Greek word · G3575

Νῶε

nōe

Noah

The Greek form of Noaḥ. The Greek Old Testament uses it in Genesis 5–10, and the Gospels and later New Testament writings keep the spelling. The Hebrew name sounds like the word for 'rest' or 'comfort' (Genesis 5:29). That wordplay is not in view here.

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Νῶε

(as LXX, FlJ, who also gives Νώεος, Νῶχος), ὁ, indecl. (Heb. נֹחַ)

Noah: Matthew 24:37-38, Luke 3:36 17:26-27 Hebrews 11:7, 1 Peter 3:20, 2 Peter 2:5.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 24:37

Range of meaning

The Greek form of Noaḥ. The Greek Old Testament uses it in Genesis 5–10, and the Gospels and later New Testament writings keep the spelling. The Hebrew name sounds like the word for 'rest' or 'comfort' (Genesis 5:29). That wordplay is not in view here.

Against the English

KJV's 'Noe' simply copies the Greek spelling. Every other version uses 'Noah'. The person is the same.

Used elsewhere in the period

Flood traditions were everywhere in Second Temple Judaism. 1 Enoch 10 has an angel warn Noah before the coming end, and 1 Enoch 93:4 calls the flood 'the first end'. Jubilees 5 and the Sibylline Oracles 1.125–198 make Noah a preacher of repentance who is ignored, and Josephus does the same (Antiquities 1.74). The flood and Sodom were paired as standard examples of sudden judgment: Wisdom 10:4–7, 3 Maccabees 2:4–5, Testament of Naphtali 3:4–5, Luke 17:26–29, 2 Peter 2:5–6. In Isaiah 54:9 some Hebrew witnesses and the Vulgate read 'like the days of Noah' where the standard Hebrew text has 'the waters of Noah'.

From the study of Luke 17:26

Range of meaning

A personal name: the Greek spelling of Hebrew נֹחַ (Noach). It cannot be declined in Greek, so some manuscripts add an article to show the case.

Against the English

The KJV keeps the Greek form "Noe". Modern versions use the familiar Hebrew-derived "Noah". The person is the same.

Used elsewhere in the period

By Jesus' day Noah's generation was a stock example of a world that God judged without warning. See Genesis 6:5–13 (wickedness and violence); 1 Enoch 6–16 and 106–107 (the Watchers and giants); Jubilees 5; Wisdom 10:4; Sirach 44:17–18; Josephus, Antiquities 1.72–76, where Noah urges his contemporaries to repent and is ignored; Mishnah Sanhedrin 10:3, "the generation of the flood has no share in the world to come". 1 Enoch 93:4 and 2 Peter 3:5–7 treat the flood as a preview of the final judgment.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 24:37 Νῶε, of Noah,

    As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.

    Here: The Greek spelling of Hebrew Noaḥ. By Jesus' day Noah's generation was the stock example of a world overtaken by God's judgment, and Noah was the stock example of someone ready for it.

  2. Matthew 24:38 Νῶε Noah

    For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark.

    Here: The Greek form of Hebrew Noach. The KJV's "Noe" simply copies this Greek spelling.

Luke · 3

  1. Luke 3:36 Νῶε of Noah

    the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

  2. Luke 17:26 Νῶε, of Noah,

    Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man:

    Here: The Greek form of the Hebrew name Noach (the KJV's "Noe"). It calls up the whole story of Genesis 6–9 and the large Jewish tradition built on it.

  3. Luke 17:27 Νῶε Noah

    People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

    Here: Noah, in the Greek spelling taken from the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament). The KJV's "Noe" copies this Greek form.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 11:7 Νῶε Noah

    By 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 by faith.

    Here: The flood hero of Genesis 6–9. In Jewish tradition he was the standard example of a righteous man in a corrupt generation.

1 Peter · 1

  1. 1 Peter 3:20 Νῶε of Noah

    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.

    Here: The righteous man of Genesis 6–9. In Jewish tradition he was also a preacher of repentance to his generation.

2 Peter · 1

  1. 2 Peter 2:5 Νῶε Noah

    if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;

    Here: The Greek spelling of Hebrew Noach, as in the Septuagint. He is the object of 'guarded'.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.