Who is Noah Married To?

In various Jewish traditions and ancient commentaries, Noah's wife is identified as Naamah. While her name is not explicitly mentioned in the Torah, later religious texts provide her identity and lineage.

Traditional Views on Noah's Wife, Naamah

Different traditions offer specific details regarding Naamah's background, though they all concur on her name. These interpretations are found in ancient midrashic literature and influential rabbinic commentaries.

Naamah, Daughter of Lamech

One prominent tradition identifies Naamah as the daughter of Lamech and the sister of Tubal-Cain. This lineage is supported by:

• Genesis Rabba: This ancient collection of rabbinic interpretations (midrash) on the Book of Genesis explicitly names Naamah, daughter of Lamech, as Noah's wife.
• Rashi's Commentary: The influential 11th-century French Jewish commentator Rashi, in his commentary on Genesis 4:22, also affirms Naamah, the daughter of Lamech and Tubal-Cain's sister, as Noah's spouse.

This view places Naamah within the line of Cain, highlighting an intermarriage between the descendants of Seth (Noah's lineage) and Cain.

Naamah, Daughter of Enoch

Another medieval midrashic text, the Book of Jasher, offers a different lineage for Noah's wife. In this work, Naamah is presented as the daughter of Enoch (not to be confused with Enoch from the line of Cain, but the patriarch from the line of Seth, who walked with God).

Summary of Traditions

The consistent element across these traditions is the name Naamah for Noah's wife, with variations in her described parentage:

Despite the biblical silence on her name, these rich traditions provide a consistent identity for the woman who accompanied Noah and their sons on the Ark, playing a crucial role in the repopulation of the world after the Great Flood.