Genesis 6:9
in Genesis 6This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, and perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God.
KJV
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
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This verse in Genesis 6
Commentary
17 notes on this verse(Verse 9) Noah was a righteous and blameless man in his generation, pleasing to God. Specifically, it says 'in his generation' to show that his righteousness was not according to the perfected righteousness, but according to the righteousness of his generation. And this is what is said in Hebrew: Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generations, he walked with God; that is, he followed in his footsteps.
This site's exposition
This is the account of Noah
on Genesis 6:9-10
The phrase walked with God was used of Enoch at 5:24, and it is used of Noah here. The verse sets Noah down as righteous and blameless in his generation. His three sons stand here, Shem, Ham and Japheth, and Genesis follows Shem's line down to Abram. The account narrows to one household.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
A commentator
Eusebius of CaesareaPreparation for the Gospel, BOOK VII, CHAPTER VIII · Written before 339.
proposed
Again after these a third appeared: Noah who has received testimony as 'a righteous man in his generation.' And the following will be proofs of his righteousness. A great foulness and darkness of indescribable wickedness had overtaken the whole human race, and the giants talked of by every mouth were carrying on with ungodly and impious efforts their wars with God which are still so celebrated: and already the fathers of this their brood, whether they had sprung from some condition mightier than man's nature, or in whatever way endowed, are said to have begun the teaching of curious arts among men, and to have introduced devices of witchcraft and other mischievous sorcery into their life, so that the whole human race had fallen under one sentence of judgement with God.
Speaking of Noah, our unerring Scriptures tell us that he "was a just and perfect man in his generation," meaning that he was perfect as far as citizens of the city of God can be perfect during the pilgrimage of this present life, not, of course, as perfect as they are to be in that immortal life in which they will be as perfect as the angels of God.
Noah was found faithful by reason of his service; he proclaimed a new birth to the world, and through him the Lord saved the living creatures who entered in harmony into the ark.
The Scriptures have shown us the gravity of human wickedness and the severity of the punishment that had to be inflicted on it. They then point out to us the one who amid such a multitude had been able to keep a sincere virtue. Virtue in fact is admirable even for itself. If someone cultivates virtue among those who refuse it, he makes it much more worthy of admiration. Therefore the Scriptures, as though in admiration of this just man, point out the contrast: that only one man who was living among those who soon would experience the wrath of God, this Noah, "found favor in the eyes of the Lord God." He "found favor," but "in the eyes of God"; not simply "he found favor" but "in the eyes of the Lord God." This is said in order to show us that he had a single purpose, that is, to be praised by that eye that never sleeps or rests. He had no care for human glory or scorn or irreverence.
Do you see how the Lord created our nature to enjoy free will? I mean, how did it happen, tell me, that while those people showed enthusiasm for wickedness and rendered themselves liable to punishment, this man opted for virtue, shunned association with them and thus felt no effect of punishment? Is it not crystal clear that each person chose wickedness or virtue of his own volition? You see, if that were not the case and freedom did not have its roots in our nature, those people would not have been punished, nor would others receive reward for their virtue. Since, however, everything has been allowed to remain with our choice owing to grace from on high, punishment duly awaits the sinners, and reward and recompense those who practice virtue.
10 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers2 voices
For the more ancient the instances that can be pointed out, the more are we surpassed. "Why so?" Because virtue was then more difficult. Those men had no written precepts, no patterns of living, but their nature fought, unarmed, by itself, and was forced to float in all directions unballasted. Wherefore also when praising Noah, God called him not simply perfect, but added, "in his generation"; signifying, "at that time," when there were many hindrances, since many others shone after him, yet will he have nothing less than they; for in his own time he was perfect.
A commentator
Clement of RomeClement's First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 9 · Written before 99.
proposed
Let us steadfastly contemplate those who have perfectly ministered to his excellent glory... Noah, being found faithful, preached regeneration to the world through his ministry; and the Lord saved by him the animals which, with one accord, entered into the ark.
The Medieval Church1 voice
These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a just and perfect man in his generations; he walked with God. Noah is praised with the same commendation as Enoch, namely that he followed the footsteps of the divine command with upright steps of good works, …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
It was God's good-will to him that produced this good work in him. He was a very good man, but he was no better than the grace of God made him, 1 Cor. xv. Now observe his character. [1.] He was a just man, that is, justified before God by faith in the promised seed; for he was an heir of the righteousness which is by faith, Heb. xi.
