In Genesis, what did Noah do after leaving the Ark before God made the rainbow covenant?

In Genesis, Noah built an altar after leaving the Ark, before the rainbow covenant is described.

Genesis 8:20 says that Noah built an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings from animals and birds designated as clean. This action follows Noah’s exit from the ark and precedes the covenant passage in Genesis 9, where the rainbow becomes the sign of God’s promise.

The detail connects the Flood narrative with the wider biblical theme of altars and sacrifice. Genesis does not describe Noah building an altar inside the ark or while the waters were rising; the altar is built after the family reaches dry ground.

The sequence is sometimes shortened in retellings to Noah leaving the ark and immediately seeing a rainbow. In the biblical order, the altar and offerings come first, followed by God’s blessing, the covenant, and the rainbow sign. The account also includes God’s instructions concerning food, blood, and the value of human life.