Noah’s Ark and 120 Years

Noah’s Ark and 120 Years

During Noah’s time, there was the judgment of the flood. Gen 6, which includes today’s passage (Gen 6:1-3), explains the reason for this judgment and the process of preparing Noah’s ark.

1. The Reason for the Flood Judgment

• Sexual Corruption

The Bible (Gen 6:1-2), tells us that the sons of God saw the beauty of the daughters of men and took as wives whomever they desired.

The word whomever in Hebrew is kol, which means “all” or “entire.” This indicates that they took all the women they desired as wives. In Gen 2:18, God created a helper suitable for Adam, teaching the principle of monogamous marriage. However, in Noah’s time, men were engaging in unrestricted sexual relationships and marrying whomever they wanted. This clearly shows the widespread sexual immorality and corruption, which became one of the primary reasons for the flood judgment. However, Heb 11:3 teaches us what is seen is a result of what is unseen. If visible sexual corruption was prevalent, then there must have been underlying spiritual issues as well.

• Spiritual Corruption

Who are the “sons of God,” and who are the “daughters of men” in Gen 6:2? Luke 8:11 teaches us that the Word of God is like a seed. Therefore, the “sons of God” refer to those who have faith in God and live according to His covenant. On the other hand, the “daughters of men” represent worldly people who do not have the Word or faith in God. This verse reveals that the people of faith were being drawn to the beauty of the world. Those who once lived for God’s purpose began to live for wealth. Those who once based their entire lives on the Word of God started adopting worldly perspectives and ideologies.

Thus, although there was certainly sexual corruption in Noah’s time, the greater issue was spiritual corruption and disorder. The true reason for the flood judgment was not merely moral decay but the deep spiritual decline of humanity. Worldly ideologies and worldly beauty numb our spiritual senses. Gen 6:3 tells us that people became flesh, and God’s Spirit would no longer remain with them. In Matt 24:38-39, we see that the people in Noah’s time were so consumed with eating, drinking, and marriage that they failed to recognize the coming judgment until the flood swept them away.

• What Does the 120 Years Represent? (Gen 6:3)

There are three interpretations regarding the meaning of the 120 years.

• Interpretation 1 – The Period of Building the Ark was 120 Years

Many people and churches teach that the 120 years refer to the period Noah spent building the ark. However, there is no biblical basis for this interpretation (Gen 6:13-14: Gen 6:18). God told Noah that He would judge the world with a flood and commanded him to build the ark. At that time, God also mentioned that Noah’s three sons and their wives would enter the ark. This means that when God commanded Noah to build the ark, his sons were already grown up and got married.

However, Gen 5:32 states that Noah was 500 years old when he had Shem, Ham and Japheth. Gen 7:6 tells us that Noah was 600 years old when the flood came. Even if Noah had his sons in consecutive years and they got married at the age of 15, the ark would have been built in about 80 years. If his sons were born with gaps of two or three years and married after the age of 20, the actual time spent building the ark would have been closer to 70 years. Therefore, the interpretation that Noah spent 120 years building the ark is incorrect.

• Interpretation 2 – The Human Lifespan was Reduced to 120 Years (Gen 6:3)

The phrase “his days shall be 120 years” is written in the third-person singular noun. The other third-person singular noun in this passage is “man.” Thus, some scholars interpret this verse as the human lifespan was reduced to 120 years. However, this interpretation does not align with the biblical record. After the flood, Shem lived 600 years, Arpachshad lived 438 years, Shelah lived 434 years and even Terah lived 205 years.

• Interpretation 3 – 120 Years Until the Judgment of the Flood

As previously mentioned, this verse stated that “man’s days shall be 120 years.” This can also be interpretated as “there are 120 years remaining for mankind to live.” Based on this, some theologians interpret the 120 years as the time left until the judgment of the flood. However, the flood occurred when Noah was 600 years old. Even if God had spoken these words when Noah was 500, there would have been only 100 years until the flood.

Why was the 120-Year Period Shortened to 100 Years?

What is the biblical basis for this? Matthew 24 is often called the “Olivet Discourse” or the “chapter of the end times.” Jesus speaks about the tribulations that will occur before the end. He states that if these days were not shortened, no one would be saved. However, for the sake of the elect, God will shorten these days. Now, which comes first-tribulation or judgment? The final judgment comes after the last tribulation. That is why we enter the kingdom of God through tribulation (Acts 14:22).

The flood of Noah’s time was a judgement. The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful and followed after them. The people of faith abandoned the Word and pursued worldly values. This was the tribulation of Noah’s time. This tribulation was so strong and dangerous that even Noah’s children were at risk of being influenced.

The Bible states that Noah was righteous before God (Gen 6:22; Gen 7:1), but it does not say that Noah’s children were righteous. After the flood, when the ark’s door was opened, an incident occurred in which Ham saw his father’s nakedness. Because of this, Noah cursed Canaan. This event shows that what Ham did was sinful in the eyes of God (Gen 9:22; Gen 9:24-25).

Conclusion: Now Is the Time of Tribulation

It is clear that we are also living in a time of tribulation today. Noah not only endured this period of tribulation but was also praised as a righteous man before God. Noah lived before God, sought God’s Grace, lived in the Love of God (1 Cor 8:3; Jhn 16:27).