Noah was a righteous man who walked with God during a time when the earth was filled with violence and wickedness (Genesis 6:9, KJV). Because of Noah's faith and obedience, God chose him to build the ark to preserve his family and representatives of every kind of land animal from the worldwide Flood (Genesis 6–9). Noah faithfully followed God's instructions, and after the Flood, he, his wife, his three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—and their wives became the ancestors of the nations that repopulated the earth. God then established a covenant with Noah, placing the rainbow in the sky as the sign of His promise never again to destroy the whole earth by a flood (Genesis 9:11–17). Noah's life stands as a powerful example of faith, obedience, and trust in God, and he is commended among the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:7.