What does Genesis 6:9 mean?

This verse begins a brand new section of Genesis. Just as chapter 5 began with the "generations of Adam," this new section begins with "the generations of Noah." However, the chapter doesn't immediately launch into a list of Noah's descendants. Instead, it will first tell his amazing story, beginning with his character.

We are told he is both righteous and blameless among the people of his time. These are both words of comparison. Noah's choices stood in contrast, at least in God's sight, to the sinful, selfish choices of the rest of humanity. Noah was righteous in the sense that he did was right, and he was blameless in the sense that he didn't do what was wrong. In strong distinction to those around him, Noah was a moral, god-honoring man.

The term blameless is used in Scripture to refer to those who are exceptionally obedient to God (Job 1:1; Luke 1:6). The idea is not someone who is "absolutely perfect." Noah wasn't a sinless, morally perfect man. Only Jesus ever accomplished that (Hebrews 4:14). But by character, reputation, and practice, Noah was exceptional. In simple terms, he did good things and didn't do bad ones. That set him apart from the rest of humanity.

Even more, we're told that Noah walked with God. Those words are only said of one other man in Genesis: Enoch, the man God took away without any report of his death (Genesis 5:22–24). Noah enjoyed a very close relationship with God.