Noah is one of the Bible’s standout characters, with his tale being arguably one of the most popular bible stories ever. All Christians, from the young to the old, must be familiar with Noah, the ark he built, and the flood that was sent to destroy the sinful world; but do you know the exact timelines?
When did Noah live?
It has been estimated that Noah lived approximately 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. Theologians have been able to approximate the timeline of Noah’s life using Bible Scriptures and genealogy from the times of Adam to that of Jesus Christ and have determined when Noah was born and his years on Earth.
When exactly was Noah born? How many years ago was his birth? How long before Jesus did Noah live? What was the Noah era like? If you’re interested in finding out the answers to these questions, look no further.
This article covers this topic extensively with relevant Bible verses for your reference.
What Year Was Noah Born?
Using the family timeline set out in Genesis 5-10 of the Bible, Christian scholars and theologians have speculated that Noah was born approximately 1056 years after the Earth was formed.
He lived around 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. According to Genesis 5:28-30, Noah was born to Lamech, the son of Methuselah and grandson of Enoch.
“When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. He named him Noah and said, “He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.” After Noah was born, Lamech lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters” – Genesis 5:28-30.
Scholars determined that Lamech was born in the year 875 in the Lunar 354-day Gentile Calendar and was 182 years when he had Noah. Therefore Noah was born between 1056 and 1057.
The flood that destroyed humanity happened 1656 years after creation. Noah, at the time of the flood, was 600 years old (Genesis 7:6 “Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters came on the earth”).
By subtracting the years, it can be deduced that Noah was born around 1056.
How Many Years Ago Was Noah Alive?
Substantial evidence shows that Noah lived around 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. From the genealogies written in the Bible, theologians approximate that the flood happened 4,359 years ago, in the year 1656 or 2348 BC.
Since Noah was 600 years old at the time of the flood (Genesis 7:6 “Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters came on the earth”), mathematics can estimate that Noah lived around 4,959 years ago.
Noah lived to be 950 years old. This is according to Genesis 9:28-29 which reads, “After the flood Noah lived 350 years. 29. Noah lived a total of 950 years, then died.” Noah is one of the Bible’s oldest characters.
How Long Before Jesus Did Noah Live?
According to historians, Jesus Christ was born approximately 1,984 years ago. Scholars estimate that Noah lived 2,500 to 3,000 years before Jesus Christ.
By determining that the flood happened in 2370 B.C. and Jesus was born about October 1 B.C., they concluded that Jesus was born around 2,368 years after the flood that destroyed humankind.
Since Noah was 600 at the time of the flood (Genesis 7:6 “Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters came on the earth”), calculations hint that Noah lived 2,968 years before the coming of the Messiah.
Noah is the ascendant of Jesus Christ. After the flood that destroyed the world, God instructed Noah to repopulate the Earth.
This was in Genesis 9:1 “Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.”
Christian scholars’ opinion is that he is an ascendant of us all.
What Does the Bible Say About When Noah Lived?
There can be two accounts of Noah’s era: before the flood and after the flood. In the sixth chapter of Genesis, the Bible describes the world as a wicked place.
People were sinning greatly against the Lord, and this displeased Him.
Genesis 6:5-6 reads, “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the Earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the Earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.”
Genesis 6:11-12 says the same, “Now the Earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the Earth had become, for all the people on Earth had corrupted their ways.”
Noah was the only righteous man on Earth according to Genesis 6:9, which says, “This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.”
God then sent a flood to wipe out all the evil, corrupted people on Earth except for Noah and His family.
Genesis 6:13 says, “So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the Earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the Earth.”
After the flood, for the remaining 350 years of Noah’s life, He and His kin continued a righteous, obedient lineage that populated the world by God’s command (Genesis 9:1 “Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the Earth.”)
References
- Chronological Index of the Years and Times from Adam Ontu Christ
- When Was Noah’s Flood
- Timeline for The Flood
- How Old Was Noah When He Died?
- Bible Timeline
- What Was the Purpose of the Flood in the Time of Noah?
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
