Noach 6:9 · unit 3

TT #3 · Parashas Noach · First Aliyah · Passuk 6:9

The Complete Passuk

אֵ֚לֶּה תּוֹלְדֹ֣ת נֹ֔חַ נֹ֗חַ אִ֥ישׁ צַדִּ֛יק תָּמִ֥ים הָיָ֖ה בְּדֹֽרֹתָ֑יו אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽתְהַלֶּךְ־נֹֽחַ׃

These are the generations of Noach: Noach was a righteous man, blameless in his generations; Noach walked with God.

Chabad.org — 6:9

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Avot deRabbi Natan, chapter 2 (and parallel in Nedarim 31a regarding the title “tamim”).

Sefaria — Avot deRabbi Natan 2

Sefaria — Nedarim 31a (supporting parallel)

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
תָּמִים — מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנּוֹלַד נֹחַ מָהוּל.

English: “Blameless / perfect” — this teaches that Noach was born circumcised.

On the daf / in context: The title “tamim” is linked to the same language later applied to Avraham only after circumcision (“hithalekh lefanai ve-heyeh tamim”). Because Noach already bears the title, the midrash concludes he was born already circumcised.

Type of Learning

Custom (gezeirah shavah / parallel language of “tamim” applied to the status of circumcision).

What Is Learned

Noach was born circumcised; the epithet “tamim” signals that status.