The answer is: 600

Gen 7:6 - He had been around for quite sometime before the flood waters came!

Noah, at 600 years old when the floodwaters rose, certainly had plenty of time to soak up some life experience! This remarkable age raises eyebrows, especially considering the average lifespan we know today. Back in biblical times, figures like Noah, who’s often noted as part of an exceptionally long-lived generation, were believed to have lifespans that reached several centuries. So, Noah’s age isn’t just a number; it’s a timeline that reflects narratives of faith, hardship, and survival that resonate throughout the scriptures!

The Genesis account suggesting Noah’s whopping age acts as the perfect backdrop for the grand themes in these early narratives—righteousness, mercy, and divine intervention. Did you know that even though Noah's cultural context often centers around agricultural societies—the idea of the flood represents a fresh start? After the waters receded, Noah is tasked with starting over completely, foretelling humanity's resilience and potential for renewal after disruption or trials.

Interestingly, Noah also mirrors figures from other ancient cultures, like the Mesopotamian epic of Gilgamesh, where a similar character navigates a great flood. It highlights how flood stories resonate across different cultures, a common thread weaving people’s experiences—cautionary tales about morality and divine oversight, framed through natural disasters.

So, as we sift through the Flood narrative, we remember Noah not just as a man who built a boat, but as a symbolic figure of hope—a chance for humanity to ‘start afresh’ while a storm rages outside. Isn’t that a wonderful message woven into such an ancient story?