Noah was a blameless man (v. 9 niv). If “righteous” describes Noah’s standing before God, then “blameless” describes his conduct before people. “Blameless” doesn’t mean “sinless,” because nobody but Jesus Christ ever lived a sinless life on this earth (1 Peter 2:21-22). The word means “having integrity, whole, unblemished.” It was used to describe the animals acceptable to God for sacrifice (Ex. 12:5; Lev. 1:3, 10). Noah’s conduct was such that his neighbors couldn’t find fault with him (Phil. 2:12-16).

The person who is right before God through faith in Christ ought to lead a life that is right before people, for faith without works is dead (James 2:14ff.). Paul warned about “unruly and vain talkers and deceivers … [who] profess that they know God; but in works they deny him” (Titus 1:10, 16). Noah wasn’t that kind of person.