Derasha 1 on Bereishis 6:8

TT #204 · Parashas Bereishis · Sixth Aliyah · Passuk 8 (end of parsha)

Complete Passuk

וְנֹ֕חַ מָצָ֥א חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Sanhedrin 108a (verified).

E-Daf image (Sanhedrin 108a)

Core Text

Core Textתָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: אַף עַל נֹחַ נֶחְתַּם גְּזַר דִּין, אֶלָּא שֶׁמָּצָא חֵן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר נִחַמְתִּי כִּי עֲשִׂיתִם — וְנֹחַ מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי ה׳.
English of Core Text: A teaching of the school of Rabbi Yishmael: Even upon Noach the decree was sealed, except that he found favor, as it is said “I regret that I made them” — and “Noach found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”
On the daf / in context: The juxtaposition teaches that the decree of destruction extended even to Noach; only the finding of chen rescued him.
Type of Learning: Custom (decree reached Noach; chen saved him)
What Is Learned: The decree of the Flood was sealed even upon Noach; only the favor he found in God’s eyes spared him.