Was Noah a Sinless Man?

Biblical Difficulty: Was Noah A Sinless Man?

By
Bassam Zawadi

Certain verses in the Old Testament describe Noah as being a perfect and righteous person before God during his generation...

Genesis 6:9

This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless (tamiym) among the people of his time, and he walked with God.

The word tamiym could mean...

1) complete, whole, entire, sound

a) complete, whole, entire

b) whole, sound, healthful

c) complete, entire (of time)

d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity

e) what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact (neuter adj/subst)

Source: http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/words/8/1145210220-9425.html 

We can see that there were people who were considered perfect. We can also see that this word is used to describe the perfection of God's works...

Deuteronomy 32:4

He is the Rock, his works are perfect (tamiym), and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong,
  upright and just is he.

Genesis 7:1

 The LORD then said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous (tsaddiyq) in this generation.

The word tsaddiyq could mean...

1) just, lawful, righteous

a) just, righteous (in government)

b) just, right (in one's cause)

c) just, righteous (in conduct and character)

d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God)

e) right, correct, lawful

Source: http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/words/6/1147272308-5152.html 

So the Bible portrays Noah as such a great man during his time. He is supposed to be complete and righteous in character. However, can one still think this when they read the following passage?...

Genesis 9:20-25

²⁰ Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. ²¹ When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. ²² Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness and told his two brothers outside. ²³ But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father's nakedness. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father's nakedness. ²⁴ When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, ²⁵ he said, "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers."

How can the Bible say that Noah was a righteous and blameless person before the Lord during his generation when he goes around getting drunk and lying naked in his drunkenness? Either those verses about Noah being blameless are incorrect or the Bible simply has no problem with people getting drunk and lying naked in public.