Gen 5:28–31: Noah's name and "this one will comfort us"

Says Lamech וַיּוֹלֶד בֵּן, "fathered a son," and names him נֹחַ, saying זֶה יְנַחֲמֵנוּ, a Piel imperfect, "this one will comfort us" (OSHB; BDB Piel "comfort, console"). The BSB's "May this one comfort us" renders it as a wish. The comfort is מִמַּעֲשֵׂנוּ וּמֵעִצְּבוֹן יָדֵינוּ מִן־הָאֲדָמָה, "from our work and from the toil of our hands, from the ground," אֲשֶׁר אֵרְרָהּ יְהוָה, "which the Lord cursed," with the toil, the ground and the curse of 3:17 (xref.Gen.3.17.Gen.5.29.heb; note.language.Gen.3.17-Gen.3.19.ground-cursed-dust). BDB enters the name (p. 629) apart from the verb (p. 636). Swete has Οὗτος διαναπαύσει ἡμᾶς, "this one will give us rest," and Κύριος ὁ θεός for the Lord.

Implies The narrative draws a name-play: נֹחַ is heard in יְנַחֲמֵנוּ (the BSB footnote notes that the name sounds like "rest" or "comfort").

Uncertain The horizon of the hope; no lean is taken here. (1) Relief from toil in Noah's own day; ground: "our work … our hands." (2) The time after the flood, when the Lord says he will not again curse the ground (8:21); ground: the ground and the curse. Objection: 8:21 uses another verb, לְקַלֵּל. (3) A hope reaching beyond Noah, read with the promise of 3:15; objection: the verse names no more. Whether the imperfect voices a wish (BSB) or an expectation is also open.