Noah & the Flood

Flood, ark and covenant

A flood narrative with clear parallels in earlier Mesopotamian literature, ending in a covenant marked by a bow in the cloud.

Reading plan

How the story unfolds

1
A corrupted earth
Violence fills the earth and Noah is singled out.
Genesis 6
2
Building the ark
Precise instructions are given for the vessel and its passengers.
Genesis 6
3
The waters
The flood covers the earth and then recedes.
Genesis 7 Genesis 8
4
Covenant and bow
A covenant with all living things is sealed with the rainbow.
Genesis 9

Historical context

The Gilgamesh and Atrahasis flood accounts predate the biblical text and share notable details; the relationship between them is widely discussed.

Scriptured labels editorial context separately from Scripture, and never presents interpretation as consensus.