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Noah

a just man and perfect

dove and olive branch on postage stamp

A dove bearing an olive branch is part of the story of Noah and the ark.

The story of the flood introduced the idea that all humanity is descended from Noah. All men are brothers; descended from the same stock and sharers in the same hope. The convenant with Noah and his descendants restored the fertilty of the earth to provide abundant harvests for all humanity to share.

Noah walked with God. According to tradition Noah lived for 350 years after the flood and died during the lifetime of Abraham. After death of Noah there is no reference to a man walking with God. Abraham was be invited to walk before God and be perfect.

Benjamin Franklin expressed this ideal of a just man and perfect in 1734 with this verse for Enter’d Prentice’s Song :

"We’re true and sincere
And just to the Fair ;
They’ll trust us on any occasion :
No Mortal can more,
The Ladies adore,
Than a Free and an Accepted Mason."

translators note:

Since the English translation by Wycliffe in the fourteenth century, the phrase "a just man and perfect" has been recognised as a reference to Noah. It was retained in both the Douay-Rheims (translation from the Latin Vulgate into English) and later the King James version of 1611. To understand the meaning of this phrase it is necessary to reflect on the Hebrew words being translated. The Hebrew word saddiq conveys the sense of a man who does justice to a relationship in which he stands. When God abides by his covenant he is gracious. When a man believes and trusts God he is righteous. Perfect translates the Hebrew word tamin which means "pleasing to God". Modern translators often prefer "blameless" or "pious".

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