14 ); it was with his servants the prophets ( Amos iii. 7 ), by a spirit of revelation, informing them particularly of his purposes; it is with all believers by a spirit of wisdom and faith, enabling them to understand and apply the general declarations of the written word, and the warnings there given.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number+unbalanced-parens
These are the generations of Noah,....
It was God's good-will to him that produced this good work in him. He was a very good man, but he was no better than the grace of God made him, 1 Cor. xv. Now observe his character. [1.] He was a just man, that is, justified before God by faith in the promised seed; for he was an heir of the righteousness which is by faith, Heb. xi.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Noah . . . just . . . and perfect--not absolutely; for since the fall of Adam no man has been free from sin except Jesus Christ. But as living by faith he was just (Ga 3:2; Heb 11:7) and perfect--that is, sincere in his desire to do God's will.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Noah . . . just . . . and perfect--not absolutely; for since the fall of Adam no man has been free from sin except Jesus Christ. But as living by faith he was just (Ga 3:2; Heb 11:7) and perfect--that is, sincere in his desire to do God's will.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
- Section VI - The Deluge - XXIII. The Ark 9. דור dôr “age, time from birth to death,” applied either to an individual or the whole contemporary race, running parallel with some leading individual. Hence, the “race” or “generation” living during that time. 14. תבה tēbâh “chest, ark.” It is used only of this vessel of Noah’s construction, and of the little vessel in which Moses was put Exo 2:3, Exo 2:
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
It appears to me that Japheth was the oldest, as it is said, the brother of Japheth the elder, 20 Genesis:21. and so in counting their generations, Scripture mentions the children of Japheth first. 21 Ibid.,:2.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֵ֚לֶּה | ʾeleh | these | H428 → | 746 times |
| תּוֹלְדֹ֣ת | toldot | [are] [the] accounts of | H8435 → | 39 times |
| נֹ֔חַ | noach | Noah | H5146 → | 46 times |
| נֹ֗חַ | noach | Noah | H5146 → | 46 times |
| אִ֥ישׁ | ʾish | [was] a man | H376 → | 1663 times |
| צַדִּ֛יק | tzadik | righteous | H6662 → | 206 times |
| תָּמִ֥ים | tamim | blameless | H8549 → | |
| הָיָ֖ה | hayah | he was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| בְּדֹֽרֹתָ֑יו | bedorotav | in generations his | H1755 → | 167 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | with | H854 → | 929 times |
| הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים | haelohim | <the> God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| הִֽתְהַלֶּךְ־ | hithalekh- | he walked about | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| נֹֽחַ׃ | noach | Noah | H5146 → | 46 times |
אֵ֚לֶּהthese
ʾelehH428 →746 times
תּוֹלְדֹ֣ת[are] [the] accounts of
toldotH8435 →39 times
נֹ֔חַNoah
noachH5146 →46 times
נֹ֗חַNoah
noachH5146 →46 times
אִ֥ישׁ[was] a man
ʾishH376 →1663 times
צַדִּ֛יקrighteous
tzadikH6662 →206 times
תָּמִ֥יםblameless
tamimH8549 →
הָיָ֖הhe was
hayahH1961 →3559 times
בְּדֹֽרֹתָ֑יוin generations his
bedorotavH1755 →167 times
אֶת־with
ʾet-H854 →929 times
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים<the> God
haelohimH430 →2601 times
הִֽתְהַלֶּךְ־he walked about
hithalekh-H1980 →1546 times
נֹֽחַ׃Noah
noachH5146 →46 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 3:11Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
it leads to
- Habakkuk 2:4
Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright—but the righteous will live by faith—
- Romans 1:17
For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
- Hebrews 10:38
But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”
- Habakkuk 2:4
Through
Genesis 5:24Enoch walked with God, and then he was no more, because God had taken him away.
it leads to
- Hebrews 11:5–6
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one…
- Hebrews 11:5–6
Through
Hebrews 11:7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes…
it leads to
- Genesis 6:13
Then God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth.
- 1 Peter 3:20
who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.
- Genesis 6:13
Through
Luke 1:6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
it leads to
- Genesis 7:1
Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.
- Genesis 17:1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.
- Genesis 7:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
On this verse
About Genesis
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, City of God 15.26; Bede, Commentary on Genesis (Hexaemeron); Chuck Missler, The Book of Genesis; Clement of Rome, THE LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS 9.2-4; Clement of Rome, Clement's First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 9; Eusebius of Caesarea, Preparation for the Gospel, BOOK VII, CHAPTER VIII; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Hebrew Questions on Genesis; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 23.4; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 22.5; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON JOHN 71; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.