earth by a flood. The rainbow is the sign.
Noah’s sons
Noah plants a vineyard and becomes drunk; Ham sees his nakedness while Shem and Japheth cover him. Noah curses Canaan and blesses Shem and Japheth, and dies at nine hundred and fifty years.
People: Noah, Shem, Ham, Japheth
Later in the Bible
Later passages that recall or interpret this story. They are not events within it.
- Isaiah 54:9–10 Direct reference — God compares his promise to Israel with the oath sworn in the days of Noah.
- Ezekiel 14:14 Direct reference — Noah is named with Daniel and Job as righteous men.
- Matthew 24:37–39 Teaching or quotation mentioning them — Jesus compares the coming of the Son of Man with the days of Noah.
- Hebrews 11:7 Direct reference — Noah built the ark by faith.
- 1 Peter 3:20–21 Interpretive or typological connection (an interpretation, not a statement of the text) — Peter connects the flood with baptism. This is an interpretive connection.
- 2 Peter 2:5 Direct reference — Noah is called a preacher of righteousness.
Connected themes
- Covenant Illustrates the theme
The covenant with every living creature. Genesis 9:8–17
- Grace
In the middle of judgment, Noah finds favour (grace) in the LORD’s eyes. Genesis 6:8
- Faith Illustrates the theme
Noah built the ark by faith. Hebrews 11:7
Questions for study
Written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
- What reasons does Genesis 6:5-13 give for the flood?
- What does God remember in Genesis 8:1, and what follows?
- Who is included in the covenant of Genesis 9:8-17?
- How do Matthew 24:37-39 and Hebrews 11:7 use Noah’s story?
Study guides
- Understanding the Book of Genesis
Lesson three in story form. Genesis 6:13–22
Use offline
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