Noah was a biblical prophet and the final patriarch living before the Great Flood. According to the Book of Genesis, he was the son of Lamech and lived in Mesopotamia. Following divine instructions to escape a global deluge intended to punish human wickedness, he constructed an ark to preserve his family and various animal species. As a survivor of the flood, he is recognized as a foundational figure in the history of humanity and is commemorated in several Christian and other religious traditions.
Biblical account
In the Genesis narrative, Noah serves as a faithful builder who saves humankind from extinction. After the waters receded, he became a farmer and cultivated the first vineyard. Following the flood, a covenant was established between God and Noah, symbolized by a rainbow, promising that a deluge would never again destroy the earth. This agreement also included instructions for his descendants to populate the world.
Veneration and tradition
Noah is honored as a saint in Catholic, Lutheran, and Orthodox traditions. His feast days are observed on 18 November and 11 December. Beyond his role in the flood story, he is associated with the Seven Laws of Noah, a set of ethical principles traditionally attributed to him in rabbinic literature. His legacy remains central to the Abrahamic faiths as a symbol of righteousness and divine covenant.