“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” It is written: “He will rescue the unclean [i-naki], and he will escape by the pureness of Your hands” (Job 22:30). Rabbi Ḥanina of Anatot said: Noah had [only] one ounce [onkia] of virtue to his credit.1The meaning of the beginning of the Job verse, then, is: “He will rescue the one with only a minuscule amount of merit.”
If so, why was he spared? It was “by the pureness of Your hands.”2Noah was saved only by God’s grace (the “pureness of His hands”), not by his own merit. This is in accordance with what Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: “For I regret that I made them, and Noah…”3Interpreting ve-Noaḥ as “and Noah,” rather than “but Noah.” God regretted creating even Noah. (Genesis 6:7–8) – even Noah, who [alone] remained from them, it is not that he was worthy, but rather that he found favor in the eyes of the Lord, as it is stated: “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”